Cape Cod Style and Architecture

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I’m heading off this morning to the beautiful Cape Cod-style home I am selling in The Gap. It’s a home that has really captured my heart. As you would be well aware, if you have visited my blog often over the past 7 years or so, New England/Cape Cod/Hamptons style homes have always been my architectural passion.

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Bob Vila

Cape Cod architecture is pretty special. I love that it has humble roots and tends towards simplicity and symmetry. All architectural elements that we love in today’s Cape Cod style home had economical and practical reasons for their inclusion back in colonial American homes in the early 1700s.

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Dramatic roof pitches, welcoming dormer windows, practical yet pretty shutters, double-hung, multi-paned windows, weather-proof unpainted clapboard shingle siding (that fades to that glorious light grey over time) …. elements adapted to the wild, stormy coast of New England from architectural origins in the early settlers’ native homeland England. A design also embracing the natural resources that were available to the settlers at the time.

Better Homes And Gardens

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Simple origins … made fancy … and today such a timeless, classical style.

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That bold front door, often with beautiful pilasters!

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Southern Living

… and stunning, striking shutters that are mostly decorative these days, but back then, protected the windows from the wild winds and seas.

Characteristic Cape Cod soft, coastal exterior colours …. white, light blue, pale green or grey.

With strong contrasting accents on the doors and shutters.

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It’s grey for me though. Always grey.

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Modest bedrooms were originally tucked beneath dormers, under slanting roofs.

Houzz

Summerour And Associates

The Yellow Cape Cod

These days, there are so many things you can do with a dormer!

Joan Heaton Architects

Huffington Post

Houzz

The interiors of Cape Cod homes are often in palettes that reflect nature, the elements, the sea … perhaps with soft pastel accents. Trims, skirting boards, mouldings, fireplace mantels and cabinetry are white and floors are generally timber with natural fibre rugs defining the living spaces.

Home Beautiful

Furniture is often light coloured, vintage, worn suggesting simplicity, history. Slipcovered sofas, nautical accessories, hardback books and beautiful beach finds complete the Cape Cod look.