Style Guide: Georgian

Named after England's kings George I, II, III and IV who ruled from 1714 - 1830, Georgian style architecture was made popular as conspicuous symbols of the owner's wealth.  Comfort, convenience and privacy prevailed in this residential style, with separate rooms being designed for each activity like cooking, dining, entertaining and sleeping.  The houses became larger and in order to keep the large rooms warm, large chimneys were built at both ends of the home.  Symmetry is a key feature of this style, with well-balanced exteriors and ornately decorated entrances intended to impress the homeowners' friends.  Doorways are often flanked by pilasters with elaborate cornice or pediments above.  Throughout the years, a Georgian Style home's location has often determined the materials used.  New England used unpainted wood, the Midwest often preferred stucco over stone or brick, the South primarily used red brick and the Deep South used tinted stucco with iron railings and gates.

Here are a few well-known examples you may recognize that epitomize the Georgian style...

The Royal Crescent, designed by Sir John Soane - Bath, England
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Virginia's Governors mansion - Williamsburg, VA
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The Westover Plantation - Charles City County, VA
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Here are a few Visbeen designed residences with Georgian-style flair...

 Berkshire

 Buckman

 Haverhill

Patterson


To accomplish the look of a Georgian style residence, we use products like...

1.  Roofing - GAF has a beautiful roofing product called Camelot II that can give an authentic Georgian look at a fraction of the cost of other products.

2.  Columns:  Georgian entryways and interiors often include columns and a company like HB & G Columns offers a wide variety of columns, column caps and bases to achieve the look.

3.  Vents:  Exteriors of Georgian style homes often include vents on either the front façade or the roof.  We spec products from companies like Rutland Gutter Supply for Georgian vent details.

Sources:
Walker, Lester: American Homes: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Domestic Architecture, p94
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_colonial_architecture