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

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Style Guide: French Country

French Country is an Old World style of design that emerged in the US after the first world war when soldiers were coming back from Europe and building homes inspired by the cottages and manors of the French countryside.  French Country style homes have steeped pitched rooflines and place the main entrance of the home front and center.  Such symmetry is a common element both in exterior elevations and floor plans.  The materials used in this style reflect pastoral elements, like stone, wood, straw and botanicals.  Even the colors are naturally inspired, like lavenders, blues, oranges and reds.  The style combines the rustic and the refined, which can.  Ceilings may have rustic wood beams while wood furniture and elegant architectural elements may have hand carved details.  Its partly the dichotomy of those two ideas that make this style so sophisticated, yet comfortable and inviting.

A few Visbeen Architects' designs with French pastoral flair...

Montrose:  This incomparable Old World European home sets a new standard for design details and construction artistry.  Inspired by the palace halls of French royalty, this masterwork is unique in every way.  From the rugged permanence of the stone and brick walls to the decorative copper and wrought iron accents, the curb appeal of the home is immediately apparent.

Claremont:  The charm of this single-level country-inspired design begins with the covered porch and continues as you step through the welcoming front door.

Muirfield:  Luxury reigns in this French-inspired estate, with its distinctive Mansard roof, European-style stone façade and copper detailing.

Parkland:  The best of European cottage style is apparent in this charming five-bedroom, 3 1/2 bath home.  The exterior features stone accents, dormer windows and picturesque wooden shutters.

Penhill:  This picturesque yet luxurious design exhibits Old World details including stone, shingle, a charming cupola and wooden shutters similar to those found in cottages throughout the countryside of Europe.

Barrington:  Pitched and gabled rooflines and shuttered French doors point to this distinctive design's French origins.  Close your eyes and you may think you're in the south of France.

Oakhurst:  Built around a stunning central courtyard, the three-bedroom, four-bath Oakhurst is a stand-out when it comes to style.

Hot off the press: This stunning European-inspired residence boasts stone archways, wooden architectural details and steeply pitched rooflines that pay clear homage to manors of the French countryside.

If you are looking to achieve the look of a French Country manor, here are a few products to consider...

• Roofing:  GAF Roofing has a Sienna line of shingles with rich appearance and clean lines that add distinction to any home at a fraction of the cost of traditional slate or wood shakes.  It has a custom color palette, stain guard protection and a lifetime ltd. warranty called Smart Choice.

• Shutters:  One of the key elements that give many French County homes their distinctive style is wood shutters.  Timberlane offers a variety of custom made, wood shutters that fit perfectly with this style, especially, their board and batten designs. 

• Doors:  Craftsmen in Wood has been blending old world craftsmanship and original design for over forty years, creating some of the finest custom wood doors and hardware in the business.  Their products represent quality and timeless beauty.

• Exterior Lighting:  Since 1945, Bevolo has been manufacturing the highest quality traditional, antique, and custom designed hand-made lighting fixtures out of the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Today, they are the largest manufacturer of hand-made, open-flame copper lanterns in the world.  We have been spec'ing their lights for years because we know they add an authentic touch of style to the exterior of our French Country designs.

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Style Guide: Mediterranean

As the name suggests, the Mediterranean style originated in European countries north of the Mediterranean Sea - Greece, Spain, and Italy.  Most of the preeminent architects of the age were primarily known for painting and sculpture, skills which they often put to good use in the decoration of the palaces they were designing for their wealthy patrons.  Bramante was to distinguish himself in ecclesiastical architecture enjoying papal patronage for his long career.  Sangallo, Michelangelo, Rafael, Michelozzi and others executed many domestic designs for palaces in both urban and rural environments to complete a resume that includes both public and private architecture.  Private courtyards were a defining feature of the urban palaces of the time in an effort to reproduce in miniature the grand gardens of the country estates.  The style is characterized by visual elements like arched windows and doorways, low-pitched roof lines covered in tiles, and stucco walls.  Intricate stone details can also be found throughout interior and exterior elements.

Take a look at a few famous modern day mediterranean style homes you may recognize....

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Okay, so maybe this isn't exactly "attainable," but Cher's massive Italian Renaissance Malibu estate is a good example of modern day Mediterranean architecture.  It was up for sale a few years back for a whopping $45 Million.

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Michael Douglas' ex-wife Diandra Douglas resides in the Mediterranean style home built in the 1920's that the couple had purchased in 1979 for $275,000 in Montecito. 

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A villa-style home designed by Reginald Johnson in 1915, the renowned architect of the Biltmore Hotel.

And here are a few Visbeen Architects' designed Mediterranean abodes...

 The Domenico

 Legacy Woods

Star Coast Villas, a development in China

If you are looking to achieve the Mediterranean style, here are a few great products to consider:

• Roofing: GAF Roofing has a designer shingle line called Monaco.  It gives you the look of a genuine European tile roof at a fraction of the cost with the added bonus of a lifetime ltd transferable warranty with Smart Choice Protection for the first ten years.

• Fireplace / kitchen hood details: Tartaruga Design Inc. offers historical European-inspired mantelpieces and kitchen hoods, impeccably crafted and hand-sculpted.  They offer nearly unlimited combinations of design variations, material choices and hand finishes, making each piece as unique as the properties they are made for.

• Stone details:  Haddonstone is the leading manufacturor of cast stone building materials, making elements like quoins, keystones, balustrades, coping and capping, etc.

• Windows: Loewen windows offers a variety of window lines and even custom designs to perfectly fit every architectural style, including Mediterranean.

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