Your House and Home Design
By Jackie Craven, About.com Guide to Architecture
What style is your house? Who designed your house, and when? This page is your starting point for exploring residential architecture and home design. You'll find tips and tools for researching your house, remodeling your house, adding curb appeal, and building a new house. You'll also find facts about famous houses, historic houses, and important trends in home design.
Know the Style
What do we mean when we say "house style" or "architectural style"? Why do we call some houses "Cape Cod" and others "Bungalow"? Is "Victorian" a style? Do some buildings have "no style"? For help, follow these links.
Learn the History
If your house is old, it may be difficult to learn the story of its past. To research the history of your house, you'll need to explore written records and also look closely at architectural clues. These resources will help you unravel the history of your house.
- How Old is Your House?
- Where are the Original Floor Plans for Your House?
- Did Your House Come From a Mail Order Catalog?
- Did Frank Lloyd Wright Build Your House?
Remodel Your House
Get your home improvement project off on the right start. These resources offer ideas and how-to advice to help you expand your living space, create more storage, and save money on your remodeling projects.
- Before you Remodel: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Update Your Old House
- Add Storage Space
- Choose Exterior Siding
- How to Survive Remodeling
Restore Your Historic House
Restoring and preserving historic architecture requires special care. Historic restoration projects often call for technical skills and hard-to-find materials. These resources will guide you through the process of researching, restoring, and preserving your historic home.
Paint Your House
A well-chosen selection of contrasting trim and accent colors can draw attention to architectural details and disguise design flaws. Use these tips and resources to select the best colors for your exterior house painting project.
- Picking House Paint Colors
- House Paint Pictures
- House Paint Software
- House Paint Index
- House Color Books
Build Your New House
Long before the foundation is poured, you can begin dreaming and planning your new house. These resources include step-by-step instructions for planning and building, with cost-saving tips and advice for choosing building plans, selecting architectural features, and hiring building professionals.
