Traditional style homes

During the 1930s, home styles evolved to include what is now called the Minimal Traditional style. It remained a prevalent style until about 1950, when it was replaced by the popular Ranch.

The Minimal Traditional incorporates Colonial and Tudor forms with the Modern and International preference for as little ornamentation as possible. Nevertheless, homes built during the Depression continued to have nice quality built-ins, cabinetry, and woodwork though somewhat simplified. Housebuilding was curtailed during WWII, but this remained a dominant residential form in the years immediately following the war. Small, post-WWII cottages were very popular with the advent of the GI Bill and can be found in most areas of the country as both individual and tract homes.

This style may incorporate the basic form of a Cape Cod for example, but introduces a forward facing gable, small covered porch, and occasionally corner-wrapped windows. Hipped roofs are not uncommon. Minimal Traditional style homes were often fairly small cottage-size single- to two story homes with practical floor plans.

Typically, they have gabled roofs, no eaves, and lapped wood siding of wood as well as shake, brick, or stone facing. They are generally asymmetrical with the front entrance off center. As an eclectic style, elements of contemporaneous Tudor, Colonial Revival, or Spanish Revival are often found. Garages may be entirely detached or attached to the main house, but if attached the garage is usually a subordinate element unlike later homes where the garage became more prominent.

This style is the Plain Jane of 20th century American residential architecture, but is being "discovered" by new homebuyers as the style that immediately preceded the developer's suburban tract homes of the post-WWII period.

General Characteristics

• Asymmetrical
• Shallow to medium pitched, gabled or hipped roof usually with no eaves
• Small entry porch with simple pillars or columns
• Simple floor plan, rectangular shape, often with small ells
• Garages may be either detached or part of the main house
• Minimal ornamentation