Immerse yourself in the beauty of these captivating traditional house plans. From cozy cottages to grand estates, these plans feature all the amenities and style of modern homes while maintaining an old-world charm. With various designs from a variety of renowned architects, you can find a plan that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for a place to hang your hat for a few weeks, months, or a lifetime, you can find your perfect home with our selection of traditional house plans.

A one story ranch, raised ranch, or cape cod house could reflect any one of several different architectural styles. Recently, however, many homeowners find that the most attractive, traditional homes are those with a blend of several styles, often referred to as Eclectic or American Foursquare. The Eclectic style may include elements from the Mediterranean, Tudor, Dutch Colonial, French Provincial, and other design influences. This style of traditional house plan incorporates the features of several different architectural styles, but typically includes a square or cube-like shape with a symmetrical façade, symmetrical windows, low-pitched roof, and generally no overhang above the entry door. Typical exterior materials include brick, stucco, stone, and wood siding.

The American Foursquare is a variation of traditional house plans that has its roots in the late 19th century. This traditional style was a reaction to the more ornate Victorian style of home with simpler lines, a boxier shape, and a more functional interior layout. The American Foursquare typically has a two-story cube-like shape with a low-pitched hip or gable roof, overhanging eaves, and often a wrap-around porch. Typical external materials are brick, stucco, wooden siding, and stone. Windows can vary from multi-paned single hung or double hung to large floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Traditional house plans are, as the name implies, more traditional than say contemporary house plans and often recall historical styles such as Colonial, European, Mediterranean or Tudor. Common exterior features may include covered front porches, balanced symmetrical facades, gables, dormers, shutters, and stonework. Whereas a contemporary house plan may feature modern materials such as glass, steel and concrete and may also emphasize open interiors, traditional house plans will lean more towards interior volume and cozy environments. The interior layout may include formal living and dining areas, main floor family space, traditional kitchens and a fireplace or two. Common features of the interior may include wide trim, built-ins, hardwood flooring and millwork.

Traditional house plans can also be defined in many ways.

Some of the things that can define traditional house plans include:

Classic, symmetrical facades (e.g. a symmetrical roofline and windows evenly distributed around the entry)

Low-pitched rooftops with moderate overhangs

Natural materials like brick, stone, or wood shingles

Gable or hip roofs with steeply pitched slopes

Shutters or other graceful exterior accents

Front porches, balconies, or enclosed side courts

Simple, elegant trim around doors and windows

Accent windows, such as circle-top or eyebrow windows

Traditional house plans often feature an inviting floor plan. Central living spaces like living/dining areas, kitchens, and family rooms, are all well-thought-out and task-oriented. Bedrooms generally offer larger closet space than typical ranches or asymmetrical floor plans. Overall, traditional house plans give you the traditional feel that many homeowners are looking for to give their home a timeless, classic feeling.

Styles such as colonial, country, or Victorian are often lumped together as traditional house plans, since all three styles are known for their classic features. Traditional house plans often have an easy flow, decorated facades, and a symmetrical layout that pays attention to proportion and detail. Traditional house plans usually also have an eye toward making a space feel inviting and warm, featuring wood details, clapboard siding, shutters, and covered front porches. The plans can also include architectural details such as arches, columns, dormers, and gables, to name a few. Additionally, traditional house plans often draw on elements of Georgian or Federal styles, which feature classical details and geometrical patterns that denote order, symmetry, and grandeur.

Given the broad regional variations in design definitions, conducting a search using traditional house plans could yield fruitful results, especially if you are uncertain about the specific style name you are looking for. Why buy plans from us?