For many people, building a new house is an exciting opportunity to build your dream and customize it to suit your tastes and preferences. You want to ensure that everything is exactly what you want, and in order to do that, it helps to understand the different options available to you.

Depending on the community that you choose to build in, there will be a variety of different options when it comes to your exterior home design. Most of the options or style of the exterior of your new home will depend on the elevation available to you. Here are some of the characteristics of the five most common elevations for Calgary new home builders, such as Broadview Homes, and how to differentiate between them.

The Overhanging Rafters Craftsman

Understanding Craftsman, Colonial, Foursquare, Tudor and Mid-Century Modern Elevations in Calgary New HomesThe Craftsman design is characterized by a primarily simple layout. It gathers its roots from the Prairie style home with a hip roof that is very low pitched as well as defined lines, large roofing overhangs and a centralized fireplace. The main difference with a Craftsman is that it adds in the appearance of some exterior rafters. These layouts were mostly popular during the early 1900s, and the inside is characterized primarily by built in woodwork such as shelving and seating. It is often made up of muted color schemes and stonework along some part of the home, as well as a front porch with defined beams and most of the time an attic of some kind.

The Symmetric Colonial

Understanding Craftsman, Colonial, Foursquare, Tudor and Mid-Century Modern Elevations in Calgary New HomesAnother great house style is the Colonial style. Although there are many variations on this style, the exterior is primarily characterized by a symmetrical appearance with the front entrance as centered as possible. They are often two stories with a lot of uniformity. This style goes back to the mid-1800s and is another one of the most popular styles. The inside floor plan usually contains a generic kitchen and living room on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second. Brick or wood usually make up the outside exterior and theses homes are easy to add on to.

The Foursquare

Understanding Craftsman, Colonial, Foursquare, Tudor and Mid-Century Modern Elevations in Calgary New HomesThis style developed during the early 1900s as a transitional type of home. It utilizes a very simple style that is mostly characterized by simple woodworking and a plain, handcrafted appearance. These two storey homes get their name from their interior layout which generally consists of four very boxy rooms on each floor which were designed to maximize the use of the interior space. This is the perfect look if you are looking for a classic look that can also be modernized. This is also a popular choice for many subdivisions because it does not take up as much space as other wide-spanning home types.

The Steeply Pitched Tudor

Understanding Craftsman, Colonial, Foursquare, Tudor and Mid-Century Modern Elevations in Calgary New HomesAnother house style available in some Calgary new home communities is the popular Tudor. The architecture of this option suggests that its roots lie in the early 16th century Tudor historical era of England. Although the modern versions are looser when it comes to comparing them with the older versions, they still hold a lot of allusion to earlier medieval times. They are mainly characterized by sloping or partially timbered siding of a generic neutral color, brick or stone wainscoting, a steeply pitched or very pointed roof, obvious gables and small windows. Textured stucco can usually also be seen in the outward appearance of the Tudor model though more modern renditions opt for a smoother look and more prominent coloring.

The Mid-Century Modern

Understanding Craftsman, Colonial, Foursquare, Tudor and Mid-Century Modern Elevations in Calgary New HomesAs time goes on, many individuals are trying to combine a lot of these traditional styles and bring their own style and flair into the mix, sometimes altering them so drastically that the essential feeling is lost completely. The mid-century modern home design is one of the most iconic types of homes on the market because it demonstrates a lot of uniqueness and modernism. This style is characterized mainly by the use of angles and very clean and definite edges. Bright colors and angular exterior is something that you can look for in a modern home. ‘Floating wood’ and more earthy materials are also common. The main appeal of a modern home is the esthetic and abstract feeling that it can convey due to its geometric design and its array of individuality.

There are many home exteriors available to new home buyers and learning about the differences will aid in your new home search. Knowing what you prefer and what to ask your new home builder for will make the home buying or building process go much more smoothly. Each one is very different from the other, and each design brings its own unique flair and curb appeal. Whether you choose Colonial, Craftsman, Tudor or Modern, there are so many styles that can suit your personal preferences. Explore all your exterior house styles more on our model pages and start building your new home today.