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Even though the styles were separated by about a century, they still share several commonalities, including a conspicuous lack of exterior details. The modest size of Cape Cod homes often translated into modest use of details. Houses of this style are often sited to maximize available sunlight, with the biggest windows facing south. This positioning helps minimize heating costs while bringing ample natural light into rooms.
Cons of Cape Cod-style architecture
If you want to enrich your Cape Cod house exterior ideas and transform your home into a restrained and classic one, you could also consider roses for the exterior and ivy as well. No doubt, you love every aspect of the design of a typical Cape Cod home, and you want to bring in these Cape Cod house design ideas into your own home. The good news is that you can transform your home into an ideal Cape Cod home without breaking the bank and it doesn’t have to be from scratch. Early Cape Cod houses were built with wood soaked in pine or oak and covered with clapboard or shingles for a textural shell to withstand weather conditions of all kinds.
Roof Styles in Cape Cod Houses
Upstairs, the master bath co-opted space from a large closet for a double vanity and an enlarged shower, and gained two more windows. Built in 1974, the house held 2,800 square feet, with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, and was in surprisingly good shape. With a full-width front porch, a new two-story garage, and a fresh color palette, architect Jeff Troyer gives a 1953 Cape the upgraded look and function it deserves. Julia is a part of the content marketing team and enjoys writing about real estate and design trends. A centered, space-saving pocket door now connects the kitchen and dining room. Atlanta couple Wendy and Cleve Meredith drew on their New England roots to reinvent a 1930s Cape Cod house that already contained a lot of character.
Design + Decorate
"I wish I could say they're family members, but they're actually not," Wendy admits. The upper walls are painted the same gray color as the kitchen island to help connect the adjacent rooms, while creamy horizontal wood planks are found below the chair rail. Simple refinishing brought the original hardwood floors to their now beautiful state. Cape Cod styled homes aren’t new in terms of architectural hallmarks, they have been around for centuries and now have been updated and redefined to reflect a more sophisticated feel that will never go out of style.
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Historical Capes were clad in long-lasting cedar shingles, sometimes with clapboards on the facade. The earliest Cape Cod-style houses were built by Puritans in New England; the snug, one-story homes were designed to withstand the harsh environment. The windows on a Cape Cod play a critical role in creating the charm and curb appeal of this home style. Originally, Cape Cod homes were often built to maximize available sunlight, with the largest and tallest windows facing south. This positioning helped minimize heating costs while taking advantage of natural light. You’ll typically see double-hung windows with shutters on the main floor, and dormers on the second to increase light and air circulation.
Vintage Style Island
Highly identical to the American Vision of a home, these houses master efficiency and aesthetics. This style of home has continuously succeeded in charming us with its frivolous elements and an old-movie look. Meanwhile, its rich history enriches the design of this style and commemorates its century-long existence. Cape Cod-style houses can come in many shapes and sizes—the charming, modest dimensions of a half Cape make ideal starter homes for many people, while others may aspire to the grander proportions of a full Cape. A half Cape has its front door on one side of the facade, with two windows on the other side (this is also known as a “single Cape”). A full Cape, on the other hand, has a door in the center with two windows flanking it on each side.
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The distinctive character of these homes marks as an important style of design in the history that continues to lead for the generations to come. Opening into the living room is an eye-catchy fireplace with a large chimney design located as a focal point. These warm and cozy living rooms open out to a pilastered porch overlooking the lush English garden. “There can be a very thick layer of aesthetics laid over the function,” Seifter says. “Each generation tried to be true to the original form, but these were more modern houses and they had to accommodate functions that were not in the original versions. With modest square footage that typically ranges from 1,200 to 1,800 square feet, the Cape Cod is smaller than most homes built today, which average around 2,300 square feet.
To keep the vibe friendly, Wendy chose a round table and antique chairs covered in simple linen and checked fabrics. A dainty scalloped edge on the chairs and table topper adds a decorative touch. A distinctive 13-arm meeting-house chandelier has been in her family for years. A small but efficient island holds refrigerator drawers and a bookcase for cookbooks. Painted deep gray to contrast with the lighter color of the cabinets and topped with marble, it feels vintage and perhaps even original to the house. It was, in fact, the puritan carpenters who initially brought the Cape Cod home style to America.
These Cape Cod home ideas will be sure to help you replicate the classic design style both with your home decor and the overall look of your home. Even if your Cape Cod exterior has a plain look that’s subtle, nothing should stop you from creating a sophisticated look inside. With little effort and the right Cape Cod home ideas like these, you can create a defining impact in your Cape Cod interior.
Wealthier homeowners started adding wings, dormers, and decorative elements to their houses, giving rise to the “expanded Cape” style. Decorilla emerged in 2010 when a group of passionate interior designers envisioned a platform to connect clients with top-notch design expertise. Since its inception, Decorilla has collaborated with thousands of professional designers who have transformed countless homes and commercial spaces worldwide. Every day, Decorilla’s designers craft bespoke interiors, allowing clients to experience spaces that resonate with their personal style and aspirations, fostering genuine connections with the world of design. All Cape Cod house interiors have a clutter-free and structured yet homely look.
We've spoken with interior designers for their Cape Cod living room ideas – and how to get the look in your own home. And for even more inspiration, our Living room ideas feature has even more ways to update your social space. Installing wide windows is the simplest method to achieve natural light, but you can utilize all available means to ensure a well-lit room in addition to the use of a white or light-colored color scheme.
Elegant natural materials and nautical touches are used lavishly throughout these rooms. The soft homage to traditional style in the furnishings and decor makes them feel especially warm and welcoming. Revival houses, neat and nostalgic behind their white picket fences, are most often symmetrical full Capes, often clapboarded and shuttered, painted white, with more formal and flexible floor plans." Why not try some blacks in doors, window frames, and trims to give your home a modern touch? All Cape Cod homes have shutters to protect the interiors, so you could let your creative juices flow in specifying a particular shade for these coverings.
The origins of Cape Cod houses date back to the 1600s when the first Puritan settlers arrived in America. The humble architecture is similar to an English cottage, but a few features were adapted to withstand the harsh New England climate better. The steeply pitched roofs, for example, are designed to allow heavy snow to slide off more easily in the winter. Though Cape Cod cottages may, at times, come with the connotation of old money or coastal elite homeowners, they didn’t start like this. “The first settlers came from Plymouth and were just trying to survive,” McDonald explains.
Cape Cod houses also tend to have a prominent chimney structure, sometimes in the middle of the home or on the side. There are also certain colors, textures, and siding styles that can help capture the magic of a Cape Cod house design. Whether you live in a coastal area or far from the shoreline, the Cape Cod house style offers a sense of tranquility, simplicity, and timeless beauty. By integrating the design principles and key elements of Cape Cod houses into your own home, you can create a space that exudes the same charm and elegance. The decor and furnishings in a Cape Cod house should aim to create a comfortable, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere that captures the essence of coastal living. Choose pieces and accents that reflect the timeless charm and simplicity of this architectural style, while also expressing your personal taste and style preferences.
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