What Is Decorating In The Cape Cod Style?

Cape Cod houses are a beloved architectural design that captures the timeless charm and coastal elegance of New England. With its symmetrical facade, steep gable roof, and classic features, Cape Cod homes have been beloved by Americans for centuries. These houses come in various shapes and sizes, with the charming, modest dimensions of a half Cape making them ideal starter homes.

Cape Cod houses are defined by their simple shapes and limited exterior ornamentation, typically built with side-gabled roofs featuring sloped sides along the front and back and pitched. Their timeless charm, steeped in history and nostalgia, continues to capture the hearts of many. Cape Cod homes are architecturally iconic and one of the most popular house styles in the U.S., along with the colonial-style, Tudor-style, and row house.

Cape Cod interiors are furnished with clean, traditional lines, simple, minimalist shapes, and timeless cottage charm. Seating is often plush with deep-buttoned cushions and pine or oak solid wood pieces, giving the home a warm and rustic feel. Cape Cod houses were traditionally clad with white cedar shingles, which stood up well to the salt air and took on a silvery patina over time.

Creating a minimal Cape Cod interior is about simply capturing that coastal charm. Stick to soft blues, whites, and creams for a breezy vibe. The Cape Cod house interior style is informed by its New England setting, its historical ancestry, and a nod to nautical colors and themes.

What is the classic Cape Cod style?

The Cape style is typified by a one-and-a-half-story dwelling with two windows, a central chimney, and unadorned trim. Typically, the first floor contains four rooms, while the upper floor comprises two smaller rooms. Although no extant examples of the earliest Cape style houses in Weston have survived, the style has been widely employed in 20th-century residential construction, thereby ensuring the continued preservation of its historic charm.

What is Cape Cod shaped like?

The Cape Cod peninsula’s unique hook shape, formed 10, 000 years ago by glacial erosion and movement of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, has been shaped by natural processes like storms, waves, wind, and sea level rise. Sand dunes formed after glacial retreat, with sediment modified and redeposited by coastal ocean currents. As glacial retreat continued, depressions in the land surface were filled by groundwater, creating freshwater ponds.

These features, along with the sand dunes and freshwater ponds, are located in the northern portion of the Cape Cod National Seashore, which supports various ecosystems, including salt marshes and a human-made freshwater lake.

What makes a house a Cape Cod?

Cape Cod houses are low, broad, single or double-story frame buildings with a moderately-steep-pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and minimal ornamentation. Originating in New England in the 17th century, these simple symmetrical designs were built using local materials to withstand the stormy weather of Cape Cod. They feature a central front door flanked by multipaned windows and often left as unfinished attic space. The Cape Cod cottage-type house originated in England’s wood-building counties and was brought to America by Puritan carpenters.

The strong seasonal climate of New England tested the pioneers’ ingenuity, and they lowered the house and pulled its plan into a more square footprint. The type has survived and emerged as a one- to one-and-a-half-story house with wooden shutters and a clapboard or shingle exterior. Using local materials like cedar for roofing, siding shingles, oak and pine for framing and flooring, settlers built houses locally adapted to New England’s climate. To help with the heat in winter, they built massive central chimneys and low-ceilinged rooms, and the biggest windows faced south to catch the winter sun.

Why is it called a Cape Cod?

Cape Cod, named by English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602, was actually a peninsula connected to Massachusetts. The European Pilgrims first landed in present-day Provincetown, not Plymouth Harbor. Vikings, including Leif Eriksson and Thorvald, visited Cape Cod around 1000 A. D. Martha’s Vineyard was named Claudia by Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. In 1524, Portuguese explorer Estevao Gomes landed on Cape Cod’s shores, dubbing it Cabo de la Arenas.

The Cape Cod Canal in 1916 officially made Cape Cod an island. The peninsula was initially home to the Wampanoag Indians, who lost the land through English settlers’ purchase and expansion. Cape Cod offers a rich heritage, warm weather, excellent food, and variety of activities, making it an ideal vacation destination.

What is the difference between a colonial and a Cape Cod style house?

Colonial homes are rectangular with a central front door, similar to Cape Cods, but larger, usually two stories tall, and symmetrical with a grander entryway and central staircase. They have small, equally sized windows. Between the 19th and 20th centuries, Colonial Revival style was adapted, featuring grand entryways, cornices, white clapboard, and shutters on windows. Colonial homes can be categorized into French, Spanish, or Dutch, each influenced by the country where they originated.

Why is Cape Cod so popular?

Cape Cod, a picturesque Massachusetts peninsula, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, vast coastline, and world-class creative and recreational opportunities. Despite its reputation, Cape Cod is more than just a vacation destination; it offers top-notch healthcare, quality education, vibrant communities, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The region has been recognized as one of the happiest places to live in the country and has been named one of the top spots to retire.

Young families benefit from an excellent education system, tight-knit communities, low crime rates, and numerous opportunities for children to stay active. Entrepreneurs and young professionals benefit from the region’s high number of sole proprietors and resources to support small businesses. The Cape has also been a mecca for artists, drawing inspiration from the region’s picturesque beauty and laid-back lifestyle.

What is unique about Cape Cod?

Cape Cod, a picturesque Massachusetts peninsula, is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, vast coastline, and world-class creative and recreational opportunities. Despite its reputation, Cape Cod is more than just a vacation destination; it offers top-notch healthcare, quality education, vibrant communities, and a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The region has been recognized as one of the happiest places to live in the country and has been named one of the top spots to retire.

Young families benefit from an excellent education system, tight-knit communities, low crime rates, and numerous opportunities for children to stay active. Entrepreneurs and young professionals benefit from the region’s high number of sole proprietors and resources to support small businesses. The Cape has also been a mecca for artists, drawing inspiration from the region’s picturesque beauty and laid-back lifestyle.

Why is it called Cape Cod?

Cape Cod, named by English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602, was actually a peninsula connected to Massachusetts. The European Pilgrims first landed in present-day Provincetown, not Plymouth Harbor. Vikings, including Leif Eriksson and Thorvald, visited Cape Cod around 1000 A. D. Martha’s Vineyard was named Claudia by Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. In 1524, Portuguese explorer Estevao Gomes landed on Cape Cod’s shores, dubbing it Cabo de la Arenas.

The Cape Cod Canal in 1916 officially made Cape Cod an island. The peninsula was initially home to the Wampanoag Indians, who lost the land through English settlers’ purchase and expansion. Cape Cod offers a rich heritage, warm weather, excellent food, and variety of activities, making it an ideal vacation destination.

What does a Cape Cod style look like?

Cape Cod style architecture is characterized by a steep roof, central chimney, symmetrical design, dormer windows, and natural materials like cedar shakes. Unlike Colonial houses, Cape Cod houses are typically one-and-a-half stories with a steep roof and central chimney, while Colonial houses have two stories and a more formal appearance. Key Cape Cod house features include a steep, gabled roof, central chimney, and symmetrical facade with multi-pane windows.

What is the feature of Cape Cod?

Cape Cod homes are traditional American architecture styles known for their symmetrical facade, centered front door, and multi-paned, double-hung windows. The rectangular shape and smooth geometric lines make the homes visually appealing. The steep gabled roof, paired windows protruding from the roof, is practical for snow and ice removal in New England. Dormers, paired windows protruding from the roof, are another distinctive feature. A centralized chimney, fed by multiple fireplaces, allows the entire home to be heated during cold New England winters.

The roof and sides are typically covered with clapboards or cedar shake shingles, providing a low-maintenance alternative to modern siding. The cozy size of Cape Cod homes allows people to purchase one affordably and expand onto the home later.

What is Cape Cod style decor?

Cape Cod interiors feature clean lines, minimalist shapes, and timeless cottage charm. Seating is plush with deep-buttoned cushions and pine or oak solid wood pieces, giving the home a warm, rustic feel. Other room decor choices include early American handmade furniture, nautical and coastal accents, and ocean-inspired colors. The original design of a Cape Cod house had two rooms: a living room and a primary bedroom, similar to English “hall and parlor” homes. However, Cape Cod architecture has evolved over the last few centuries, with homeowners often removing interior walls to modernize their homes.