What Style is My House?

last year

I am fortunate to have been able to purchase a new home for my growing family and would appreciate your perspective on interior design! In particular, how would you describe the architectural style of the house and what interior design style would be most complementary? The furniture in the photos belonged to the previous owners and I am moving from a small apartment so essentially starting with a clean slate.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

sushipup2
last year
Lovely house. The exterior is Prairie-style.
housegal200
last year
last modified: last year
It's Prairie style, a descendent of Frank Lloyd Wright. So start a search of "Interiors Prairie Style." Yours looks to be influenced by that style in its windows and roofline. The interior has less wood trim than original Prairie Style. But start there as your inspiration. I would say, try to avoid imposing, say, farmhouse style or other trendy styles from the home shows on your house. Yours looks like a beautiful, more modern version of a Prairie style house. How old is it? Where is it located?

No doubt some blogger out there probably has a blog on the style, so do a search for it. Good luck. Your scored a great looking house with excellent features.
Related Discussions
What style is my house?
Q
Comments (22)
"hopefully the accompanying photos will show that it's not a mishmash or a mcmansion but something more unique" But eclectic, by definition, is a mishmash of various styles so I don't understand why you apparently take offense? Marriam-Webster: eclectic: "composed of elements drawn from various sources". I don't think this house is unique, either. It's very pretty but definitely not unique. Very few houses are, because uniqueness kills resale value. I don't have skin in your game so I don't really care. I just find it funny that you ask what style your house is and the answer is: Your house has no particular style, but is "eclectic" LOL. Well, I guess it may be a fit for an architecture book that doesn't focus on styles or maybe has a chapter about houses that don't fit a particular style.
...See More
what style is my house?
Q
Comments (11)
Not mean, akl, he is just brutally honest. Most houses built today are no true identifiable style. Fenestration, in particular, is placed with no external symmetry---just where a window of any size or shape goes from the inside perspective. Case in point are those ubiquitous horizontal windows over bathtubs that make no sense stylistically from the outside. Our house was designed for our site with heavy influence and input from the original owner.......we call it the unholy alliance between architect and attorney, lol. It looks fine (especially since we had a new portico designed for it almost five years ago, but it is still "builder's delight." I guess it doesn't bother me because I didn't have a thing to do with the original design!
...See More
What style is my house?
Q
Comments (6)
I know! We just moved to Iowa City from the Austin, TX market and keep feeling giddy about all this space and yard. Thanks Judy G! That's helpful to know.
...See More
what style is my home?
Q
Comments (2)
In the Midwest, we call your home a bilevel. In other parts of the country (and in Canada) it is called a back split. Yours has a nice contemporary look to it. If you are searching for inspiration photos, use the term “bilevel.” Good luck!
...See More
chispa
last year
Modern-Prairie-eclectic?

I would get rid of that gray wall paint throughout the house. You can tell the previous owners were influenced by the gray trend from the last 10-15 years.
kandrewspa
last year
If it helps, the previous owner's furniture is too traditional, except for the bedroom. You would find appropriate items at Crate and Barrel or West Elm. If you have the resources, I would hire a decorator since you're doing the whole house, starting from ground zero. If you aren't able to do that (it also might be hard to find someone who has time to do the job), while some people are against in-store designers, it is still an economical way to get a consistent result. I think it also helps to go slowly as you may refine your taste as you go along. You do want to have color scheme in mind before you start, however. The kitchen is blue-gray, so you have that as a starting point. Houzz has a wealth of information.

Modern House · More Info
Mark Janzen
Original Author
last year
@housegal200 thanks for the comment and great advice! The house was built in 2013 and it's in Calgary, Alberta.
0
Janie Gibbs-BRING SOPHIE BACK
last year
housegal200 i think this is a link to prostate cancer?
housegal200
last year
@Janie: Thanks for pointing out the incorrect link to something I was working on.

@Mark Janzen: Well, you have a great looking house inspired by Prairie style, which is a wonderful style--open, lots of windows, natural materials. There's lots you can do.
0
Kendrah
last year
Forget the house for a moment. What do you like? Are there certain styles of furniture you are drawn to? Certain interiors of movies that you like? Particular stores you gravitate towards? Any words come to mind that describe your aesthetic?

I don't think you should feel bound to the exterior of the house as a point of departure. Lots of people do great jobs of contrasting interior and exterior and making it work. (The previous owners certainly didn't match the interior and exterior.)

If you want to not have to think about it too hard, you could purchase most items from the same store and they will match well together. Some in store designers are very good and will give you floor plans and layouts.

Room and Boardcomes to mind as a place you could shop. Their furniture is modern but uses a lot of natural materials so it still has a warmth to it, which is how I would describe your exterior: warm, natural, modern. I have used their consultants. They don't charge and the one I got was really good.
PRO
RappArchitecture
last year
Agree with Kendrah. Interior furniture does not need to match/coordinate with the exterior style. It's more about your lifestyle, how much you entertain, the kind of furnishings and art you are drawn to.
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
last modified: last year
Agree. Modern Prairie/Craftsman style. As for furniture, since it leans more modern, I'd go in that direction. Clean lines. Square arms on sofas, and nothing too drape-y or fussy.