Home > Video Channel > Review of the Colonial Architectural Style

Review of the Colonial Architectural Style

As an introduction to a grand rounds tour of the completed Modern Colonial project house, Bob takes a final look at the home's exterior with an eye towards the architectural elements that define Colonial style. Vila notes the symmetrical design of the home, including the height to width ratio of the center portion of the house, and the location of the entry door and chimney. Exterior finishes, including the architectural fiberglass shingles that mimic a traditional slate roof, and the authentic wood shutters add to the classic detailing.
Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

Clip Transcript For:

Review of the Colonial Architectural Style

  computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Before we go inside I thought we'd take one final look. At the exterior of the house and some of the features that make it a colonial reproduction. The basic thing here is that you have a very symmetrical. Very ordered facade. And the proportions are very very important this main part of the house the senator senator portion is thirty feet wide and fifteen feet high so it's almost exactly twice as wide as it is high up to the eve before the roof begins then the roof itself. Has the type of material placed on the kind of architectural shingles that looked like it could potentially be slate and then there's a central. Centrally located -- so there's a lot of symmetry and order here which of course goes on with the windows and with the center entry in our case the center -- a little bit more elaborate than you would find in a true colonial -- those columns and the pediment above the entry another really important feature here I think was the wooden shutters that we put on the house substantial wooden shutters that look authentic."

 [-]


More Videos »Related Videos

Cape Cod-Style Architecture and Royal Barry Wills
Cape Cod-Style Architecture and Royal Barry Wills

Bob visits Cape Cod with Dick Wills, who is carrying on the work of his father, architect Royal Barry Wills. Beginning in the 1920s, the senior Wills popularized traditional New England-style architecture. According to his son, he was so impressed by the scale and proportion that our forefathers maintained that he dedicated his considerable energies to adapting those elements for modern families. Along with the traditional Colonial, Wills also appreciated the qualities of the New England Cape, a style that is simpler and generally smaller than the Colonial. Dick Wills takes Bob on a tour around his own Cape-style home, pointing unique architectural features that highlight the flexibility of the style.

Old-Style Shutters for an Older Home
Old-Style Shutters for an Older Home

Steve Nott of Steve Nott and Son Carpentry reviews the steps involved in installing the window shutters. The old shutter has been removed as it had fallen into a state of disrepair and might use lead paint. New shutters from J&L Shutters were used as replacements. The shutters are made from Permex, a synthetic material, and are pre-painted with a ten-year warranty. The shutters also have metal reinforcement through the stiles and historic-style hinges. The hinge section has already been attached to the shutter and the hinge pin is attached to the window casing. The shutter is a working shutter and can be closed to protect windows during a storm. Measurements for the screw holes have already been made. A pilot hole is then drilled into the wood. Pilot holes are important because drilling a screw into the wood without one can weaken the wood. Once the pins are in, the shutter is put into place. The shutter dog is then installed at the bottom to hold the shutter in an open position. First, the shutter dog is put in position and marked on the wall. A hole is then drilled into the stucco using a masonry bit. After the stucco is penetrated, the bit is switched to a standard bit to drill into the sheathing underneath. The use of the old-style hinges retains the historic appeal of the home. These shutters are resistant to rot and will last a long time.

Shingle-Style Architecture at Elm Court
Shingle-Style Architecture at Elm Court

The last stop on Bob Vila�s Berkshire Hills cottage tours is the largest shingle style home in America, the Elm Court mansion built by William Douglas Sloane and Emily Vanderbilt Sloane in 1886. Elm Court will play host to the final three Bob Vila�s Home Again episodes this season. Over the years it has had some adaptive reuse but no outright conversions and remains a family home. It began as a 17,000 square foot home but is now 70,000 square feet in size. The house has been occupied by as many as 70 family members. Its current owner, the great-great grandson of the original owners, has started a painstaking restoration of the home to make it both livable and useful for the community.

Installing Shaker-Style Engineered Doors
Installing Shaker-Style Engineered Doors

Bob talks with Dean Stewart of Woodport Doors about the interior door being installed. The door is a four-panel contemporary door with mission sticking, commonly referred to as a Shaker-style door. The door features an engineered-wood core with a birch-veneer face. Since it was not clear if the homeowner wanted to stain or paint the door, birch was selected because of its versatility. The engineered wood is a high-density material, making the door stabler and resistant to problems like warping.

Related Products & Services Showrooms

Shop for Interior & Exterior Doors - Lowest Price Guaranteed
Shop for Interior & Exterior Doors - Lowest Price Guaranteed

…out? Solid mahogany interior and exterior doors add beauty and sophistication to…
…of front door systems, wood doors, exterior doors, entry doors, interior doors…
…2 Panel Solid Arched Mahogany Door Exterior Doors $479 Exterior Oval Glass…

Columns, Pillars, Pilasters & Balustrades
Columns, Pillars, Pilasters & Balustrades

…contemporary, for both interior and exterior application. Please visit…
…capitals support the larger pediment of this classically designed…
…pedestals support the lower pediment. Chadsworth’s 1.800…
…product on Home Again! Exterior Column Installation Season…

More Content »More Content

Shutters: More than Just Window Dressing
Shutters: More than Just Window Dressing

…Selecting operable shutters that enhance a home's exterior and protect its…
…means of access, exterior shutters can close and bolt…
…redwood, or pine. Shutters may be painted or stained, but like all exterior wood, must be properly…

Traditional Shutters from Withers Industries
Traditional Shutters from Withers Industries

…Lifespan House The exterior shutters selected for the Lifespan…
…operable, these sturdy exterior shutters are functional as well…
…correctly position the shutters during installation…
…spacer between the exterior sill and the base of…

Stucco Painting, Exterior Repairs, Shutters, and High-End Decking
Stucco Painting, Exterior Repairs, Shutters, and High-End Decking

Exterior repairs, painting, and new…
…color stain for the new wood shingles, and trim paint on facing boards…
…privacy and a new antique-look exterior porch light is wired in. New operable shutters are installed with shutter dogs…

Restaining exterior shutters & garage door

I need to restain our exterior shutters and garage door. They are showing signs of greying and discoloration from the sun and I don't want to have to replace them. What do I do? I am not even sure where to start.

Browse Topics

Click on a letter to browse content by topic alphabetically.



About  | FAQ  | Contact  | Sitemap  | Privacy Policy  | Terms of Use  | Help

© BobVila.com 2009