Shingle Style

The Shingle style was popularized by McKim, Mead & White, one of the most prominent architectural firms in America during the 19th century. It is characterized by horizontal massing and a gabled roof, slanted on two sides and flat on the others, while the entire exterior is covered in decorative shingles. Most Shingle-style homes resemble Colonial-era cottages, with wide, sweeping porches supported by columns. The homes are typically asymmetrical and will have varying numbers of dormers and window sizes. Although the surface will be covered in shingles, the result is austere and not at all overwhelming. There is a real craft rooted in the Shingle style, which is evident in its use of features such as stone column supports and exterior chimneys. At times, the house may be a perfect, sweeping rectangle; in other examples it may have a round face with many protruding bay windows.