What Makes Tudor Homes Unique?

Tudor homes are unique among American residential architecture. Their cottage-like facades are unmistakable. Inspired by the architectural features prominent in English design during the 16th century, Tudor Revival became popular in the U.S. during the decades following World War I. Asymmetrical rooflines, half-timbering, leaded windows and varied use of building materials are just some of the characteristics that make Tudor homes distinctive.

Embracing English Style

  1. One of the most distinctive features of Tudor-style homes is their half-timbering and stucco exterior. Half-timbering is the use of beams in a horizontal or vertical fashion, which in the 16th century were built with the structural beams showing on the outside to avoid the extra cost of covering up the large timbers. Tudor Revival homes -- those built in the 1920s and ‘30s -- feature cosmetic half-timbering that has nothing to do with the architectural integrity of the home. They often look like they should be sharing the block with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

Whimsical Exteriors

  1. The facade of Tudor-style homes often resembles a fairy tale cottage and looks like it is better situated in the English countryside than a city street. Some homes have turrets, while others have dramatically swept rooflines. It is very rare to find a true Tudor that is symmetrical. Sections of the house might be faced in stone or brick, and the use of a combination of building materials is common. Lantern-like lights often hang next to entrances to light the way inside.

Arched Architectural Features

  1. Both the interior and exterior of Tudor homes feature arches and curves. Often, the entrance to the home is arched, and a contrasting building material is used to emphasize the curved shape. The front door is arched to mimic the curve above it, and when you step inside, passages between rooms are often softened by a smooth curve overhead.

Distinctive Windows

  1. Windows in a Tudor-style home tend to be framed in dark wood to match the dark half-timbering element on the home's exterior. The glass of the window itself is leaded, meaning that the panes of glass are soldered together with lead. A diamond-shaped pattern is the most common of the leaded glass designs, but Tudor-style homes may have windows with semi-circle, rectangular or boxed diamond patterns. It is also common to see a stained glass element included in one or more of a home's windows, particularly symbols such as family crests and the fleur-de-lis.

Substantial Design

  1. Tudor-style homes feel heavy and solid. Despite the high roof peaks, rooflines on Tudor homes sweep toward the ground, and half-timbered gables give the appearance of timeless resilience to the elements. Inside, beams stretch across the ceilings of the larger common rooms. These may be part of the internal architectural structure of the building or they may be decorative. Substantive newel posts finish off the staircase of two-story Tudors, while ornate millwork is found in the form of kitchen cabinets or baseboards throughout the home.