Our Real Estate 101: House Style Series covers a variety of architectural styles that can be found in the Chicagoland area, including Tudors, Cape Cods, Craftsman-style homes, and more. Find definitions of terms like "pitch" and "hipped" in our June 2023 Real Estate 101: Gable or Gambrel? Dormer or Bay? blog post. (currently unavailable; new link coming soon)
Cape Cod or Colonial?
Wondering if that charming brick home and pitched roof with a for sale sign out front is a Cape Cod or a Colonial? If it's either one, then it's both! A Cape Cod is one of the many home styles falling under the Colonial architectural style umbrella. Other Colonial styles include Georgian, French Colonial, and Dutch Colonial.
Like Traditional Colonials, sometimes called American, British, or English Colonials, Cape Cods also feature a generally simple symmetrical design with a central door and a rectangular shape.
What Makes a Cape Cod Unique?
The biggest difference between Cape Cods and other Colonial styles is size. Cape Cods tend to have a smaller footprint than other Colonials. Most other Colonials, including Traditional Colonials, typically have 2 or even 3 stories, while most Cape Cods have one-and-a-half or sometimes two floors.
Other differences include:
- Chimney location: The Cape Cod's chimney is central to the home, while the chimney on most Colonials is at one end of the home.
- Roof: Other Colonials, like the Georgian and the Dutch Colonial, do not typically feature the pitched roof that Cape Cods are known for.
- Exterior: Georgians and other Colonials have ornate exteriors with posts and other decorative features, while the Cape Cod exterior is usually simple and clean.
A Typical Cape Cod
You can find many homes featuring typical Cape Code features in Elmhurst and the Chicagoland area, like this Cape Cod at 194 S Hawthorne.
This recently-sold LW Reedy listing shows the classic Cape Cod central entry with one multi-paned, shuttered window on each side.
Cape Cod Evolution
Like many other modern Cape Cods, the one above features many updates. The evolution of the Cape Cod design is reflected in this home's dormer windows, which, along with an added family room and ensuite primary bedroom, increase the living space of the modern Cape Cod.
Learn more about different house styles in the next post in our Real Estate 101: House Styles Series.
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Get in touch with your LW Reedy real estate agent today for answers to your questions about house styles, buying or selling a house, the real estate market, or Elmhurst and surrounding communities.
