I love living in Westchester. After calling California home for years, I have to admit – I wasn’t jumping for joy at the ideas of enduring some New York winters again. But now, I can’t imagine living anywhere else! Westchester has been such an amazing place to raise a family, meet fantastic people, and enjoy all of the fun things each town and neighborhood has to offer.
One thing I love about Westchester is the variety in the architecture. Whether you’re in Chappaqua, Larchmont, Irvington, Rye, or Scarsdale, you can see completely different style homes from one street to the next. Curious about what style home you have, or what you want to look for in your next home? Keep reading!
Colonial Style Homes
If you’re picturing the white house with a red door, a beautiful lawn and a white picket fence – you’re probably thinking of a colonial style home. This style is very prominent in Westchester, introduced way back in the 17th and 18th century. Westchester colonials typically have two floors (sometimes three), in a saltbox style (right on top of one another). Many colonial style homes in Westchester also have an attached garage and full basement.
These homes tend to have larger square footage, great for families.
Tudor Revival
Tudor style homes are famous for their old world charm – they feel like stepping into a storybook. With steeply pitched gable roofs, decorative half-timbering, masonry chimneys and lots of gorgeous arched entryways, there are plenty of tutors to be found in Westchester.
Tudors were really popularized during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While old homes can sometimes be tricky to design, I love to add some modern traditional style to an older home! Tudors are popular in some of the more historic neighborhoods in Westchester, like Bronxville (surrounding my office!), New Rochelle, and areas of Rye.
Victorian
Talk about story book style homes – victorian homes transport me back and make me feel like I’m in a period piece! With ornate details, decorative trim, and asymmetrical design, victorians are elegant and beautiful. Many victorian homes have wrap-around porches, which can be so fun to style!
If you’re in the Rivertowns, you’re probably surrounded by many beautiful victorian homes. They can sometimes lack closet space, but lucky for you, I have helped many clients solve this problem by recommending and designing functional, beautiful closet systems.
Split Level
There was a big boom in home construction in the 1950’s and 1960’s in Westchester, which means there are lots of split level homes! This was a really popular style then.
A split level means just that – the levels are split. There are usually three levels – basement, main floor, and upper floor. A standard feature in a split level is the option to go up or down when you enter the home. In Westchester, lots of split levels also have a nice grand ceiling and open floor plans, making them great for families and entertaining.
What is your favorite style home? What are your design challenges in your current style home? Let me know if I can help!
