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Elite Celebrity Daily

What is Cape Cod style decorating

Author

Joseph Russell

Updated on June 23, 2026

Inspired by traditional English cottages, Cape Cod homes feature steep gabled roofs with dormer windows. Other common features include symmetrical designs with clapboard or wood-shingle siding and multi-pane, double-hung windows accented with wood shutters.

What makes a house a Cape Cod style?

A Cape Cod house is a low, broad, single-story frame building with a moderately-steep-pitched gabled roof, a large central chimney, and very little ornamentation.

What are Cape Cod windows called?

Double-hung windows are the predominate window type for both the front and back façade of the Cape Cod home. A popular variation of the double-hung window has the top and lower sash of different heights.

What is Cape Cod style interior?

A Cape Cod house is typically single- or two-story, wide and rectangular-shaped, and features symmetrical windows on either side of the central front door. Cape Cods are often defined by their practical gabled roofs with dorm windows, which are composed of two sloping sections that meet in a roof ridge at the top.

What's the difference between a Cape Cod and a bungalow?

These two architectural styles sometimes get confused with each other, since they often share some overlapping features, including gabled roofs, a single story design, and a symmetrical exterior. However bungalows lack some of the other key features of a Cape, such as prominent central chimneys.

How do you identify a Cape Cod?

  1. Symmetrical appearance with a centered front entry.
  2. Steep roofs with side gables and an overhang.
  3. Shingle siding.
  4. Gabled dormers.
  5. Double-hung windows with shutters.
  6. Centralized chimneys.
  7. Simple exterior ornamentation.

How do you modernize a Cape Cod exterior?

  1. What’s unique about Cape Cod-style homes? …
  2. Add or replace the fence. …
  3. Put in bigger windows. …
  4. Add planter boxes to windows. …
  5. Upgrade to new exterior shutters or repaint existing ones. …
  6. Simplify outdoor decor. …
  7. Throw in a pop of color to your landscaping. …
  8. Reveal the original siding.

What is Cape Cod known for?

Cape Cod is famous for sandy beaches, lobster rolls, and laid-back fun. But the Cape and Islands have also been the inspiration for some incredible, unique brands and products inspired by seaside life.

What is a half Cape Cod house?

There are three types of Cape Cod houses: a half-Cape, ¾-Cape and a full-Cape. The half-Cape has two front-facing windows and a door off to the side. Three-quarter-Capes have two windows, a door and a single window on a smaller end of the house.

What is a Cape Cod style kitchen?

Coastal-Inspired Kitchens and Dining Rooms Light and bright painted wood cabinets, beadboard on walls, airy layouts, nautical themes, and overall comfortable and guest-friendly feel are all hallmarks of Cape Cod-style kitchen designs. … Color schemes are also hugely important in Cape Cod kitchen designs.

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What is double-hung window?

A double-hung window, also commonly referred to as a double-sash window, is a type of window that has two operable sashes that slide up and down. There are two main operable parts of a double-hung window — the top sash and the bottom sash. They are both able to open to provide ventilation.

How many stories is a Cape Cod house?

A Cape Cod is a rectangular-shaped two-story home with a symmetrical floor plan and a center entry hallway.

What type of house is a cottage?

A cottage is a type of small house that can fit any number of architectural styles and house designs. The definition of a cottage varies among cultures, but a cottage tends to be a small, cozy home in the countryside—often a summer home or vacation home.

What is the difference between a cape and a colonial?

The Cape Cod house has a gabled roof, which means the roof has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. In the case of the Dutch Colonial house, the roof has a gambrel roof: There are two sides and each side has two slopes. The first slope is shallow and the second is steep.

How do I make my cape house bigger?

Open Up Walls One of the best ways to create the illusion of more space is by opening up your space and removing walls. The Cape Cod home traditionally consists of enclosed spaces. By opening walls, you’re not actually adding square footage, but you improve flow and brighten the space by letting in more light.

How much does it cost to expand a Cape Cod house?

If you’re interested in raising the roof on a Cape Cod home, prepare to pay between $15,000 and $125,000. The total cost of raising the roof on a Cape Cod house depends on your ultimate goal. To change the pitch of the roof, expect to pay between $60 to $198 per square foot.

Do Cape Cod houses have porches?

Over the years, we see that Cape Cod homes have morphed from very plain square structures to larger abodes. … You might even find a porch on the front or back of a modern Cape Cod. All additions increased the living space of the home but by no means took away it’s charm.

What is a Cape Colonial house?

The Cape House: It is traditionally characterized by a low, broad frame building, generally a story and a half high, with a steep, pitched roof, end gables, a large central chimney and very little ornamentation.

Where did the Cape Cod style house originated?

Colonial Cape Cod Home Though the style is quintessentially American, the first Cape Cods were developed by early settlers from England in the 1600s. Partially inspired by the simple, thatched cottages common in Britain, the settlers adapted the style to keep out the harsh New England winter.

What is a 3/4 Cape Cod house?

3/4 Cape Cod. Full (Double) Cape – with a central front door and two multi-paned windows placed symmetrically on either side. Full (Double) Cape Cod. The half and three quarters Capes are typical for Colonial times, while the later with its symmetrical layout is popular among the Revivals.

Is a Cape Cod house a cottage?

Cape Cod architecture is one of the most instantly recognizable home styles in the U.S. At its core, an original Cape Cod house is a small, rectangular, unadorned one to one-and-a-half-story cottage with a steep pitched roof to keep snow from piling up and side gables.

Why is it called Cape Cod?

Cape Cod was named by Bartholomew Gosnold, an English explorer who visited its shores in 1602 and took aboard a “great store of codfish.” In 1620 the Pilgrims landed at the site of Provincetown, on the hooked tip of Cape Cod, before proceeding to Plymouth. …

Is Cape Cod pretty?

With its beautiful sandy beaches and laid-back atmosphere, Cape Cod is a popular summer vacation destination for nearby Boston and New York. … Come in June to see the Cape decorated in pink roses, or in the spring to find roadsides–especially on Nantucket–splashed with daffodils.

What should you not miss on Cape Cod?

  • Go On A Whale Watch. …
  • Bike The Cape Cod Rail Trail. …
  • Overdose On Ice Cream. …
  • Watch A Menemsha Sunset. …
  • Tour All The Local Lighthouses. …
  • Rollerblade The Cape Cod Canal. …
  • Climb To The Top Of The Provincetown Monument. …
  • Walk The National Seashore.

What can you do on Cape Cod for a day?

  • Cape Cod National Seashore. With 40 miles of pristine sandy coastline, the Cape Cod National Seashore is full of lighthouses and scenic beaches. …
  • North Beach Island. …
  • Mayflower Beach. …
  • Old Silver Beach. …
  • Breakwater Beach. …
  • Paine’s Creek Beach. …
  • Shining Sea Bikeway. …
  • Sandwich Boardwalk.

How do you renovate a galley kitchen?

  1. Paint the Walls a Space-Enhancing Shade. A fresh coat of paint is the first remodeling idea you should consider for a galley kitchen. …
  2. Add Windows and Let There Be Light. …
  3. Choose Understated Flooring. …
  4. Install Sleek Cabinetry. …
  5. Turn Your Galley Kitchen Into an Open Kitchen.

How do I know if my window is single or double hung?

The easiest way to tell if you have a single-hung window is to look below the top sash on the exterior of the window. Double-hung windows will have a small space between the sash and the jamb allowing it to slide up and down. Sometimes that space is caulked or painted over making it difficult to see though.

When should windows be replaced in a home?

Many window design professionals agree that new, quality windows should last between 15 and 20 years before you start to think about replacing them. Most companies producing vinyl windows often provide a 20-25 year warranty, which is essentially a lifetime warranty – the expected lifetime of the product.

What is a vinyl window?

Vinyl Windows are windows made out of a plastic material, PVC. … Vinyl windows aren’t as durable as wood windows, but they can last over 20 years. A quality vinyl window will also save you money on energy bills because the insulation in the frame of the window itself is energy efficient.

How tall is a Cape Cod house?

Total Living AreaMain floor: 900 Upper floor: 728Basement: 890 Total Sq. Ft.: 1628Beds/BathsBedrooms: 3 Full Baths: 1Half Baths: 1Levels2 storiesDimensionWidth: 35′ 6″ Depth: 28′ 8″Height: 26′ 5″Walls (exterior)2″x6″

How much does it cost to build a Cape Cod house?

Cape Cod. The average cost to build a Cape Cod home in California is around $350 to $500 per square foot.