Doin' It The Cape Cod Style

By Author: Lawrence Cooks
Total Articles: 15
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Minnesotan architecture is an interesting mix of the old and new. Some houses in Minnesota are as old as Minnesota itself. For example, the Ard Godfrey House located today in Chute Square Park was built in 1848. Minnesota was admitted into the Union a decade later. Some of the old styles, namely Colonial, Italianate, Spanish, Tudor, Victorian, and so on were mostly transplanted from New England, brought bythem to the Midwestern state when they settled there.

The Cape Cod style is a sub-category of the Colonial style which is preferred by many homeowners for their starter homes because the Cape is as charming as the Colonial, but less expensive to build. The Cape has originated from New England and reached the peak of its popularity in Minnesota from 1940s to 50s.

The Cape has the following characteristics: a center entrance door flanked by a window on each side (sometimes, these windows would have shutters); 1.5 stories in height; often it would have dormers atop the first floor windows.

If you want the dramatic effect of having a main entrance at the center of your house with shutters on either side, then check out remodelers. Minnesota ...
... would have them listed on the phonebook. To turn your house into a Cape, remodelers would install double-hung windows all throughout your house. If you want a bay window either in your dining room or your living room so that you can enjoy the view, just tell your remodeler. Be as specific as possible.

Dormers are another distinct feature of a Cape. Dormers are like tiny roofs that stick out from the main roof. Usually, dormers serve as the window for the attic or any upper floor. Dormers could be gable fronted, hipped roof, flat roof, wall, and link dormers. Each of these has its own features and advantages. Remodelers (Minnesota) would know that the most common type of dormer used in Minneapolis is the gable fronted type.

Mixing the cape with modern features is also carried out by remodelers (Minnesota). Your remodeler will walk you through the whole process. Everything that fits your lifestyle would be incorporated by them into the design of your home.