Italianate Houses In Minnesota

By Author: Lawrence Cooks
Total Articles: 15
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The Italianate architectural style migrated to the American Midwest by way of New England. The first Italianate house was built in Great Britain by John Nash in 1802. In the 1840s, it flourished as part of the Picturesque Movement. Alexander Jackson Davis popularized the style. At the same time, the English brought the style with them to the US when they began occupying the Northeastern part of the US. Settlers who came from New England introduced the Italianate style to the Midwest.

Italianate houses, as the name implies, are replicas of an Italian villa. As an architectural style, it developed as a reaction to the austerity of the Gothic style dominant at the time, for this architectural style is characterized by ornateness. It emphasizes verticality, rather than the horizontality favored by either the Prairie Style or the Bungalow Style.

Normally, Italianates are two to three stories high and they would have very high ceilings (at least 10 feet). The house would normally be T-shaped or L-shaped. It would have a low-pitched hipped roof which is almost flat. On top of the house, one would usually find a cupola. ...
... And its most distinctive feature? Its decorative cornice bracketed by an intricate pattern beneath a wide overhang.

Italianate doors are big and tall. On top of the ornately designed exterior, the inside of an Italianate house would be just as ornate. Remodelers (MN) can incorporate modern features into your Italian-inspired house by installing modern appliances and high tech gadgetry without sacrificing the charm of this old style house.

What make Italianate houses distinct are their bracketed eaves or overhanging edges. Roof edges, also known as eaves, have bracket designs such as one would find on one end of a Roman pillar. Transoms can also be incorporated by remodelers (MN), which would be ideal for the summer months as they would create more ventilation. Transoms are small rectangular windows placed right on top of the door.

Remodelers (MN) can give your house the upgrade that it needs. Just find one that has experience renovating Italianate style residences. Check out other styles as well. Your remodeler would talk to you about different Minnesota architectural styles, compare them with your lifestyle and your budget and make the appropriate recommendations.