Hybrid House
While an authentic Tudor home was timber-framed for structural purposes and then infilled with wattle and daub, this Tudor Revival in Hertfordshire, England, boasts a hybrid exterior. The first floor was built of brick, and the second floor was stud-framed and then sided with faux half-timbering—a combination of stucco and decorative trim.
Daily Mail
Crisscross
When two or more rooflines intersect, the result is called a cross gable. This mock Tudor cottage in Oakland, California, illustrates how a cross-gable roof can create a multidimensional facade that hints at a more interesting interior layout than a single-ridge roof would. The cost of a cross-gable roof is higher, due to the relative complexity of joining the two rooflines.
Hooked on Houses
Crank It!
Glass was very expensive in Tudor times, so it was crafted in small pieces. In order to create a full window, the diamond-shaped pieces were held together with metal and set into casement frames. Twentieth-century Tudor Revivals were outfitted with leaded-glass casement windows that simulated the old-world aesthetic, a look that's delightfully re-created in this Toronto, Ontario, home.
Related: Bob Vila's Guide to Historic House Styles
Fill 'er Up
One way that homeowners and architects have upgraded the Tudor Revival look is by infilling between the exterior timbers with brick or stone instead of stucco. Actress Andie MacDowell's Asheville, North Carolina, Tudor-style home is customized with stone and pebbledash walls.
Related: 10 Ways to Bring Historic Style Home
Daily Mail
Top It Off!
While most Tudor-style homes these days are topped with slate or tile roofs, some homeowners continue to embrace the age-old thatched roof that has proven so sturdy and durable. In fact, some thatched roofs can last up to 60 years. Skilled artisans known as thatchers still craft highly effective roofs of bundled reed and straw for mock Tudors like this one in Baltimore, Maryland.
Related: Bob Vila's Guide to Historic Paint Colors
We-buy-houses-baltimore-md.com
Graceful Lines
The Tudor arch, also known as a depressed arch or a four-center arch, was a dramatic departure from its predecessor, the pointed Gothic arch. It is low and wide with a center point, and was used extensively in Tudor times in the design of doorways, mantel pieces, and window frames. The entrance to this gracious country club home perfectly illustrates the depressed arch style.
Related: What's Your House Style?
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Chim Chim Cher-ee
Prior to the introduction of chimneys, heating and cooking relied on an open hearth in the center of a main hall or large room, with a hole in the ceiling to draw out the smoke. Once chimneys became commonplace in Tudor homes, the wealthier homeowners added ornate stacks made of brick to their roofs, like this one on a 19th-century stable in Pennsylvania.
Related: Pro Tips: Wood-Burning Fireplaces
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Beam Me Up!
Authentic Tudor homes often had ceilings of exposed beams, painted dark with tar to prevent rot. This living room features decorative wood beams that have been stained dark brown to match the paneling. Other Tudor touches in the room include the depressed arch on the mantelpiece and the diagonal mullions on the windows.
Jetty, Set, Go!
A common characteristic of both authentic and mock Tudor homes is the jetty, an overhang of the second floor above the first. This feature is well illustrated by the Swan Hotel in Lavenham, England, which comprises three early-15th-century private homes that were eventually combined. Jetties have their roots in tax history: Because taxes were based on ground-floor square footage, the upstairs level could be built a little larger without incurring higher taxes—resulting in more floor space as well as the birth of a new architectural detail!
For More...
If you are interested in more about historic house styles, consider:
10 Ways to Bring Historic Style Home
Bob Vila's Guide to Historic House Styles
Bob Vila's Guide to Historic Paint Colors
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