One of the most typically American home styles is the American Foursquare, a style that first appeared around 1890 and remained popular into the 1930's. The American Foursquare was economical to build and incorporates elements of the Prairie School and Craftsman styles.
It's typically two-and-a-half stories with a full basement and a small dormer in the attic. Most foursquares have a pyramidal hip roof and a porch spanning the full front width of the house. As the name suggests, they tend to have a square footprint and generally contain four main rooms on each level: one room per corner.
I'm currently working with owners in of an American foursquare in Cazenovia, Wisconsin. They are fortunate in that much of the original interior woodwork in their home is still intact, including a beautiful built-in buffet in the dining room. As they work to update the home for their needs, they are converting a former 2-story 3-season porch into a heated space which will include a new mudroom, 1/2 bath and expanded kitchen space. I'm working with them to help them visualize options for a new porch or porches. Preliminary views of the three most promising possibilities are shown below. The Owner's selected option will be worked out in more detail.
It's typically two-and-a-half stories with a full basement and a small dormer in the attic. Most foursquares have a pyramidal hip roof and a porch spanning the full front width of the house. As the name suggests, they tend to have a square footprint and generally contain four main rooms on each level: one room per corner.
I'm currently working with owners in of an American foursquare in Cazenovia, Wisconsin. They are fortunate in that much of the original interior woodwork in their home is still intact, including a beautiful built-in buffet in the dining room. As they work to update the home for their needs, they are converting a former 2-story 3-season porch into a heated space which will include a new mudroom, 1/2 bath and expanded kitchen space. I'm working with them to help them visualize options for a new porch or porches. Preliminary views of the three most promising possibilities are shown below. The Owner's selected option will be worked out in more detail.
Option #1 - A small entry porch (right side) provides a covered entry for guests without blocking light through the living room windows.
Option #1 - The mudroom and dining room share a covered porch, which could be screened in. The detached garage (not shown) is to the left.
Option #2 - This option retains the shared porch between mudroom and dining room but has an entry porch which spans the full width of the front of the house (right side).
Option #3 - A wraparound porch on 2-1/2 sides of the house connects the entry door (right), dining room door and mudroom door.
Option #3 - view of mudroom and dining room doors
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