Tudor style homes are experiencing a nationwide revival, inspiring people to build Tudor houses and remodel their existing homes with style elements from the era.
In this article, we’ll provide some background about these fascinating structures. We’ll also share tips for bringing Tudor history to life in your home.
The History of Tudor Style Homes
The original Tudor home period arose between 1485 and 1558 in England when Renaissance and Gothic designs merged to form a final Medieval style. As a result, Tudor is considered a transitional home style before the more formal Elizabethan Tudor architecture in the mid-1550s.
At the height of Tudor home design, craftsmen hand-built each of these sophisticated homes with the help of renowned architectural experts. As a result, the finest Tudor homes were individual masterpieces representing the pinnacle of the era’s superior design and style.
Today’s Tudor homes are large, manor-style structures with stately features inspiring reverence and evoking historical significance. Many of them are technically called Tudor revival homes, which are somewhat more ornate than original Tudor homes but retain the same unmistakable air of Gothic self-assurance.
What Are the Elements of Tudor Style?
Sharp Rooflines With Visible Half-Timbers
Almost all Tudor-style homes appear heavily timbered on the exterior, with sharp roof angles set off by arched doorways and windows. The standout exterior woodwork on a Tudor home is called half-timber or perpendicular architecture, although the angles are more steep than perpendicular.
Two-Toned Tudor Exteriors
Tonal contrast is important in the Tudor style because it highlights a structure’s architectural precision. A two-toned black-and-white Tudor home is a modern classic. If a black-and-white color scheme isn’t your preference, consider adorning your Tudor-style home with contrasting brown, cream, and natural wood tones for a similar aesthetic.
Handsome Stonework, Stucco, and Brick
Many Tudor-style homes in the U.S. have wood-sided exteriors. Others have stonework, brickwork, or stuccoed forms with eye-catching stone or brick chimneys.
When you see a bottom-heavy brick Tudor house in the U.S., there’s a good chance it was built in the 1910s or 1920s during a previous American Tudor revival period that favored brickwork. In addition, American Tudor homes rarely have front porches to maintain a formal and historic appearance.
Structural Transoms and Mullions
Inside the home, consider incorporating the hallmark interior design features from the period. For example, structural transoms are long horizontal beams or crosspieces positioned between doors and windows. Many original Tudor homes were filled with window transoms to permit airflow while adding architectural beauty.
Mullions are vertical structural members supporting arches and lintels throughout the rooms of a home. In some cases, Tudor mullions are incorporated into artistic room dividers, window coverings, and doors for added security and style.
Reed Glass and Leaded Windows
During the 1400s and 1500s, few people could afford the luxury of large glass windows. Instead, Tudor windows were often constructed of small, individual glass pieces formed into complex lattice structures with lead borders. These finely-crafted windows were so valuable people often brought them along when they moved into new homes.
Reed glass, a type of wavy glass, was a common element of the Tudor era and remains popular for feature windows in today’s Tudor homes. You can get the look by installing stained glass windows with beveled edges and clear, milky, or dark-colored glass pieces.
Arched Doorways and Cabinetry
Tudor style is often regarded as sharply angular, but don’t forget about the numerous archways and curved details that accompany the style. Anything from cabinets to your front door can have smooth, gently arched tops. Some of today’s Tudor-style homes even have arched garage doors to merge modern needs with classic architecture.
Painted Ceilings
When it’s time to paint and decorate your interior, maintain the Tudor look by taking a page from history. Original Tudor homes had ornately painted ceilings capping off the rooms like artworks in the sky. Highlight these ceiling designs with wood frames and trim, completing the sharply-lined Tudor style.
Tudor Style Elements in an MC Homes Build
2023 St. Jude Dream Home
At MC Homes, our goal is to bring your vision to life, regardless of how much of that vision you already have in mind. Some of our clients have very specific style elements they want to include in their builds, and we work closely with them to execute the optimal balance between style and function to create a perfect look that will enhance their everyday lives.
But, sometimes, a client might not have a specific style or elements when drafting the plans for their dream home. That’s when our team truly gets to showcase our abilities, not just in creating a desirable and functional space for homeowners, but a desirable and functional space that still speaks specifically to them.
The projects we undertake each year for the St. Jude Dream Home giveaway are a shining example of that. In these builds, which we have been proud to be a part of now for seven years, our team gets to design AND build this home from the ground up, and for a noble cause.
This year’s St. Jude Dream Home will feature some lovely nods to the tudor style homes, including some beautiful arched doorways (including the front door), cabinetry and reeded glass that will seamlessly blend this classic style with modern amenities. You can see some examples of the work in progress here.
Design Your Tudor-Style Home With MC Homes
Are you dreaming of living in a gorgeous Tudor-style home? MC Homes can make your dream come true. Contact us about choosing the location, layout, and style of your perfect home.
MC Homes: Reflecting you in every build.