As I’m sharing decorating books and pictures that inspire me as well as some of the things I’ve purchased for our future home (which is still just a daydream), I’m often asked about the decorating direction for our next home. The simple answer is, that I won’t fully know until we select the house. I believe in working with a house, really listening to it, and melding my vision with its best features. I don’t like to forcefully impose a style on a house that is completely at odds with what it was originally designed to be. The longer answer, which I will expand on in this post, is that I am feeling drawn to a more traditional style. I’m especially smitten with architecture and decor that showcases federal style. As with all architectural and decorating styles, the federal style can encompass a variety of features and aesthetics and it isn’t just one thing. It is typically known for and recognizable by its symmetry, detailed woodwork, paneling, built-in cabinets, and a center staircase.
One of the architectural books I’ve been pouring over as I’m dreaming of the next house is which features architectural plans, photos, and drawings of homes designed and built primarily in the Chesapeake Bay/Watershed area from the 1600s to the early 1800s.
Oh, for my fellow lovers of architecture, old homes, and federal style, this is a book you will really enjoy. It’s not so much a decorating book as a history book about mid-Atlantic American houses.
I appreciate that this book doesn’t only show federal-style homes built and owned by wealthy families, but shows a variety of homes from the abysmal living conditions provided to enslaved people to the modest middle-class houses of farmers and furniture makers.
This book dives into the beautiful molding and details of federal style as well as paint colors, building methods, the evolution of typical floorplans (which is fascinating), and more.
So, looking through this book made me realize I’ve loved federal-style homes and decor for a long time. I think that is one reason I was so drawn to the Noser’s house when I photographed it. (You can see a home tour HERE.)
While the home looks like a New England saltbox from the outside, there are definitely hints of federal style inside.
I can also see that leaning in Megan Miller’s home, which was also featured in .
And I was most excited about photographing federal-style homes when we were touring Charleston, SC a couple of years ago. (You can read about that HERE.)
Oh…the brick, the symmetrical 9 over 9 double-hung windows, the shutters, and I’m sure this house has a center staircase right inside of those wooden doors. That one gets a chef’s kiss from me.
Another lovely example of federal style showing the sloped roof line and dormers…
I found this house interesting because it’s federal style with a little blending of Lowcountry. Two great architectural styles merging beautifully.
I also dug up some photos taken on an old iPhone when I chaperoned a field trip to Fort Snelling in Minnesota. This house tour looked like it could’ve been right out of Williamsburg. I don’t know the story of the house, but I’m sure some fashionable person insisted on bringing some Chesapeake style to the midwest. This house is great example of the moldings and built-ins that I love so much about federal style.
You can also see this style making a comeback and merging with other styles, specifically in the chunky moldings painted in a color that stands out against cream or white walls.
I mean, give me wifi, plumbing, and AC and I’ll move right in.
In addition to the mantel and built-ins, I love the depth of the door casings, the paneled doors, the lockbox hardware, and details around the windows like built-in shutters that fold into the trim. They really knew how to design a house back then, didn’t they?
I also appreciate how federal-style homes, which were built before electricity and AC, were designed to maximize ventilation and natural light. The placement of windows and doors as well as the direction the house faced were all very intentional.
When I think about this particular style of home, it makes a lot of sense that I like it. First of all, I have always been drawn to old homes and antiques. Second, the place that was home base for our military family was Petersburg, VA, which is a hotbed for federal-style homes.
I can even see echoes of it in the home my Opa designed and built.
And, thirdly, the federal style is heavily influenced by English & European designs of the time, which I also love.
So, who knows what style of home we’ll end up purchasing and if it will be federal style, but I do hope I can sway my decorating style and the house in that general direction. I don’t want to go as far as having rope beds and chamberpots, but I would like to bring some of the federal style to a house with modern comforts.
What decorating styles are you feeling drawn to lately?
14 Responses
We are in total agreement on architecture and old home styles. I just adore the Federal style over all the others.
When I lived in NJ I lived in a 1940’s Colonial Revival with many Federal touches. We moved to Virginia and into an 1829 plantation style home which needed major reviving. There were Federal details everywhere which we enhanced. We were there for 9 years and then moved into a 1990’s log home. Poof! All my lovely Federal details had vanished.
I hope you end up in an interesting home…of course. If it’s not interesting when you buy it you will make it so.
We’ll this posting answers my question about a change in design I’ve been seeing on your blog . Now I’m really intrigued by what comes next for you in home design. Federal style is so gracious and warm.
Beautiful and interesting post. The inside photos look early American mixed with subdued Victorian. I can’t help but be gaga over all the wood details. I’m excited to see what emerges on your next house “canvas.” And by the way, I think the best part of decorating is listening to the house. Most speak volumes as to how they would like to be dressed. ❤️
Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos. I love color, architectural details, antiques and a beautiful gardens. I can’t wait to see how you decorate your home. It will be so much fun! Enjoy!
Born and raised in Southside Virginia, the Federal Style architecture is “home” to me. Now living in Tennessee, I got homesick for this style of house when reading your post. One note: The photo of the blue door that you show above, I just learned that it was called a “Christian Door”. Do you see the “cross” in the top 2/3rds of the door moldings? Also, the lower third represents an open bible. I saw this explained on a historic home show on HGTV. Very interesting!
I love all the architectural details, they make me swoon. But I am in love with the craftsman style home. I have always dreamed of owning one. Big porch, and all.
I love that brick house pictured in the post. Old brick is something I feel completely drawn to….it’s nothing like today’s brick for character. We retired to a 1775 Cape in NH. The house has four fireplaces with their old brick and a giant center chimney on its roof. The house was in disrepair when we found it, but that brick was incredible!!!! Our Cape has tall ceilings, and is actually a fairly large home for its style. It’s a antique fruit farm set off by itself on a cul-de-sac at the end of a lovely road – it’s grounds are heavenly, a mix of manicured lawns and patio close to the house itself and wild and woodsy around its perimeter. I don’t love super primitive decor, so am carefully trying to decorate it over time with country house furnishings like scrubbed pine and antique rugs. Like you, I need my amenities, though! I even slipcovered some old chairs from your tutorials, Marian, and they fit right in!
There is a subdivision in Cary, NC when you return you may want to look at. It’s called Williamsburg Commons
I have always loved Craftsman style homes. And I do love a good Victorian home too! But my favorite is what would most likely be called Georgian Revival! Both of my grandmothers lived in homes that were built in Philadelphia (West Philly) around 1912. Their homes had BEAUTIFUL woodwork! French doors that led to patios. Lovely bannisters on the stairs. High windows in the dining room that I remember to open, you had to pull the screen opening in to push the glass to open out. (A forerunner of casement windows??) Glass door knobs. Radiator covers. The list of details goes on and on! I think I’m drawn most to this style because of all the happy memories and feelings of love and comfort when I was there in their homes! ♥️
My mom was from Sturbridge, Massachusetts so our house and my grandparents’ houses were heavy with Colonial Revival influences. I feel that style plus primitive to really be in my veins, so those elements trickle in to my more relaxed and blended American farmhouse style. I love the crispness and symmetry of the Federal houses, and particularly love the chairs of the time. It is always satisfying to have the element of spare order to showcase fine workmanship! I am looking forward to you finding a wonderful house for your new tableau!
I loved the house you just moved from. From the outside I wouldn’t have expected what to me was colonial style inside. Whatever house you purchase, I hope you will give it your personal stamp like you did that house. The federal homes in your photos look cold and uninviting to me – not enough personal details which is what I loved about your former home. I am confident that whatever you buy you will decorate it as beautifully, if not more so, as the one you just left. I look forward to going on the journey of a new to you home with you.
Oh yeah, I like the architecture. My decorating would definitely have warmth and more personality. Those interior photos are from a living museum, so they were trying to show what life was like during that time period. 🙂 And I agree, our last house was based on a four-square colonial, which is why I was drawn to it.
Thanks so much for the information about the book as I live in Maryland and love the Federal
Period too. You might also find the book and illustrations by Don Swann also interesting. Enjoy the search!!
Federal has been our decorating style leaning for 40 years when we built a brick and stucco Tudor. but the Florida homes that followed that were not Federal so I took it in a coastal direction which landed in an Island British Colonial vibe. Our current home is nevu West Indies architecture. I love English Country decorating and Colonial American pieces so there are bits of pieces of that here and there for my own pleasure but I doubt anyone would pin that name on our decorating.