Architectural Styles in Seattle

Architectural home styles are typically defined by the era. But in Seattle, you will tend to find distinct styles in each neighborhood. For example, you will find Victorian style homes in Queen Anne and craftsman homes in Ballard. Let’s explore the different types of styles and the era, and area, they represent.

Elegant and grand, Victorian style homes dominated the late 1800’s. Gable roofs, detailed ornamentation, large covered porches and most distinctly, a turret. It’s no wonder Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood is filled with them. Rich in culture and history, Queen Anne is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city.

This next style is uniquely Seattle. Dubbed the “Seattle Box”, this style home is defined by its namesake and stems from the American Foursquare homes. It looks like a box with a covered porch. Typically two stories, most of these homes have large bay windows. You can find these in Capitol Hill.

Craftsman style homes first entered the scene in the 1910’s and stayed popular throughout the years. This is my favorite style which offers a gabled roof with overhanging eaves, smaller covered porch than its predecessors, trim around the doors and windows adding charm throughout the exterior.

The next popular style is the mid-century style home. In the 1950’s, home builders and buyers wanted high vaulted ceilings, lots of windows, and a vintage look. Offering stronger angles, sloped rooflines, and symmetry dominated in the 50’s and 60’s.

Split entry or split-level homes are one of the more iconic style homes in outlining areas of Seattle, including Shoreline and Kenmore. Split levels were thought to be geared more towards families with children, to allow more space for movement. Upon walking in, you’re met with two sets of stairs to go to the upper and lower levels.

The late 90’s and early 2000’s saw revivals and modern hybrids of the traditional home. Taking notes from craftsman homes, tudors, and Northwest contemporary, the homes of two decades ago showed more builder craftsmanship. Cleaner lines and more square footage were the norm. However, with the current influx of new residents, the latest styles have become more condensed.

Since the boom of large tech giants like Amazon and Facebook, we have seen the city become more dense. With the density and recent up zones, there are more homes built on smaller lots. They are rectangular with flat roofs to incorporate rooftop decks. Higher end finishes, straight lines, and efficiency are more common.

Architectural styles of homes speak highly of its era. However, I am confident that highly efficient homes is a trend that will never go out of style.