Georgian Architecture & Porches

Porches

• Many Georgian-style homes had no porch at all. A prominent, paneled front door decorated the front of the house, visible from the street. Guests entered the house directly from the street, or by climbing a few steps. Some had brief awnings or overhangs over the door to shelter the visitor minimally from the weather. In Georgian architecture, nothing broke the clean line of the house's facade.

Additions

• If you see a Georgian-style home with a front porch, the porch was likely added later, or the home is a combination of styles, such as Italianate or Greek Revival and Georgian. These styles featured prominent porches with columns and archways. Since Georgian architecture was popular at the same time as Greek Revival and Italianate styles, some architects combined elements of each style into a single, eclectic home.

Popularity of Porches

• As the 1800s progressed, porches became more and more popular, not only as shelter from the weather for visitors, but to extend the living space of the home. Families could dine on their porches during warm weather, or merely gather to visit. This change in fashion could be the reason some homeowners added porches to their Georgian homes.

Confusion About Styles

• Some homes that are termed Georgian are really examples of Colonial or Federal architecture. All three styles were popular during the 1800s, but they have pronounced differences. Large front porches, often extending across the front of the house and to the second story, were a striking feature of Colonial architecture. Federal architecture is true Georgian style with an American flare, with details such as a half-round fanlight over the front door. Federal homes often featured oval rooms, like the oval office in the White House.