Historical Study

Cape Cod Style Residential Home

Gabrielle Fernandez

Image: Original

The focus of this historical study is a residential home located at 13 Woodstone Lane in
Basking Ridge, New Jersey. This four bedroom home located on 0.45 acres features elements
that predominately exemplify a Cape Cod style of residential architecture.
Built in 1944 this home fits the timeline of Cape Cod construction in the United States.
While this style of home originated in the colonial period, it once again became a popular choice
between the 1920s and the 1950s (Ireland, 2018, page 410). In its’ current state, the home
appears to have an addition built on the right-hand side of the home due to the chimney
placement. While it was typical for the chimney of Cape Code style home to reside centrally in
the structure to heat the home, southern examples featured the chimney on exterior walls of the
home. This information suggests that the chimney of this home originated on exterior wall of the
main structure, which is now between the central rectangular section and the right-hand room.
Examining the layout further, the central rectangular section described above was built
symmetrically with two windows flanking the entrance. This symmetry is typical in Cape Cod
homes, along with windows in the gables as seen on the left-hand side of this home (Ireland,
2018, page 410). Examining the depth of the architecture, this structure also falls is in line with
the later evolution of the Cape Cod style home to be two rooms deep with a sleeping loft in the
attic (Ireland, 2018, page 410).
 Another predominant feature of the home is the roof. This steeply pitched gable roof with
minimal overhang was a typical feature of Cape Cod style colonial homes due to the coastal
winds experienced (Ireland, 2018, 410). The material of the roof appears to be cedar shingles,
and while not original to the house, wooden shingles were prevalent during colonial construction
due to the plentiful number of trees available (NPS, n.d.) and the durability during heavy rains
and snows in comparison to thatched roofs (Ireland, 2018, page 408).
Having walked by this home countless times, it has always been a favorite due its tasteful
finishes, layout, and add-ons such as the side rooms and garage. As I reflect on the historical and
stylistic influences analyzed above, I realize that a component that makes this house so attractive
its’ strong cohesive historical influences. The homes’ siding, brick fireplace, and black shutters
are all aligned with the historical style of the house. As you look at the updates made to the
house in just the past ten years, it almost appears that the house became less modernized and
truer to its original style. This can be seen through the roof material chosen, and the symmetrical
garage with a similarly gabled roof.

Image: Long and Foster Real Estate Image: Original

As someone originally from the Western part of the United States, my experience with
colonial style homes is historically minimal. Having conversations with my husband’s family
who is from the New Jersey town this home resides in, styles such as “English Colonial” or
“Cape Cod” emerged often. While I saw degrees of differences in these styles, I am pleasantly
surprised by my newfound knowledge about colonial architecture and the influences society at
the time had on it. Pinpointing the features of the architectural styles is exciting to me and
moving forward I aim to utilize and honor historical styles of a structure as they create order and
flow aesthetically.
References

Ireland, J. (2018). History of Interior Design (2nd Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.

Technical Preservation Services (n.d). The Repair and Replacement of Historical Wooden
Shingle Roofs. NPS. https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/19-wooden-shingle-
roofs.htm#introduction