Summer came and went quickly this year! But we were able to squeak in a week at Cape Cod before school started. As it was our first trip to the Cape, I was very excited to view the lovely homes on Cape Cod. Especially since I grew up in one during my early years. I was not disappointed.
While the homes ranged in size and complexity, there were commonalities that inspired me to learn a bit more about this popular style and its history. The original Cape Cod style was originated by early settlers’ need for efficient and affordable housing that could withstand harsh the New England weather.
Early Cape Cod homes were typically one story cottages with steep roofs with side gables and small roof overhang, a central fireplace and little ornamentation. They tended to be symmetrical in appearance with the door in the center. More of a cottage, really.
Now early settlers did not call them “Cape Cod” homes at the time. It wasn’t until Reverend Timothy Dwight IV (a president of Yale University) recognized these houses as a class and coined the term “Cape Cod” after a visit to the Cape in 1800.
Over the next several generations the Cape Cod style home evolved to include shutters, dormers and the chimney moved from the center of the home to one end. Most are 1 1/2 stories high with the master bedroom on the first floor. During the colonial revival times of the 1930’s, Cape Cod homes became very popular and were mass-produced in the suburbs.
Here are a few beautiful homes I saw on vacation that I especially loved (many in the Chatham area). Not all are technically Cape Cod styled homes, but have some of the same characteristics. I was making my husband drive slow as I hung out the care window with my camera like a dog. Seriously! 
See if you can identify any Cape Cod characteristics in these gems.
This one is probably my favorite. Note the central chimney, shingles and dormers. I love the porch.
Many older Cape Cod homes have been expanded for more space. You can see the symmetrical balance of the core center of the home, as well as the steep roof, dormers and central fireplace.
A lovely ocean-front home. I love everything about this one!!
How charming is this!?!
Another beauty. Don’t you just love the porch on the left?
Ok, technically this next one is more of a colonial, which shares many of the same characteristics of a Cape Cod with its symmetry and use of dormers on the additions. How could you not be impressed with this beautiful home! The gardens alone are amazing!
Most people would return from vacation with snapshots of the beach and kids. What can I say…I’m not your typical traveler!
Did you go anyplace new for vacation this year? What kind of homes did you see?
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
These homes are beautiful and may have been on Cape Cod, but they’re not all Capes, by the classic definition.
The first, third and fourth houses are Capes, with a simple rectangular footprint for the main section. The rest except for the last are Shingle-Style homes. The last is classic Colonial.
Here is a good article on how to recognize a true Cape: http://www.capelinks.com/cape-cod/main/entry/how-can-you-recognise-an-original-cape-cod-style-house/
Those Cape Cod houses are so appealing. I just returned from San Diego where I enjoyed looking at houses like I do on every trip. There were many Craftsmen Bungalow style houses in yellows, blues and greens with white trim and great porches. A lot of houses were stucco. In La Jolla the houses on the hill sides overlooking the ocean had lots of glass. I came back with lots of photos of flowers and trees!
.-= Porch Days´s last blog ..To San Diego And Back! =-.
Thanks. I love the first cottage and the sprawling add-ons. I also like it when the new houses don’t look new.
I think my favorite is the same as yours!!!
Lovely homes! Visiting from Julia’s party. 
.-= Amanda @ Serenity Now´s last blog ..Hooked On: Summer Photobook Freebie =-.
Beautiful! I am in love with the second one…. that verandah!
.-= Linda aka Heartfire At Home´s last blog ..In Celebration Of – Feathers! =-.
The walkway on the colonial is so inviting. Glad you came back with house photos instead of beach photos. I have plenty of beach here already! Jane T.
.-= Atticmag´s last blog ..Blueberry Lattice Pie =-.
Hey, thanks Joe for the clarification! Do you know why many smaller homes have siding on the fronts and shingles on the sides? (Still trying to figure that one out).
Glad you all liked my vac pics. I’m thinking my next trip should be to photograph homes in Key West.
I’ve never been to Cape Cod but would love to go sometimes. These photos are great. All of the homes are so charming!
.-= pk´s last blog ..Creative Decorating Tips =-.
DELICIOUS! I soooo love those homes…well, except for the shingle-style one, but the architecture and style is just dreamy!
.-= the BLAH BLAH BLAHger´s last blog ..Hooked on Chimneas! =-.
I haven’t been to Cape Cod in years, but I’d love to go back. The houses were definitely one of the highlights for me. My vacation pics looked pretty much like yours–house after house after house. I don’t care what they’re called–Cape Cod, shingle, or Colonial–I think they’re all beautiful.
Enjoy the holiday weekend!
.-= Julia @ Hooked on Houses´s last blog ..Hooked On Old-Fashioned Candy Stores =-.
Yea, it’s all eye candy, whether chocolate or hard candy, right? Delicious!
HAH! I know that house, it’s right across from the fish pier and beach club. And get this, I live in NJ and just did a random search on the internet for “beautiful homes”. wWhat are the odds that I’d know the property in person so to speek.
Hey Matt…small world, huh? And to make the world even smaller, I used to live in NJ! lol – Thanks for stopping by!
Do you remember in which town the 2nd house was located? They’re all beautiful!!
beautiful! this is the true home .. but i want a vacation apartment, i already got a home or house just like that .. http://www.telavivapartments.net
Lovely! I think I also prefer the one you say you love everything about, because it is actually “Cape Cod” style, using “Cape Cod” to refer to a specific, recognized architectural style. I do not think that the others you show have much – or anything – in common with houses which fit into the “Cape Cod” architectural style. With their weathered cedar shingles, they do, of course, epitomize Cape Cod style, with Cape Cod referring to the geographic region. But, with their gambrel roofs, hip roofs, and shed dormers, they’re not “Cape Cod” houses in the architectural sense of the term.