|
When
the Adam brothers introduced the Federal style, their
influence was obviously Georgian – featuring symmetrical
rows of windows and a door that's either centered or
aligned with the lower window row. But emerging on the
heels of the Revolutionary War, any form of the "Georgian"
name was an unwelcomed reference to George III –
the king of Great Britain and the sworn enemy of the
colonists. Instead, "Federal" reflected the
spirit of the newly formed Republic.
The
distinctive details of the Federal style typically encompass
a range of flourishes inspired by Greek and Roman monuments.
Designs frequently feature clapboard as the dominant
exterior cladding, but are differentiated by Palladian
windows and embellishments such as a heavy cornice with
crown, medallions or dentil molding on fascia, window
crowns and other decorative swags and garlands.
Fortunately
for today's architects and designers, vinyl siding and
a wide array of vinyl and other polymeric trim and accessories
are available to enhance the range of the Federal style
flourishes.
The
vast selection of vinyl siding, architectural trim and
accessories also makes it easy for New Urbanist and
TND communities to include cohesive designs that allow
for homes with distinct character and individuality.
For
instance, the Federal style has newfound popularity
for townhouses (or row houses) in urban neighborhoods.
Thanks to vinyl siding, trim and accessories, designers
can give homes with shared walls distinctive looks of
their own. Even within the same row of townhouses, individual
units can showcase complementing or contrasting colors
– from light tones to dark hues of nearly 350 vinyl
siding colors certified
for color retention – as well as a broad variety
of distinguishing details.
From
the Revolutionary War to the evolutionary interpretations
of today, the Federal/Adam style has found a lasting
presence in American culture. And today's vinyl siding
helps the Federal style come to life easily and with
great value.
To
see more specifics on achieving the Federal style, check
out Designing
Style: A Guide to Designing with Today's Vinyl Siding.
|
