Highlights
The federal architectural style was prevalent from 1785–1830.
Designers simplified the Georgian style but kept its basic structure.
Ovals, fans, and Palladian windows dominated the style.
Exterior facades are symmetrical and simple, with touches of Greek and Roman influence.
At the tail end of the American Revolution, a new wave of architects had the opportunity to—quite literally—build a style of homes from the ground up. If you live in a pre-1830's home and ever asked yourself, "What kind of home do I have?" it could be from the American Federal period.
Federal-style homes celebrate some of the most iconic elements of American architecture we have today, but let's take a look at how to spot this iconic style out in the wild.
The History of Federal-Style Homes
Despite American enthusiasm for the Federal style, it was the Scottish Adam brothers who originally developed the design before the style made the leap to the United States around 1785, according to the Pennsylvania Historical Museum and Commission. American architects such as Charles Bulfinch and Samuel McIntire—among others, including Thomas Jefferson—ran with the refined style to create the look of the new nation.
A Nod to the Past
Federal architecture—often called Adamesque or Neoclassical—drew inspiration from the Georgian style that came just before it. Georgian architecture—often interchangeable with the Colonial style—is still highly recognizable. The style features flat, brick, or wooden facades, symmetrical windows, and a dramatic central front door and portico, often flanked by carved white urns, molding, and garlands. Remember the house from Home Alone? That's a Georgian Colonial Revival with many of the same details.
Refining a Classic Look
Federal architects took the existing trend and paired back the frills to create a modern, streamlined look. They kept the clean symmetry, the side-gabled roof, and the double-hung windows. But it cut back on the elaborate ornamentation that stemmed from the Georgian style. Indoors, Federal homes kept the simple two-room deep, and two-story-tall layout like the original Classic Colonials, but added the iconic oval and hexagonal-shaped room.
The Federal style reigned primarily between 1785 and 1830, until architecture trends transitioned to Greek Revival.
Federal Architecture Features: The Exterior
Because many architects of the 18th through 20th centuries studied the ancient Greeks and Romans, it can be a bit tricky to tell different home styles apart. You'll find tidbits from ancient architecture for hundreds of years, but they pop up in Federal architecture in unique ways.
The Facade
Flemish-bond brick (alternating long side and short side of the brick) or wooden facade
Symmetrical, square, or rectangular facade
Central front door
Portico over small porch or entryway
Flat lintels over windows
The Roof
Side-gabled roof that slanted toward to front of the house
Two or four symmetrical chimneys
May feature a hipped roof
Flatter pitch than Georgian homes
The Details
Palladian window over front door (an important feature to set it apart from Georgian)
Long windows flanking sides of door
Dentil crown moldings
Lights flanking either side of front door
Fancier homes include Roman elements like columns and pediments around doorway
Six-over-six windows with muntins
Federal Architecture Features: The Interior
Even though Federal architects loved clean lines, simple shapes, and overall subtly, the style was anything but boring, especially indoors.
The Structure and Layout
Two or three stories high
Early, simpler homes had two rooms front to back
Hall set in the middle or to the side of the interior of the building
Oval rooms, often in the center of the home
Fanlight or Palladian-topped entryway
The Details
Focus on fine craftsmanship
Ceiling medallions
Elaborate plaster moldings
Smooth curves and ovals in windows, door frames, and ceilings
Pros and Cons of Living in Federal-Style Home
Buying and caring for a historic home is a wonderful privilege, but also a big responsibility. If you live in a Federal-style home, it means that it's been cared for and restored since the early 18th century, if not before. Living in one comes with its ups and downs.
Pros
The fine-tuned craftsmanship and groundbreaking architectural features of the Federal home paved the way for Greek revival and colonial revivals across the country. If you restore and maintain its original molding, you'll need very little to set your home apart from your neighbor's.
Also, its symmetrical and straightforward structure can be a bit easier to maintain than, say, a Queen Anne home, with multiple spires and cupolas. While the structure itself clearly needed insulation, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical upgrades, most homes were built to last.
Cons
Maintaining a historic home may require a bit more flexibility in your budget and schedule. You'll likely need to get an okay from your local historic commission before making major alterations. An older home also often means higher insurance costs and the help of a specialized team familiar with the time period.
Whether you're poking around the Eastern Seaboard for a historic home or strolling by the row homes of Philadelphia, you're bound to spot Federal-style architecture around each corner. Call a local home restoration expert the moment you need to update your Federal home without risking its original ingenuity.
