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Some Ideas to Consider …

  • Home Style of the Month: Second Empire

    The Second Empire style was most popular in the United States in the 1860s and 1870s, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. In its time, the style was considered modern and fashionable, simultaneously favored in France and the United States by affluent homeowners.

     

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    OldHousonline – French Connection

    The style originated in France, where some French architects used the phrase “horror vacui” – the fear of unadorned surfaces – to describe the Second Empire style and its emphasis on heavy ornamentation. Second Empire homes became prominent in France during that country’s “second empire,” the reign of Napoleon (1852-1870).

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    Iron cresting on mansard roof

    A tall mansard roof with wrought iron cresting is the most prominent distinguishing feature of this style. The roof was considered both visually appealing and practical since it created a fully functional attic space.

    Appropriate for a style focus in October, Second Empire homes are often featured in Halloween imagery as the quintessential haunted house.

    • Elements of Second Empire Style
    • Mansard roof with decorative slate pattern
    • Cast iron decorative cresting at roof
    • Patterned tiles on roof
    • Segmented arched windows
    • Prominent arched doorway
    • One story porch
    • Tower

     

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    Credit: decorpad.com – Arched Doorways

    At Country Club Homes, we stay in touch with the latest custom home design trends to share exciting new ideas with our clients. Contact us today at 203-762-0550 or visit us at countryclubhomesinc.com to learn more about our work.

  • The Studs of Construction: Understanding the Lumber in Your Home

    You’ve encountered the studs of construction before: You measure and mark the walls to hang a piece of artwork. The first nail goes in easy-breezy, the second one nearly jars the teeth out of your head as you pound it in. That’s a stud. Homes in Fairfield County and around the country are usually framed…

  • Adding a Sauna to Your Home is Great for Your Health

    An in-home sauna may seem like an unnecessary luxury, but in reality it can provide significant benefits to your health. A sauna’s heat works to sooth your nerve endings, relieve tension, reduce joint pain, and relax your muscles.  Spending time in a sauna also works to calm your body and relieve it of stress which promotes…

  • Create Cleverly Concealed Work Spaces in Your Home

    Have you discovered that you could benefit from additional workspaces in your home? Using creative built-in storage is an excellent way to create unique spaces designed specifically to meet your family’s needs. Contemporary Family Room by New York Architects & Designers Murdock Solon Architects via Houzz   Considering adding a: Homework center: Does your kids’ homework spill out across…

  • How to Tell if a Wall or Column is Load-Bearing

    Many homeowners seek to open up space in their home during a home renovation project by removing a wall. This can connect spaces and completely transform a home’s layout. Before a wall can be removed it must first be determined whether the wall is load-bearing. This can be determined by: Traditional Staircase by Wilton Design-Build Firms Country Club…