The best way to learn about historic houses is to look at them closely, and the most fun way to look at them closely is to do a puzzle showing a wonderful historic house! So, we made a unique and interesting collection of Historic House Puzzles for you to enjoy!
The Italianate and Gothic Revival styles are known for introducing romantic irregular asymmetrical silhouettes to American homes, with towers, porches, bay windows, and other elements that broke up the simple rectangular box of earlier houses. But the Italianate style also appeared in simpler forms, as in this cross-gabled house with a vernacular ell.
Popularized by house plan books, the Italianate style got a toehold before the Civil War and took off after the war, with examples of the style appearing in all parts of the United States.
Understanding the style, or styles, of a house will help you identify which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation. Italianate is one of 25 styles described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Click on the dashed box at the top-right in the puzzle box below to open the puzzle to full screen. In the top left, you can change the number of pieces (100 pieces is the default), toggle piece rotation, and change the background color. Then hit “OK” and have fun!