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!
Often built with romantic irregular asymmetrical silhouettes created with towers, porches, bay windows, and other elements that broke up the simple rectangular box of earlier houses, the Italianate style also appeared in restrained cubical form.
The 1857 George McManus House, a brick and granite villa with side porch and entry vestibule is an example. At the rear, it has an attached kitchen ell, woodshed, and carriage house. Cast iron ornamental elements and fencing were often used with Italianate houses, as seen here.
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 and types 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!