Foursquare Homes Come Full Circle in U.S. Architecture

by Rachel Grace · 9 photos · 14 comments

traditional exterior by Moore Architects, PC

This historic Virginia foursquare home received an addition and a restoration that focused on maintaining its classic proportions and characteristics.

by Moore Architects, PC

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Partial-width front porches are a common exterior characteristic of American foursquare homes. This Nashville residence also features Craftsman characteristics such as stone pedestals, a three-panel front door and square-tapered columns.

by Paragon Designs

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American foursquare homes often have wide eaves with exposed rafter tails.

by First Lamp

traditional exterior by Carla Aston | Interior Designer

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An offset front entrance on an otherwise symmetrical front facade is quite common on American foursquare-style homes that lack a formal foyer.

by Carla Aston | Interior Designer

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This residence pays homage to the foursquare's Craftsman influence. Historical characteristics include the home's dormer, brick porch pedestals, Prairie-style window muntins and ribbon driveway.

by Brooks Ballard

traditional exterior by Ron Brenner Architects

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A bunny weather vane adds a crowning touch to this classic American foursquare in Minneapolis.

by Ron Brenner Architects

traditional exterior by Beaconstreet Builders, Inc.

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Symmetrical American foursquare style incorporates elements of Craftsman style, such as square-tapered columns.

by Beaconstreet Builders, Inc.

contemporary entry by Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

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Foursquares feature a simple floor plan that is typically quartered. They're most often two rooms deep by two rooms wide, with a traditional dining room and living room at the front of the house, separated by a foyer and staircase.

by Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

traditional kitchen by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

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The kitchen is always found in a back quarter of the first floor, leading to a backyard. You're also likely to find push-button light switches in authentic foursquares.

by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Comments

dianestyle Just plain pretty! functional and pleasing to the eye without being fussy. Love the article!

6 months ago · Like ·

toberly22 My wife and I just moved into a country four-square and your descriptions are right on the money!!

6 months ago · Like

Tiffany Fawcett_Miller I love American foursquares. I grew up in a traditional brick foursquare in Wisconsin, and now my husband and I are building a more contemporary foursquare to fit all of our wants and needs (office/den, first floor master and laundry, all of the things we would love to have that a traditional foursquare doesn't accomodate).

6 months ago · Like

sjmom Have sold a few of these. Usually pretty spacious and much can be done with them.

6 months ago · Like

CAROLE MEYER I lived in one of these for 25 years and still love that old house!

6 months ago · Like ·

lhteathyme How about a little info on the Kansas City Shirt Waist- a KC version of the four square?

6 months ago · Like ·

MasterDevCo One of my relatives owned a 18th-century two-level New England "foursquare" in Ashaway, RI. The wood framed house's main feature was the central brick & stone chimney with multiple fireplaces for various rooms on both levels, the only heat source back in the day and very effective. The Victorian area homes may have emulated these earlier versions.

6 months ago · Like

baha I like the traditional, simplistic design and I quite like the kitchen that is featured--still room for others to hang out! I like that the kitchens look out into the backyard!

6 months ago · Like

woolylam Our foursquare is our major hobby. It reminds me of a cottage in the front with victorian posts. Has a very different style kitchen addition to the rear. And has craftsman style glass cabinets inside. This home is so cozy and warm. We love it!

6 months ago · Like ·

Britastina My Grandparents had a 4 square and it was wonderful! The porch (they called it "The Piazza") ran across the front and it was a magical place to spend an afternoon. All of the nooks and crannies inside made it enchanting for a child. You could (and we did) imagine it as a fort, a castle, a maze, anything we wanted. Christmas in Massachusetts is very special and this house made it even more so. I wish I could go back, just one more time.

6 months ago · Like

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel Still a sensible floor plan. I don't love the 'open plan'. I like a separate dining room and kitchen. I like that they have a foyer, so you don't walk straight into the living room or, worse, the kitchen.

6 months ago · Like ·

tudormomb My husband and I recently bought a newish American Foursquare home, rethought for today's living. The front two rooms are dining and an office, the back "two rooms" is actually a great room; kitchen on one side, living on the other with an eating area and mud room at the back end. It is ideally suited to us!

6 months ago · Like ·

galleykitchengirl Why yes, I am a fan. Kind of cut off in the rooms, but those porches can't be beat!

6 months ago · Like

adk_tj I believe my house is a four square: foyer and living room up front, dining and kitchen toward the rear. Upstairs are 3 bedrooms and the bath above the kitchen. The only difference is my house has an inverted roof, meaning it flows toward the center and then down a central drain pipe to the sewer. Weird, huh? The "attic" is just a few feet high at the eaves and the rafters slope in, and there's a roof hatch. Anyone have any info or ideas on why??? I believe it was built in 1913 (I found a newspaper receipt in a wall once).