Trying to decide which Dallas home suits you best? Dallas real estate offers a variety of amazing architectural styles.

Your house should feel like home, and it should look the part. Dallas luxury real estate includes a multitude of architectural designs to choose from, so you’ll want to find the one that speaks to you. Here are the ten most popular home styles you’ll see when viewing Dallas luxury real estate. 

 

Mediterranean Revival 

Red clay tile roofs are the tell-tale sign of Mediterranean Revival homes in Dallas. This style became widely prominent in the United States during the early 20th century and is typically associated with white stucco exterior walls, clay tile roofs, arched windows, and magnificent wrought-iron balconies. These homes draw inspiration from Italian palazzos and seaside palaces, which imbue these properties with whimsical charm. Some are referred to as Tuscan, also.

You can find homes in this style nearly everywhere you look in Dallas, from Highland Park to Southlake. Dallas’ balmy climate is perfect for the airiness that accompanies this architectural style. Categorized as a humid subtropical climate, Dallas’ many hot summer days and mild winters are perfect for stepping out onto the balcony. 

French Provincial

French Provincial architecture pairs so well with Texas stone, that it is no surprise this style is widely popular throughout Dallas luxury real estate. This architectural trend originated in rural France by combining dreamy chateaux design with rustic farmhouse practicality after World War 1. Today, you’ll recognize French Country designs in Dallas by their high-pitched roofline, exposed and often distressed wooden beams in living spaces, and balanced, symmetrical proportions. Quintessentially French blue wooden shutters on the exterior are a clear giveaway when you’ve found a French Country home.  

French Country style homes aim to embody the cottage-like ambiance of homes in Provence, France, and this refined country aesthetic combines elegance with simplicity. Homes in this style are often hidden in plain sight, a gem in every neighborhood. 

You will find them in the Park Cities, Plano, Frisco, McKinney and throughout the DFW area.

American Colonial Style

American Colonial style architecture dates as far back as the 1600s when America was colonized. True American Colonial homes reside in the thirteen original British colonies, but the style was so popular that it influenced design across the country for centuries. What we often associate with Colonial architecture became popularized in the 1800s, and it was used extensively for both residential and commercial real estate until the twentieth century. You can recognize Colonial homes by their typically flat facades, central doorways surrounded by symmetrical windows, and gabled roofs. These homes are almost exclusively two or three stories rather than a single story. Brick exteriors are common, as well as horizontal siding. In Dallas, most Colonial style homes have added a roofed porch to the front facade, which is an excellent tool for shading the entryway from the heavy Texas sun. 

At their heart, American Colonial style homes are simple but effective. Their subdued elegance is easily adaptable to your personal interior design preferences, and their traditional layouts make add-ons simple to incorporate if you desire more space. 

They are most prevalent in the Park Cities, Oak Cliff, East Dallas and McKinney.

Tudor Architecture

Although the Tudors reigned in England more than six hundred years ago, their legacy lives on in today’s home designs. Modern-day revivals of Tudor-era architecture is made self-evident by its most prominent architectural feature: exposed half-timbering detail. Unlike traditional Tudor architecture, which dates back to the late 1400s, half-timbering is now a decorative element rather than a structural one. Still, the steeply pitched roofs and cross gables on these homes make them easy to pick out from the crowd. This style was especially common for new homes built in the 1970s and 1980s when the design had a resurgence in popularity. In Dallas, you’ll find swaths of Tudor inspired homes in East Dallas and Hollywood Heights. 

Contemporary 

If you crave clean, crisp lines, then contemporary architecture is the style for you. This style of modern architecture is sophisticated and often minimalist in design, emphasizing open, flowing spaces with innovative floor plans and asymmetrical facades. From its inception, contemporary architecture sought to shirk the traditions of old to create something new, unlike other architectural styles such as Tudor Revival or American Colonial designs, which looked to the past for inspiration. Often, you can recognize contemporary homes’ use of steel and glass to create open exteriors that invite breathtaking natural light into the living areas. Most common features with this style are the recessed entrances and roof overhangs. With rather austere exteriors, these homes use clever lines to create interesting landscapes that boost curb appeal.

Contemporary style luxury homes can be found widely across Dallas, but they are most notably present in areas like Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek, and Northwest Dallas. Their nontraditional features make them noticeable on any street. 

Ranch

Contrary to its rustic name, it isn’t uncommon to see luxurious ranch style homes in Dallas. These homesteads are broad single-story houses with low-pitched roofs and wide layouts that make them easily navigable. Mixed materials create depth and body in the architecture, like combining stucco and stone, or brick and wood, for added curbside interest. Often, these homes have overhanging eaves paired with a variety of window sizes and types. Ranch homes often have plenty of access points to the backyard, connecting them with the landscape. This style can be as reserved or ornate as desired, allowing plenty of flexibility for personal taste. They are commonly found in Preston Hollow, East Dallas, Lakewood, Midway Hollow, Devonshire and Briarwood.

Dallas Eclectic 

A spin on the French Eclectic style, Dallas Eclectic architecture knows that bigger is better. While keeping much of the same alluring craftsmanship as the French inspiration, Dallas homes of this style are often built with grand proportions, especially after 1940. The most prominent feature of French Eclectic design is the remarkably steep pitched roof. These mansard roofs create an elongated silhouette, making the house appear immediately impressive. This architectural style borrows from the popular Beaux-Arts movement, where highly detailed sculptural elements were frequently used. This style is more ornate than French Country architecture, resembling palaces more than Provincial cottages. Although this type of design wasn’t exceedingly popular throughout the country, Dallas’ large lot sizes allowed architects the freedom to build monumental mansions true to French design. 

They are most pronounced in the Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Plano and Frisco but scattered throughout each pocket.

Victorian Architecture

Dating back to the Victorian era in England, this architectural style has excelled since the late nineteenth century. Victorian-style homes are incredibly noteworthy in Dallas. You’ll immediately recognize their distinctive asymmetrical shape, large wraparound porches, and steep towers. Queen Anne Victorian homes are known for their incredibly decorative trim, which resembles gingerbread houses. Traditionally, Victorian-style homes have boasted brightly colored exteriors, often in three or more colors to accentuate their intricate designs. This style often uses horizontal wooden siding for the exterior and steeply pitched roofs. 

This style is commonly found in East Dallas, some areas of older Mckinney, and the most pronounced Swiss Avenue.

American Craftsman

This style was born out of the British Arts and Craft Movement, and it took the nation by storm in the 1920s. Often also referred to as “California bungalow,” this style of home design emits a cool, laid-back feel that is both classy and comfortable. American Craftsman architecture incorporates a low pitched roof, wide front porch with exposed wooden support beams, and horizontal siding exteriors. As its name implies, this school of design emphasizes craftsmanship; so many homes exhibit artistic touches like exposed woodwork and decorative eaves, handcrafted stonework, and mixed materials to create embellished facades. 

Often, this style of residence is structured around a fireplace. Because the hearth is the center of these homes, they often feel warm and welcoming, a great place for gathering friends and family. These homes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, which means this style of architecture is largely adaptable. Whether you’re seeking a sweeping single story or a multilevel mansion, American Craftsman architecture is extraordinarily versatile. They are commonly found in Oak Cliff, East Dallas and parts of McKinney.

Mid-Century Modern 

In conjunction with other architectural movements such as Bauhaus, this style of architecture was widely popularized between the 1930s and 1960s, which earned its name of mid-century modern. Frank Lloyd Wright was a popular architect during this time, and his only residential Dallas creation, the John Gillin Residence, is a perfect example of mid-century architecture here in Texas. This style prominently displays abstract lines, compositions that interact with the natural landscape, and minimalist interiors and exteriors. By utilizing post and beam structures, these homes were able to open up the interiors to create open floor plans. 

This design style is extremely versatile due to its conservative architectural elements, rather than the ornamental design of popular Dallas Eclectic homes or highly stylized Tudor Revival facades. Mid-century modern architecture can be found in many areas of North and Northeast Dallas, East Dallas, Richardson,  and the Disney Streets in Dallas.

If you’re interested in finding more information on Dallas luxury real estate, contact Christy Berry today to learn more. There is a home style you’ll love in Dallas. 

Christy BerryMarch 31, 2023