Cape, or Cape Cod, style homes are like a child’s drawing of a house. They are usually thought of as simple dwellings with pitched roofs, matching gables on each end and a single chimney. They grew out of Colonial America, and have been a classic housing style in New England as well as in other parts of the country since those early days. Cape style homes are practical rather than grand, characterized by symmetrically-placed windows on the main level and dormers on the second. They are usually built as story and a half homes rather than having a full second floor, and are sometimes augmented by a smaller connecting wing on one or both ends.
Today, buyers can find classic capes not only in New England and down the East Coast, but throughout the country. Simple cape style homes do not usually have porches, but some modern adaptations add a small porch or stoop to shield the entry door. The Cape Cod cottage style is practical in areas with long winters; they are economical to build, and they are as quintessentially American as baseball and apple pie.
What kind of furniture is appropriate?
Because the exterior look of a Cape style home is simple, with clean lines and little embellishment, the interiors should also be free of excessive design elements. Capes will generally have simple baseboards, window and door trim and may or may not feature chair rails, wainscoting and ceiling molding. New England capes, particularly older examples, might feature knotty pine paneling in a den and wood flooring both on the main floor and upstairs. Older capes usually had oak or maple flooring in public rooms, and might have boasted wide plank pine in upstairs bedrooms. More modern homes will most likely have stone, ceramic tile or vinyl flooring in kitchens and baths.
Cape style homes do not require fine antiques or polished woods. In fact, fancy furniture might seem out of place in a Cape Cod home. Historic styles will complement the architecture, but so will comfortable contemporary sofas and chairs. Think of the difference between the gilded, tapestry-upholstered opulent French court style and comfortable country French furniture, and you’ll have a sense of what might be appropriate for the rooms of a traditional cape style cottage.
Because older capes were usually short on square footage, furniture tends to be smaller and simpler than what you might choose for a contemporary ranch home. Although various wood pieces can work in a cape, simpler wood, sometimes with a painted rather than stained finish, will work best. Timeworn finishes can be appealing, but the cottage look is more refined than rustic, so take care not to introduce the weathered finishes of the frontier if you want to be true to the Cape Cod tradition.
Various styles fit right in with the laid back, casual style of coastal Cape Cod cottages. Ladder back chairs paired with trestle style tables, rustic Windsor chairs around a pedestal base table, rush seated occasional chairs, step-back cupboards and painted chests are perfect. Complementary upholstered pieces might include simple wing chairs and sturdy, slipcovered sofas. In bedrooms, simple four-poster beds, or high beds with a headboard and footboard are commonly associated with New England style. In the Midwest, simple shaped headboards with matching dressers and mirrored dressing tables complement the style.
What Accessories Fit a Cape Style House?
Because the traditional cape home has wood floors, an area rug of any style would add warmth and color. Oval rag rugs are traditional, but a faded antique Oriental can certainly add style and color to a cottage living room. A simple seagrass mat would work in a coastal setting, and an area rug of plush carpet is common in Cape style homes in the Midwest.
Because most capes are not large, lighter colors are traditional, and sunny, creamy hues are favorites with home owners. Coastal color schemes can favor blues and greens combined with lots of white, or beige and white tones that are reminiscent of sand and clouds. These homes are perfect candidates for a subdued scheme of neutrals that not only expands space but is soothing and calming in its appeal.
In truth, however, while it may be normal to want to decorate your interiors in harmony with the home’s style, there is no real reason why you shouldn’t add a few pieces in a contemporary style, or even decorate an entire room with a trendy, contemporary vibe. Do what feels right to you, and use the pieces that make you happy, and your home will be an expression of your personality. So, if you live in a Cape Cod style home on the West Coast, go ahead and use your Danish leather chairs as accents in your living room, and throw colorful Mexican blankets over the picnic table on your patio.
Make no apologies for your style choices, and know that your home is the place where you should let your own style shine!
2 Point Highlight
Because the exterior look of a Cape style home is simple, with clean lines and little embellishment, the interiors should also be free of excessive design elements.
In truth, however, while it may be normal to want to decorate your interiors in harmony with the home’s style, there is no real reason why you shouldn’t add a few pieces in a contemporary style, or even decorate an entire room with a trendy, contemporary vibe.
