Saltbox Architectural Style 2024

Table Of Content

• Home Remodeling Projects to Boost Your Property Value in Omaha
• Architectural Features
• Maximalism in Minimalism: Designers Share 26 Tips for Infusing Maximalist Vibes into Minimalist Spaces
• How to find saltbox houses for sale in your area
• Make the most of historical parts
• John Adams Birthplace in Quincy, Massachusetts

They most likely began as modifications to the region’s Colonial-style and Cape Cod houses, as inhabitants sought to increase the size of their residences. Although George Hyland acquired the land on which this property was built in 1657, it was not until 1713 that his son-in-law, Isaac Parmele, completed construction on Hyland House. The five-bay-wide red saltbox house was restored by the architectural historian Norman Isham in 1917 and opened to the public as a house museum in 1918.

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So, if you are curious about this historic architecture, you may want to check out some saltboxes on your next trip east. Or, if you’re considering moving, you may be interested in building or buying a saltbox-style house. Early saltbox houses are some of the first versions built during the colonial period. They featured five windows on the front façade, and the “front” door was actually on the back of the house. On the outside, saltbox houses have a flat, front façade that faces the street and usually has five or nine rectangular windows.

Architectural Features

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From the front view, one might easily confuse a saltbox house with a typical colonial-style residence, given its plain, balanced frontage. The saltbox house became a popular style for both new homes and was the simplest way to put an addition onto the back of an existing I-house that was so common in New England in colonial times. The style has remained popular for the centuries since inception because of the history and detail in every preserved home. There are several examples of meticulously cared for saltbox houses on the National Register of Historic Places. In coastal regions of New England, such as Cape Cod, Saltbox houses incorporated elements of the Cape Cod style. These houses were typically one or one-and-a-half stories high, with a symmetrical facade and a steeply sloped roof.

Maximalism in Minimalism: Designers Share 26 Tips for Infusing Maximalist Vibes into Minimalist Spaces

Overall, the Saltbox house emerged as a practical and cost-effective housing solution for the early settlers of New England. Its unique roofline not only served a functional purpose but also became synonymous with the region’s architectural heritage. The original saltboxes began as simple two-story dwellings, with one room on each story and a central fireplace running throughout to keep the entire house warm. Since it would still be a few more centuries before electricity was invented, saltboxes had thickly framed, strategically placed windows. The interior architecture of the house also reflects the surrounding natural elements by incorporating post-and-beam construction and wooden trusses. With the homes often set among the trees and nature, designing one today would require considering the natural elements in any plan.

How to find saltbox houses for sale in your area

By protecting these houses, we not only honor their historical significance but also enrich our understanding of the diverse architectural traditions that have shaped our communities. Restoring Saltbox houses may require extensive research to accurately replicate historical details and architectural elements. This often involves consulting historical documents, photographs, and even seeking expert guidance from preservation organizations or architectural historians familiar with the style.

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Saltbox houses are a sweet, quintessential east coast architectural style that appeared around the same time as colonial-style homes. The first saltboxes were built in the mid-1600s, meaning they have quite a long history in the United States. Saltbox houses get their name from wooden salt containers that people had in their homes during the 17th and 18th centuries. During this era, people ground their own salt from larger rocks of salt and stored it in a small, wooden box with a steep, pitched roof.

Make the most of historical parts

IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Listing Broker has attempted to offer accurate data, but buyers are advised to confirm all data provided. There is always a need for more insulation to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Salt Boxes are not well adapted for heating or cooling, and if you live in a location that is frequently too cold or hot for comfort, you would be better off with a multi-level house design.

Once part of their exteriors, they are preserved in place in attics that were created when shed-roofed additions were added onto the homes. Narrow clapboard or shingle siding is the most common cladding for traditional Saltboxes. On the original homes, the siding was left to weather to a natural grayish brown. Today, most Saltbox exteriors are stained, while others are painted white or a subdued shade of brown, grey, red, or yellow. In modern and restored older Saltbox homes, the rear addition is usually no longer divided into three rooms.

John Adams Birthplace in Quincy, Massachusetts

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From the top, the roof starts like any gable-style roof that slopes down from a central ridge. Instead of sloping down to the same length, though, one side slopes much farther to cover the addition and reaches below the height of the eaves on the other side. This longer slope is known as a “catslide.” On some homes, the lower edge of the catslide is less than six feet off the ground. Henry Parker is a home improvement enthusiast who loves to share his passion and expertise with others. He writes on a variety of topics, such as painting, flooring, windows, and lawn care, to help homeowners make informed decisions and achieve their desired results.

Other architects lengthen both sides of the saltbox home to increase the square footage, which creates a home like a ranch-style house. While this decreases the steepness of the roof which is characteristic of saltbox architecture, the homeowners get more square footage. Some builders add a whole wall of windows to help bring in nature and nearby landscapes into the home. While most original saltbox houses were built with wood, the 1754 Josiah Day House in West Springfield, Massachusetts, is said to be the oldest saltbox-style home in the United States made from brick. Now a museum open to the public for guided tours, it is on the National Register of Historic Places registered with the Massachusetts Historic Commission.

And while this quaint home style has roots going back centuries, many contemporary architects have reinvented its design in modern revivals. A saltbox house is a gable-roofed residential structure that is typically two stories in the front and one in the rear. It is a traditional New England style of home, originally timber framed, which takes its name from its resemblance to a wooden lidded box in which salt was once kept.

With the rise of the Greek Revival movement in the early 19th century, Saltbox houses were further influenced by classical elements. These houses featured gable-ended roofs, often adorned with ornate cornices and pediments. The shape of the Saltbox roof was still retained, but the overall aesthetic became more refined and neoclassical in nature.

Saltbox houses remain popular and new versions are still being built, especially in New England where the passively warm design plays into the energy efficient designs popular today. A prominent centrally positioned chimney in the house served to radiate warmth throughout the night into all the rooms of the house. Though there are some later examples with large end chimneys these were less common. The aging of Saltbox houses can result in deterioration of the structural elements, such as the timber framing and foundation. Preservation efforts often involve assessing and repairing these core components to ensure the stability and longevity of the house. Preserving Saltbox houses presents various challenges and requires careful attention to detail.

All these styles were pale in comparison to saltbox houses, which were quite distinct. What began as a matter of need quickly gained popularity, and by 1680, the Saltbox had become a distinct architectural form. As salt was scarce at the time and valuable enough to be displayed in ornate wooden boxes. Because of the angular exterior, and therefore interior ceilings, of saltbox homes, building off these clean lines can leave room for juxtaposed modern furniture in the interior. Sure, the wooden shingles might need to be replaced with something more contemporary, or the exposed ceiling beams worn down to a straighter edge, but being bold with your interior design can pay dividends. The saltbox style also allowed owners to save money by avoiding the tax on two-story homes which was in effect throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.