Everything to Know About Federal Architecture

At the tail end of the American Revolution, a new wave of architects had the opportunity to—quite literally—build a style of homes from the ground up. If you live in a pre-1830's home and ever asked yourself, "What kind of home do I have?" it could be from the American Federal period. 

Federal architecture celebrates some of the most iconic building elements we have today, but let's take a look at how to spot this iconic style out in the wild.

The History of Federal-Style Homes

Despite American enthusiasm for the Federal style home, it was the Scottish Adam brothers who originally developed the design before the style made the leap to the United States around 1785, according to the Pennsylvania Historical Museum and Commission. American architects such as Charles Bulfinch and Samuel McIntire—among others, including Thomas Jefferson—ran with the refined style to create the look of the new nation. 

A Nod to the Past

Federal architecture—often called Adamesque or Neoclassical—drew inspiration from the Georgian style that came just before it. Georgian architecture—often interchangeable with the Colonial style—is still highly recognizable. The style features flat, brick, or wooden facades, symmetrical windows, and a dramatic central front door and portico, often flanked by carved white urns, molding, and garlands. Remember the house from Home Alone? That's a Georgian Colonial Revival with many of the same details.

Refining a Classic Look

Federalist architects took the existing trend and scaled back the frills to create a modern, streamlined look. They kept the clean symmetry, the side-gabled roof, and the double-hung windows. But it cut back on the elaborate ornamentation that stemmed from the Georgian style. On the exterior, the front door has a decorative surround, but aside from that, the design is very understated and lacks the showiness that sometimes defines the older Gregorian style.

Indoors, Federal homes kept the simple two-room deep, and two-story-tall layout like the original Classic Colonials, but they added the iconic oval and hexagonal-shaped room, usually located in the center of the home.

The Federal style reigned primarily between 1785 and 1830, until architecture trends transitioned to Greek Revival.

Exterior Federal Architecture Features

Because many architects of the 18th through 20th centuries studied the ancient Greeks and Romans, it can be a bit tricky to tell these home styles apart. You'll find tidbits from ancient architecture for hundreds of years, but they pop up in Federal architecture in unique ways.

The Facade

• Flemish-bond brick (alternating long side and short side of the brick) or wooden facade

• Symmetrical, square, or rectangular facade

• Central front door

• Portico over small porch or entryway

• Flat lintels over windows

The Roof

• Side-gabled roof that slanted toward to front of the house

• Two or four symmetrical chimneys

• May feature a hipped roof

• Flatter pitch than Georgian homes

The Details

• Palladium window over front door (an important feature to set it apart from Georgian)

• Long windows flanking sides of door

• Dentil crown moldings

• Lights flanking either side of front door

• Fancier homes include Roman elements like columns and pediments around doorway

• Six-over-six windows with muntins

Interior Federal Architecture Features

Even though Federal architects loved clean lines, simple shapes, and overall subtlety, the style was anything but boring, especially indoors. More ornamentation is common on the interior, especially in the layout of the building.

The Structure and Layout

• Two or three stories high

• Early, simpler homes had two rooms front to back

• Hall set in the middle or to the side of the interior of the building

• Oval or hexagonal rooms, often in the center of the home

• Fanlight or arch-topped entryway

The Details

• Focus on fine craftsmanship

• Ceiling medallions 

• Elaborate plaster moldings

• Smooth curves and ovals in windows, door frames, and ceilings

Pros and Cons of Living in Federal-Style Home

Buying and caring for a historic home is a wonderful privilege, but also a big responsibility. If you live in a Federal-style home, it means that it's been cared for and restored since the early 18th century, if not before. Living in one comes with its ups and downs.

Pros

The fine-tuned craftsmanship and groundbreaking architectural features of the Federal home paved the way for Greek revival and colonial revivals across the country. If you restore and maintain its original molding, you'll need very little to set your home apart from your neighbor's.

Also, its symmetrical and straightforward structure can be a bit easier to maintain than, say, a Queen Anne home, with multiple spires and cupolas. While the structure itself clearly needed insulation, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical upgrades, most homes were built to last. The brick exterior can last 100 years or more, if properly maintained, and the simple structure makes it easy to maintain.

Cons

Maintaining a historic home may require a bit more flexibility in your budget and schedule. You'll likely need to get an ok from your local historic commission before making major alterations. An older home also often means higher insurance costs and the help of a specialized team familiar with the time period. Keep in mind that this is only if your home is a protected historical landmark, or if you choose to preserve the home in accordance with these regulations. You might need to ask your architect or builder if you need to conform to rules for a restoration.

Whether you're poking around the Eastern Seaboard for a historic home or strolling by the row homes of Philadelphia, you're bound to spot Federal-style architecture around each corner. Call a local home restoration expert the moment you need to update your Federal home without risking its original ingenuity.

The only additional downside, potentially, is that the exterior of a Federal home lacks ornate details. If you live in an area with predominantly Federal architecture, it may be difficult to make your home stand out from the surrounding properties. However, many people feel the simplicity of the design is part of its charm. 

Examples of Federal Architecture

Federal architecture was once the norm, but now it’s the exception in most areas. You might recognize the following classic examples of Federal architecture and design, which now stand out as historical buildings:

• The Davenport House. Isaiah Davenport designed this home in Savannah, GA, which was finished in 1820. It’s one of the earliest examples of Federal architecture, and it stood apart from the Georgian architecture that surrounded it. This home currently serves as a museum, as it’s one of the first homes to adopt the design.

• The University of Virginia. The University of Virginia includes a number of homes that conform well to the Federal architecture design. The main building features large columns that are a bit more Roman, but the brick facade, perfect symmetry, and simple gabled roof all serve the form well.

• Otis House. The Otis House is located in Boston, MA. Designed by Charles Bulfinch and built in 1796, this three-story home features perfect symmetry on the exterior, the quintessential palladium window above the front door, and many other features that define the classic look.

• Massachusetts State House. This is another building that Charles Bulfinch designed. Although it’s more ornate than the Otis House and features large, Roman columns and a more decorative roof, the symmetry, simple windows, and central oval room all make it fit into the Federal architecture style.

How to Incorporate Federal Design Into Your Home

Unfortunately, incorporating Federal architecture into your home is challenging without a major renovation. If you have the budget for a total overhaul, you could consider adding the following features to your home:

• Brick facade

• Palladium windows

• Portico leading to front door

You’ll likely need to hire an architect near you to make the required changes and incorporate this style into  your home.

These will all help define your home’s design from the outside. You can also use the following tips to get the feel of the interior of a Federal home without doing major work:

• Include ceiling medallions as decor or focal points

• Add plaster molding throughout your home, particularly to rooms in which you plan to entertain

• Install corbels in doorways to give the illusion of a smooth archway

• Add transom windows over doors or other windows, or use paint or plaster moldings to give the illusion of an arched window

• Choose antique furniture with clean, crisp lines and symmetry