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Your Tudor Revival Yard


Perhaps the most recognizable Tudor Revival house style is the front-facing gable with its brown half-timbers and stucco or brick infill. As you discover various other identifying features of the Tudor, you’ll begin to recognize this style in its many different forms, especially in some of our country’s older neighborhoods.

The Tudor Revival style  occurred at the same time as the Colonial Revival era which began as the Victorian era was ending. This style has very unique features, such as its use of small geometric leaded glass panes, low arched stone door surrounds and thresholds, arched doors, and some features that could be described as appearing rather substantial, like the massive entry doors that required oversized and bold hardware. The Tudor Revival style encompasses a variety of different appearances – there are some that look like castles, some that are of the English cottage style, and some, that perhaps most people are more familiar with, with the brown half-timber gables and stucco infill. If you would like to add to the authenticity of your Tudor Revival yard and house, to whatever capacity or degree, some suggestions to help and inspire are:

 

Lighting:

• traditional fixtures are of various types – some have a heavier look for an appearance of fortified strength that recalls its medieval roots, and some are lighter with less metal structure and more glass; and all styles (wall-mounted, pendant, chandelier, sconces) created from metals, like iron, copper, brass, bronze, nickel, and tin (including antique, aged, polished, or black finishes); multi-paned lantern styles give a traditional look
• traditional features also include glass types of art glass (amber in color), frosted white, water, and seeded
• a traditional fixture in cast aluminum (a very weather resistant material) with an aged-look finish can work, too

Mailbox and House Address:

• mailbox: metal or wood post with a gothic-type post cap or finial; metal house-mounted style in a traditional Tudor style and finish
• address: choose numerals with a traditional typeface in finishes similar to light fixtures
• traditional placement for numerals on an architectural feature, like a porch or mailbox post, engraved on a stone plaque wall inset, and a wall-mounted plaque near the entry door

Hardware:

• forged cast iron (buy powder coated to resist rust), aged or patina brass and copper, oil-rubbed bronze
• traditional hardware includes the, strap hinge, long large strap door hinges (now a more or less decorative reproduction element, but once actually supported massive oak doors), entry door sets that match the finish of the door hinges
• include traditional styles and finishes for the entry doors, doorknockers, door bells, and gates (gate hardware should be strong and durable to keep it from sagging)
• period accents include a speak-easy grill for an entry door, and the use of ironwork, i.e. fencing, and holders for window boxes

Pavement:

• for driveways: asphalt, concrete, tar and chip, or pavers (standard size clay brick or concrete pavers are very traditional)
• for walks, patios, and terraces: pavers (standard size clay brick or concrete are very traditional), slate, and natural stone; traditional brick paver patterns include running bond, basketweave, and herringbone

 

Structures:

• wood fences (narrow picket with a longer pointed top, square picket (1 ½” to 2”), fence design that includes use of kickboard with a top rail, board-on-board, open pattern), metal fences, stone pillars, wood entry gates with more prominent posts, metal entry gates with stone pillars, fence posts (with Tudor style cap, a spire or sphere finial), trellis, arbors with flattened arch, sometimes with a slight apex
• colors –paint or color stain that are darker including various browns, taupe, greens, warm greys, and darker natural wood stains are very traditional; also, colors associated with traditional historical residential architecture (many paint brands have architectural color palettes): lighter shades of these colors may work, also, depending on the materials used to built it: structures painted or stained in white are not traditional for a Tudor

Outdoor Furniture:

• tables (dining, side), chairs (dining, leisure), chaise lounge, porch swings, gliders, rockers, benches (with or without backrest) made of wood, wrought iron (this material requires more maintenance to keep it from rusting), cast aluminum, wicker, and other materials in traditional Tudor styling and detailing can provide a classic look

Plants:

• popular plants of this period included – rhododendron, azalea, boxwood or hollies or taxus (evergreen foundation plantings were popular), lilac, snowberry, forsythia, hydrangea, viburnum, spiraea, privet, roses, peonies, English ivy, myrtle (Vinca minor), pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), peonies, iris and tulips, perennials, wisteria growing on arbors, and herb or kitchen gardens
• some popular or common plants of an era may not necessarily be popular with you today, so do your research to know what you like and what you do not like, and also, what is best suited for your yard; selecting new and improved varieties work, too!

Accents:

• window boxes in wood (cottage-style) or in ironwork, planter boxes and stands (wood or metal), traditional lamp posts, weathered clay pots, weathervanes
• interesting and fun period outdoor elements include forged iron hooks (use in the garage or near the potting table), forged iron bracket arms for hanging baskets
• accessorize with soft colors for outdoor cushions and pillows (with a tapestry look), tablecloths, dinnerware, and colorful pots of flowers: Tudor colors may be rather subdued, so if you want to brighten things up choose vibrant colors

 

Exterior House Improvements:

• window shutters were the board and batten style attached with traditional Tudor style hinges
• dimensional shingles, slate (this material can be quite expensive)
• tall, narrow, grey steel metal casement (operational and non-operational) are very traditional and are still fabricated today with the classic arched tops and the small geometric multi-panes; much later Tudor Revivals have used the standard double-hung window
traditional entry doors are very often finished in a natural wood stain and have arched tops; styles include the plank style (most common) and the multi-panel style (distinctly different from the colonial panel door); the plank door can be purchased in a split style (similar to the Dutch door) which can be a great look for the kitchen or mudroom; you can even find arched screen doors
• picking the right color scheme for your Tudor Revival is a great way to add to the architectural quality of the house (it can also enhance it’s curb appeal); many paint manufacturers have color palettes to guide you; for those who want to get away from the dark colors of some Tudors, the current trend is to use lighter or muted browns, greens, and various shades of taupe
• for new construction, or a renovation, the traditional use of the entry door surround typically was built with stone, but it can be less expensive to use a cast concrete product or brick
• even modest improvements can add a richer architectural experience for the homeowner
• as a final note: if you are planning an addition to your house, you may want to have an architect design the new addition to make sure it is correctly designed and scaled to preserve the architectural integrity of your house; staying true to the architecture of the house, for any renovation, will add value to your property

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