In Centreville, Del., there’s a farmhouse that looks as though it’s been standing since the Civil War. There’s white clapboard siding, double-hung windows, paneled shutters and a columned portico. The interior is defined by the traditional millwork details on the staircase, window casings and wainscoting.
But this isn’t an authentic Federal home. In fact, it’s a completely new build, finished just two years ago.
It’s a new “historic” home, a residence that has exacting period details and all the trappings of 200-year-old construction — but with engineering and amenities to suit the specifications of a certain type of moneyed client.
This style shows up across the country, but it’s particularly popular in the Northeast, where architects are being asked to recreate Colonials, shingle styles, English manors, French chateaus, Georgians and stone farmhouses. And while new, single-family home construction is down year over year on the East Coast (according to Census data), architects said the demand for this niche is robust.
