Tudor House
Luxury Tudor Estate
I’ve always liked Tudor houses, but became really intrigued when I watched Lights Out, one of my now favorite scary movies that takes place in a large Tudor style estate in California. It was a magnificent house both inside and out and the story behind the real house is equally intriguing as written by iamnotastalker in his blog post: The “Lights Out” House.
Most people recognize a Tudor house right away. The dead giveaway being the medieval half-timbering (oak timber frames with wattle and daub, plaster or stucco, or brick or stone filling the spaces between them). Other identifying features include steeply pitched roofs, front-facing gables, leaded glass windows, and sculpted chimneys. Sturdy and ornate, they exude a rustic yet enchanting allure. Originating in England during the 16th century Tudor era, these houses have evolved into quintessential representatives of classic English architecture.
Tudor style houses were expensive to build so mostly belonged to those who could afford the luxury. In 20th century Britain, they were referred to as "Stockbroker's Tudors" (coined by Osbert Lancaster) as they were popular with affluent individuals, such as Stockbrokers, who accumulated wealth throughout the 1920s. They later became more affordable and were mass produced throughout Britain’s ‘Metroland’ in the form of smaller suburban houses called “Mock Tudor” or “Tudor Revival”. However, the Tudor style house whether Traditional Tudor or Modern American Tudor, is still expressive of stability, wealth, and success in the US and other countries.
Older Tudor house interiors are known for their cozy rooms with low ceilings and low levels of natural light (which is what made the Lights Out movie so scary) but are also characterized by the use of dark oak, intricate wood detailing, and hardwood floors, all coming together to establish a rich and warm ambiance. Fireplaces and elaborate staircases play a crucial role in the medieval aesthetics, serving as focal points in the overall Tudor design scheme.
Tudor houses come in all sizes from small, charming cottage styles to large luxury estate styles. Distinguished slightly by the use of different materials are French Tudor, English Tudor, and Tudor Revival. The American modern Tudor popping up the past few years has retained the steeply pitched roofs, the different sized gables, the brick or stone, and the multi-pane windows but present much fresher without the heavy timber; some are still designed with timber but it’s merely ornamental. They’re not as heavily dressed but still designed with beautiful medieval English details and are quite striking.