Territorial style houses may have plaster walls.
A territorial style house is a type of house more common in the southwestern United States, particularly in New Mexico. The Territorial style is similar to other Southwestern styles, such as the Pueblo style and the Santa Fe style, and many houses are actually a mix of several styles. A country-style house is typically a one-story building with a flat roof; smooth stucco, plaster or adobe walls; brick trim in certain parts of the house and wood trim in other parts; sidelights on each side of the front door; and other distinctive features.
features and details
Territorial-style homes have some characteristics of the traditional Southwestern style, such as the use of adobe or similar materials. Adobe is a natural building material made from sun-dried clay and straw bricks. Stucco or plaster can also be used to mimic the look of adobe. The Territorial style also uses the flat roof and Pueblo-style rafters, which are wooden beams that support the roof. The ends of the rafters are often exposed on the exterior of a country-style home.
A Territorial-style home typically displays more wood on the exterior than a traditional Pueblo-style home. Turned wooden posts, called portals, support the territorial porticoes. Unlike the plain, unadorned windows characteristic of Pueblo-style adobe homes, territorial windows often have elaborate dark wood finishes. Wood trim on doors and windows can be painted in a territorial style home. The front door can be painted a beautiful and bold color, such as a bright blue.
Differences compared to similar styles.
The biggest difference between Territorial architecture and other Southwestern styles is the shape of the lines used in these designs. Pueblo and Santa Fe style homes have rounded corners and edges, but Territorial style homes have straight corners and edges. Southwestern home styles often include parapets or roof walls, but only Territorial-style homes often have brick along the parapets.
The exterior walls of a Territory-style home are often smooth stucco or adobe, rather than the rough textures of some similar styles. The front door is usually flanked by lights. Wrought iron gates and patios are also popular in territorial design. Earth colors that blend with the Southwestern landscape are often used in territorial interiors and exteriors. These colors include reddish brown, sandy yellow, and turquoise blue.
