Lush Tradition: Elements of the American Tudor Living Room
From the identifying Tudor arch to leaded glass transom windows to strapwork details, these homes host rich character
In her Field Guide to American Houses, Virginia McAlester notes that American Tudor style homes made up about 25 percent of new houses built in the 1920s, second only to Colonial Revivals. Today, American Tudors’ free-form medieval roots continue to adapt to a wide range of dwellings, from single-level homes close to the center of town to sprawling countryside estates.
Living rooms provide a particularly interesting place to look for new interpretations of American Tudor’s telltale dark hardwood flooring, strapwork ceilings, the Tudor “four-centered” arch and more.
Living rooms provide a particularly interesting place to look for new interpretations of American Tudor’s telltale dark hardwood flooring, strapwork ceilings, the Tudor “four-centered” arch and more.
Dark-stained wooden crown molding defines this Minneapolis Tudor’s living room ceiling. Randomly set and dimensioned ceramic tiles finish a fireplace surround capped with a dark mantel supported by corbels.
Transom windows above the double-hung units, dark hardwood floors and heavily textured plaster walls also distinguish this room’s style. Beautiful stained wooden French doors shaped into the Tudor arch confirm this room’s identity.
Interior Details That Define the American Tudor Style Room
Transom windows above the double-hung units, dark hardwood floors and heavily textured plaster walls also distinguish this room’s style. Beautiful stained wooden French doors shaped into the Tudor arch confirm this room’s identity.
Interior Details That Define the American Tudor Style Room
- Dark-stained hardwood flooring
- Trim and molding that appears to be carved from one solid piece
- Strapwork or carved stonework
- Plaster wall finish
- Dark-stained trim and paneling
- Scalloped plasterwork
- The Tudor, or four-centered, arch, which uses four arcs, two small and two broad, that meet at an apex in the center.
- Leaded glass, sometimes with a diamond pattern
- Casement or double-hung multiple pane windows
- Transom windows
- Stained glass
- Partial hexagonal bay window configurations
- Ceiling beams or trusses, whether for flat ceilings or vaulted
Strapwork Ceilings
This grand and elegant 1927 Tudor’s living room in In Portland, Oregon, lets the partial hexagonal bay window grouping add the primary interest to its space. The gently textured plaster walls ascend from a minimal baseboard to a level ceiling without a crown detail. The bay holds 16 multiple-pane casement windows with transoms and completes with a ceiling of wooden strapwork detail fronted with an exposed beam. These crossed bands of detail result in a pattern of diamonds and triangles, providing a delightful focal point.
This grand and elegant 1927 Tudor’s living room in In Portland, Oregon, lets the partial hexagonal bay window grouping add the primary interest to its space. The gently textured plaster walls ascend from a minimal baseboard to a level ceiling without a crown detail. The bay holds 16 multiple-pane casement windows with transoms and completes with a ceiling of wooden strapwork detail fronted with an exposed beam. These crossed bands of detail result in a pattern of diamonds and triangles, providing a delightful focal point.
Another grand Tudor in Connecticut employs a mesmerizing and complex strapwork detail across its entire living room ceiling for an unforgettable experience. The Tudor arch occurs in the fireplace opening, doors and frame of the box bay window to the right. Note the detail of scalloped plaster above the two doorways at the end of the room. Careful attention to Tudor characteristics within this room reveals the use of “subtractive” elements, which are shapes carved out of the original forms.
Beamed Ceilings
A newer Minneapolis house captures the Tudor theme in the arch of the fireplace, transom windows and dark-stained trim, floors and paneling. Picture windows below the transoms lend a contemporary element to the theme.
A newer Minneapolis house captures the Tudor theme in the arch of the fireplace, transom windows and dark-stained trim, floors and paneling. Picture windows below the transoms lend a contemporary element to the theme.
The mantel of this St. Louis American Tudor illustrates intricately carved strapwork combined with a four-centered, or Tudor, arch firebox opening. The Tudor arch can also be seen at the interior doorways and inset shelves to the right and left. Delightful carved corbels buttress the ceiling beams.
Vaulted and Trussed Ceilings
Back in the spectacular Connecticut Tudor we saw before, the vaulted family room ceiling provides another dramatic space. Note the four-centered arch design fashioned into the trusses supporting the roof.
The Tudor arch also provides the opening at the fireplace with a paneled mantel surround traveling upward to complement the height of the room. The transom windows at right have diamond-shaped leaded muntins.
Learn the Language of Trusses in Design
Back in the spectacular Connecticut Tudor we saw before, the vaulted family room ceiling provides another dramatic space. Note the four-centered arch design fashioned into the trusses supporting the roof.
The Tudor arch also provides the opening at the fireplace with a paneled mantel surround traveling upward to complement the height of the room. The transom windows at right have diamond-shaped leaded muntins.
Learn the Language of Trusses in Design
Absorb the incredible character found in this grand 1925 Pennsylvania American Tudor residence. The subtractive, or carved, nature of Tudor detail clearly appears in the mantel surround shown at left in this photo. You can see how the trim of the opening of the fireplace arch recesses into the face of the mantel material. The detail at the lip of the mantel shelf is carved into its surface.
Note that the large stained-glass window in this room is a Gothic arch shape. Its slopes do not straighten before reaching the apex as they would in a Tudor arch.
Note that the large stained-glass window in this room is a Gothic arch shape. Its slopes do not straighten before reaching the apex as they would in a Tudor arch.
We see more evidence of the subtractive technique in the carved detail in the ceiling trusses.
These characteristics also relate to Gothic and Medieval architecture styles in which American Tudor has its roots.
Does Your Home Have a Medieval Heritage?
These characteristics also relate to Gothic and Medieval architecture styles in which American Tudor has its roots.
Does Your Home Have a Medieval Heritage?
In Berkeley, California, we visit an updated Tudor home. The living room is pleasantly scaled to the size of this house, though the orientation and composition of this photo convey a grand space. The dramatic vaulted ceiling and attenuated mantel design fill this room with stature and character.
There are several variations of detail at the baseboards, window trim and door surrounds in American Tudors. This illustration shows one of the more formal ways a Tudor can be finished.
Fireplace openings often provide an identifying architectural feature for a house. As shown here in this fireplace opening, the Tudor four-centered arch begins with two smaller tight arcs at the corners, then two broad arcs meet at a softly pointed apex.
Some of the rooms we’ve seen feel more minimal in their ceiling detail, while others are finished with high, vaulted ceilings with prominent carved trusses. Strapwork, an interpretation of leather strips overlaid into patterns and shapes formed with wooden trim or plaster, may be found in high-style Tudor houses
Has the romance of Tudor style pulled you in? If you have a Tudor-style home, we’d love to see it. Upload a photo in the Comments and tell us your home’s story.
More
Roots of Style: American Tudor Style
‘Wolf Hall’ Style: The Secrets of Tudor Architecture
Browse thousands of Tudor-style homes and save your favorites
Has the romance of Tudor style pulled you in? If you have a Tudor-style home, we’d love to see it. Upload a photo in the Comments and tell us your home’s story.
More
Roots of Style: American Tudor Style
‘Wolf Hall’ Style: The Secrets of Tudor Architecture
Browse thousands of Tudor-style homes and save your favorites
Simpler Ceilings
This London home provides several key details that illustrate the Tudor theme. The arch with its pointed apex and shallow arcs can be seen in the room’s door panels, transom windows and fireplace surround. The fireplace detail appears carved out from the material, rather than built up with trim, as in classical details. Diamond-shaped window muntins represent a favorite detail of Tudor style.
A minimal baseboard and lack of crown molding let the rough-hewn beams define the character at ceiling level. Short hardwood floor planks set in a herringbone pattern add more interest. The smooth plaster walls calm the elements of this combination.