Italianate Style: Key Features & Where to Find Them

If you walk past a building with tall, narrow windows, a low‑pitched roof and a lot of decorative brackets, you’re probably looking at an Italianate house. This style popped up in the mid‑1800s when American builders loved the romantic look of Italian villas but needed something practical for city lots. The result was a mix of elegant details and simple shapes that still feels fresh today.

Core Elements of Italianate Architecture

First off, the roof. Italianate homes usually have a shallow hipped roof or a flat roof with a decorative cornice. That cornice is lined with large, scroll‑shaped brackets – think of them as the building’s “hand‑crafted” flair. Next up are the windows. They’re tall and often have a rounded or segmental arch at the top. Many designers added a small pane of glass in the arch, called a “lunette,” to catch the light.

Another hallmark is the entryway. You’ll see a double‑door set within a heavily framed opening, often topped with a transom window and flanked by columns or pilasters. These columns can be simple round ones or more elaborate Corinthian styles, but they always add vertical emphasis. Don’t forget the porches – wide, covered, and supported by turned posts with decorative brackets. They create a welcoming, street‑level feel.

Finally, look for the ornamental details on the façade. Quoins at the building’s corners, decorative lintels over windows, and dentil molding under the cornice are common. All of these tiny touches give the structure a sense of richness without being over‑the‑top.

Spotting Italianate Buildings Today

Italianate style isn’t limited to grand mansions; it’s everywhere from row houses in historic districts to commercial blocks downtown. When you’re on a city walk, scan for the bracketed cornice line – that’s the quickest clue. If the building has a cupola or a small tower (sometimes called a “belvedere”), you’ve found a classic Italianate feature that adds a skyline silhouette.

In the suburbs, many early 20th‑century homes were built in a “simplified” Italianate mode. They keep the tall windows and bracketed roofline but drop the heavy stone details. This makes them easier to spot in newer neighborhoods. For a deeper dive, compare two houses side by side: an older brick villa with stone quoins versus a later wood‑frame house with painted brackets. Both share the same DNA, just expressed differently.

When you’re hunting for an Italianate property to buy or restore, pay attention to the condition of the brackets and cornice. These parts are often the first to suffer weather damage, so a solid foundation here means less costly repairs later. Also, check the window openings – original arches are a big plus for historic authenticity.

Whether you’re a homeowner, a design enthusiast, or just curious about architectural history, knowing these Italianate markers helps you read the built environment like a storybook. The style blends romantic Italian vibes with practical American construction, and that mix is why you still see it standing strong after more than a century.