The Post & Beam Carriage House: Hot Trend, but Always A Classic

January 19, 2010

tags: carriage house, coach house, post and beam, remise, timber frame

by beambabe

The post and beam carriage house (also called a remise or coach house) is once again an extremely popular building style as we navigate the world of “bigger is not necessarily better” all the while maintaining a desire for classic features, innovation and creativity in the architecture of our home.

Originally used as an outbuilding to house horse drawn carriages, the carriage house reached full architectural splendor during the Victorian era (mid-late 1800s through the turn of the century). The use of full gable-end dormers, steeply pitched roofs and highly enhanced cupolas became the norm. The French version, called Second Empire, employed the Mansard roof. Highly attractive wainscoting (often bead board style) and authentic cobblestone or brick were an integral part of the design.

This carriage house in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston is topped off with a French-style Mansard roof

The Fairmount Coach House in historic Fairmount, Indiana has a classic brick exterior

At this point you might be thinking “I’m with you on the creativity part, but “innovation” - how so?”

As a person who lives in a carriage house, I speak from first hand experience on the ways this structure totally suits today’s need for a smaller carbon footprint while providing numerous ways to have everything you want in a home. If you want to live in a green or sustainable way without sacrificing architectural artistic taste, here’s the big pay-off; this structure provides economy and efficiency combined with beautiful period architecture! I love telling people I live in a “garage” only to see their faces when viewing my carriage house for the first time. To saw that jaws drop would not be embellishing on my part!

My Victorian Carriage House by Yankee Barn Homes

My modern Victorian carriage house, built by Yankee Barn Homes, is both energy and space efficient. And it

Architectural styles of the carriage house differ regionally in the States. As with houses, the carriage house often takes on the characteristics of its geographical location. In the Northeast, you’ll find the no frills New England style with a steeply pitched roof (a great way to remove snow naturally) and a cupola, while in the South a far more ornate look is present.

This New England carriage house epitomizes the regional style, with steeply pitched gable dormers and few architectural frills.

The further west you go, the more likely you are to see signs of the Arts & Crafts style, while in the mid-Atlantic states and to the north along the coast the Shingle Style dominates with it‘s use of weathered shingles and naturally quarried stone.

This carriage house has all the arts & crafts elements - the square, tapered bungalow half-columns on brick pillars, the shingled siding and the contrasting colors painted on the decorative trim.

One thing they all have in common are those great carriage house doors! Today’s newly built carriage houses are often a combination of these geographical styles. Many architects enjoy designing carriage houses because they are a challenge spatially while great fun aesthetically.

Click through the gallery below to see more images of great carriage houses.

: This carriage house in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston is topped off with a French-style Mansard roof

: The Fairmount Coach House in historic Fairmount, Indiana has a classic brick exterior

: My modern Victorian carriage house, built by Yankee Barn Homes, is both energy and space efficient.

: This New England carriage house epitomizes the regional style, with steeply pitched gable dormers and few architectural frills.

: This carriage house has all the arts & crafts elements – the square, tapered bungalow half-columns on brick pillars, the singled siding and the contrasting colors painted on the decorative trim.