| Do you think you would choose what state to retire | | | | word that comes to mind. Dark roofs seem |
| to based on the style and appearance of the homes | | | | preferred. These homes lighten up with the use of |
| located there? No, you laugh, how absurd to even | | | | filmy clouds of flowering trees and shrubs in masses. |
| think of making an important decision that way. | | | | These home styles give the appearance of |
| However, styles of homes vary so much, depending | | | | possessing financial security and responsibility and if |
| on the region of the U.S., that the style of home you | | | | you like to appear that way, you may like the homes |
| find appealing may be a reflection of your personality, | | | | of the Southeast. North Carolina floor plans had |
| and a clue as to where you might like to live. | | | | names like Dogwood and Cardinal. |
| I reviewed the styles of new homes in active adult | | | | Northeast: Lots of wood and brick siding and |
| retirement communities. Take a look at the following | | | | sometimes in combination, dark shingled roofs, colonial |
| styles by region or state and ask yourself which you | | | | and English manor touches or Federal styling. |
| prefer. It may tell you something about your | | | | Sometimes Northeast homes border on looking boring |
| personality and where you would like to live. And it | | | | but elegant at their best. Floor plans can have English |
| turns out most of these home styles are what you | | | | names. |
| would envision them to be for that region. | | | | New England: New England homes change in |
| Florida: - The stucco sidings of condos and single | | | | appearance from their Northeast neighbors and |
| homes are frequently painted a rose color. | | | | become a misty grey as if trying to blend with the |
| Sometimes the rose is deep and sometimes pale but | | | | sea. Grey wood siding with crisp white collars of |
| a lot of pink to rose paint is used. As you would | | | | molding. Shake or shingle dark roofs. Dark pine trees |
| guess, the roofs are Spanish tile that is preferred for | | | | surrounding the landscape and to brighten up they |
| tropical climates but recently a more up-to-date look | | | | use classic colors of cardinal red and forest green in |
| combines three color tones and in lighter rosy hues. | | | | painted shutters. This is a refreshing look--so |
| The use of columns and enclosed porches sometimes | | | | different from anywhere else in the country. |
| called "Florida rooms" is prevalent. Florida's style is | | | | Midwest: Contemporary ranch, bungalows, lots of |
| tropical and unique and not used anywhere else in the | | | | shutters, colors of taupe, very straightforward, |
| U.S. The landscaping in Florida features palms of all | | | | honest, and some might call plain but what those |
| kinds. | | | | living in the midwest like--the heartland of our |
| Georgia: Georgia is a Southern state but the | | | | country. Very Americana names for floor plans such |
| architectural style is strikingly different from its next | | | | as Heritage. |
| door neighbor, Florida. In Georgia the colors are more | | | | Northwest: Very near to California but the home |
| neutral and surprisingly somber. Lots of bright white | | | | styles aren't at all alike. This is surprising since so |
| trim along with the muted taupe colored paint of the | | | | many Californians retire to Washington state. These |
| wooden clapboard siding. English cottage style seems | | | | homes appear more like a rugged version of the |
| to suit Georgia. Long shutters seem more New | | | | Northeast style. Dark colors, woodsy, more plain as if |
| England but here they are happily displayed in Georgia | | | | trying hard to not look like their flashy neighbor. |
| along with boxwoods, blooming roses and floor plans | | | | Some Northeast touches are dormers, bay windows |
| named after English towns. | | | | and faux brick trim. |
| California: This is my favorite style and my preferred | | | | Arizona: Distinguished by their use of stone--large |
| place to live. Lots of unabashed Spanish styling. | | | | chunks decorating the stucco sidings. Of course, as |
| Heavy Spanish tiled roofs and heavy wooden doors | | | | expected in very hot areas, Spanish-tiled roofs. |
| in that Canyon grey color. It's such a California classic | | | | Texas: Texas has its own distinguished subtle |
| look and it never goes away. California developers | | | | western-look style. I saw use of stonework |
| also still love the low-slung ranch look with recessed | | | | combined with painted accents using the rich colors |
| entries. Architectural details are combined in such a | | | | of leathery western saddles. Another look was of |
| way that these homes are always surprising and | | | | stark white stucco combined with black-hat colored |
| never boring. Creamy stucco abounds and today the | | | | shingle roofs. The names of the floor plans show |
| tan shake roof is more popular than the dark. Lots of | | | | Texans love of their countryside with names of local |
| clingy twining vines. A hint of an Old California Mission | | | | wildflowers and trees. |
| style is everywhere even if only in the heavy rustic | | | | Well, of course, this has all been just for fun. No one |
| wood of your front door. California style is fabulous. | | | | would decide to move somewhere just because |
| Southeast: Brick homes are the standard here. Do | | | | they liked the architectural style of the homes--or |
| you like homes with a permanent anchored feeling, | | | | would they? |
| colors of neutral taupe that, well, look staid is the | | | | |