The homes located in the Lake Keowee Area should be designed to satisfy both the individual owners and also fit into a family of compatible architectural styles.

The homes that Hillcrest Homes builds are accuratly based upon traditional architectural styles. These homes are historically found in other parts of the world and locally.

Lake Keowee is located in the rolling Piedmont foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the area is referred to as the " Piedmont" region which features natural vegatation, crystal clear waters and mountain vista's.

Hillcrest Homes concentrates on building predominantly American Style homes found in the Mountain and Lake regions located in the Eastern United States and include: English Country, Cottage, Carolina Piedmont, Carpenter and Shingle styles which have been built in the 19th century with amenities an luxuries demanded and expected in todays homes.

We have included descriptions of each of the style homes of which we build in the Lake Keowee Region

English Country Style  •   Cottage Style  •   Carolina Piedmont Style  •   Carpenter Style  •   Shingle Style

English Country Style homes usually have these features:

• Decorative half-timbering
• Steeply pitched roof
• Prominent cross gables
• Tall, narrow windows, casement style often grouped in pairs, heavy lintels of stone or timber
• Small window panes
• Massive chimneys, often topped with decorative chimney pots
• Natural field stone or warm granites with large random retangle patterns with large flush mortar joints
• When wood siding is used it should be of natural rough sawn or beveled edge natural colored or stained semi transparant or solid pigment
• Shutters require to be operable and of board and batton design used sparingly
• Dormers with casement windows either shed, gabled or hipped.
• Entry doors of heavy timber and limited glass.
• Roof lines at a minimum 12 / 12 pitch with either slate, cedar or natural colored tile
• Cornices flush on gable walls, modest overhang on straight run walls, half round gutters, round downspouts
• Porchs with masonary floors and timbered columns, cast iron railings or rough sawn wood.
• The exterior colors of your English Style Home should be natural earthtones with an appearance of age with no light colors.

The name Tudor suggests that these houses imitate English architecture from the early 16th century. However, most Tudor style homes were inspired by building techniques from an earlier time. Some Tudor houses mimic humble Medieval cottages -- They may even include a false thatched roof. Other Tudor homes borrow ideas from late Medieval palaces. They may have overlapping gables, parapets, and beautifully patterned brick or stonework. These historic details combine with Victorian or Craftsman flourishes.

As in many Queen Anne and Stick style homes, Tudor style houses often feature striking decorative timbers. These timbers hint at -- but do not duplicate -- Medieval building techniques. In Medieval houses, the timber framing was integral with the structure. Modern Tudor houses, however, merely suggest the structural framework with false half-timbering. This decorative woodwork comes in many different designs, with stucco or patterned brick between the timbers.

Handsome examples of Tudor style architecture may be found throughout Great Britain, northern Europe and the United States. The main square in Chester, England is surrounded by lavish Victorian Tudors which stand unapologetically alongside authentic medieval buildings. In the United States, Tudor styling takes on a variety of forms ranging from elaborate mansions to modest suburban homes with mock masonry veneers. The style became enormously popular in the 1920s and 1930s, and modified versions became fashionable in the 1970s and 1980s. Many fine examples of English Country Style can be found through out the eastern United States.

English Country Style homes usually have these features:

• Decorative half-timbering
• Steeply pitched roof
• Prominent cross gables
• Tall, narrow windows, casement style often grouped in pairs, heavy lintels of stone or timber
• Small window panes
• Massive chimneys, often topped with decorative chimney pots
• Natural field stone or warm granites with large random retangle patterns with large flush mortar joints
• When wood siding is used it should be of natural rough sawn or beveled edge natural colored or stained semi transparant or solid pigment
• Shutters require to be operable and of board and batton design used sparingly
• Dormers with casement windows either shed, gabled or hipped.
• Entry doors of heavy timber and limited glass.
• Roof lines at a minimum 12 / 12 pitch with either slate, cedar or natural colored tile
• Cornices flush on gable walls, modest overhang on straight run walls, half round gutters, round downspouts
• Porchs with masonary floors and timbered columns, cast iron railings or rough sawn wood.
• The exterior colors of your English Style Home should be natural earthtones with an appearance of age with no light colors.

The name Tudor suggests that these houses imitate English architecture from the early 16th century. However, most Tudor style homes were inspired by building techniques from an earlier time. Some Tudor houses mimic humble Medieval cottages -- They may even include a false thatched roof. Other Tudor homes borrow ideas from late Medieval palaces. They may have overlapping gables, parapets, and beautifully patterned brick or stonework. These historic details combine with Victorian or Craftsman flourishes.

As in many Queen Anne and Stick style homes, Tudor style houses often feature striking decorative timbers. These timbers hint at -- but do not duplicate -- Medieval building techniques. In Medieval houses, the timber framing was integral with the structure. Modern Tudor houses, however, merely suggest the structural framework with false half-timbering. This decorative woodwork comes in many different designs, with stucco or patterned brick between the timbers.

Handsome examples of Tudor style architecture may be found throughout Great Britain, northern Europe and the United States. The main square in Chester, England is surrounded by lavish Victorian Tudors which stand unapologetically alongside authentic medieval buildings. In the United States, Tudor styling takes on a variety of forms ranging from elaborate mansions to modest suburban homes with mock masonry veneers. The style became enormously popular in the 1920s and 1930s, and modified versions became fashionable in the 1970s and 1980s. Many fine examples of English Country Style can be found through out the eastern United States.

Cottage Style homes usually have these features:

• Entryways which are open and inviting including the use of Trellises and arbors
• Rooflines should be gables with a minimum pitch of 10 / 12 and incorporate multiple simple roofs
• Exterior porchs of large proportion with colonial detailing on columns and rails, masonary or wood floors
• Cornices should be boxed traditional profile, facias with crown profiles and frieze boards with large bed molds
• Dormers should be shed, with multiple windows, small half-round " eyebrow" dormers or roof vents work well
• Shutters should be operable either paneled or louvered with tiebacks.
• Windows may be combined to capture lake or distant vistas
• Field Stone or Granite with large rectilinear shapes flush or slight raked joints, brick may be used either painted or matched to stone color
• Siding should be 6'' exposed colonial bead or beveled edge, painted with wide corner boards.
• Double hung windows, if grouped use large mulls
• The exterior colors should be soft colonial colors with undertones of grays and brown. Light trim on cornices,porchs,corner boards and dormers. Shutters of rich muted colonial colors.

The Cottage Style home associated and common to lakeside enviroments refer to generally Colonial American style with an elegant casual appearance. The combination of colonial shapes combined with a casual manner results in a relaxed atmoshere.

Cottage Style homes usually have these features:

• Entryways which are open and inviting including the use of Trellises and arbors
• Rooflines should be gables with a minimum pitch of 10 / 12 and incorporate multiple simple roofs
• Exterior porchs of large proportion with colonial detailing on columns and rails, masonary or wood floors
• Cornices should be boxed traditional profile, facias with crown profiles and frieze boards with large bed molds
• Dormers should be shed, with multiple windows, small half-round " eyebrow" dormers or roof vents work well
• Shutters should be operable either paneled or louvered with tiebacks.
• Windows may be combined to capture lake or distant vistas
• Field Stone or Granite with large rectilinear shapes flush or slight raked joints, brick may be used either painted or matched to stone color
• Siding should be 6'' exposed colonial bead or beveled edge, painted with wide corner boards.
• Double hung windows, if grouped use large mulls
• The exterior colors should be soft colonial colors with undertones of grays and brown. Light trim on cornices,porchs,corner boards and dormers. Shutters of rich muted colonial colors.

The Cottage Style home associated and common to lakeside enviroments refer to generally Colonial American style with an elegant casual appearance. The combination of colonial shapes combined with a casual manner results in a relaxed atmoshere.

Carolina Piedmont Style homes usually have these features:

• Entry's should be warm open and inviting, Trellis and arbors should be incorporated.
• Porches with masonary or wood floors with timber columns. Sloped Ceilings, and rough sawn wood rails. The roofs should be standing seam copper with pitch of 3 / 12
• Roof lines predominantly of gables maimum pitchs of 10 / 12. 
• Cornices flush on gabled ends with moderate overhangs on straight walls. Open ended timbered rafter tail extensions. Half round gutters and  round downspouts
• Dormers should be shed or low pitched gable, grouped windows, and eyebrow dormers or roof vents
• Shutters of rough sawn board and batton used sparingly and operable with tiebacks
• The use of standard double hung windows large mulls can be combined to capture views
• The main siding used  is wood board and batten or shake style shingle finnished in either solid or transparant stain.
• Fieldstone is the primary masonary material with flush joints either laid drystack or country style, brick may also be used

The Carolina Piedmont Style home found through-out the foothills of the Blue ridge Mountains region derive their appearance from a large mix of materials from other styles including cottage, craftsman, carpenter and shingle style homes. They are a little more rustic than the Cottage Style and are a more native look to the unique region of the area.

Carolina Piedmont Style homes usually have these features:

• Entry's should be warm open and inviting, Trellis and arbors should be incorporated.
• Porches with masonary or wood floors with timber columns. Sloped Ceilings, and rough sawn wood rails. The roofs should be standing seam copper with pitch of 3 / 12
• Roof lines predominantly of gables maimum pitchs of 10 / 12. 
• Cornices flush on gabled ends with moderate overhangs on straight walls. Open ended timbered rafter tail extensions. Half round gutters and  round downspouts
• Dormers should be shed or low pitched gable, grouped windows, and eyebrow dormers or roof vents
• Shutters of rough sawn board and batton used sparingly and operable with tiebacks
• The use of standard double hung windows large mulls can be combined to capture views
• The main siding used  is wood board and batten or shake style shingle finnished in either solid or transparant stain.
• Fieldstone is the primary masonary material with flush joints either laid drystack or country style, brick may also be used

The Carolina Piedmont Style home found through-out the foothills of the Blue ridge Mountains region derive their appearance from a large mix of materials from other styles including cottage, craftsman, carpenter and shingle style homes. They are a little more rustic than the Cottage Style and are a more native look to the unique region of the area.

Carpenter Style homes usually have these features:

• Entry that are sheltered and protected, using doors half glass upper and sidelights
• Rooflines gabled with a maximum pitch of 12 /12, multiple simple roofs of various heights
• Cornices feature bracket detailing
• Porches featuring battered columns resting on stone base, railings rough sawn and square pickets
• Shed roof dormers with grouped windows
• No shutters
• Colonial double hung 
• Siding should be wood 6'' exposure and natural rough sawn with rough edge or beveled, or board and batten
• Masonary fieldstone large with flush or slight raked joints, either drystack or country style joint. Brick can also be used

The Carpenter Style home is closely related to the Arts and Crafts movement, and is similar to the Carolina Piedmont Style'

Arts and Crafts, or Craftsman, houses have many of these features:

• Wood, stone, or stucco siding
• Low-pitched roof
• Wide eaves with triangular brackets
• Exposed roof rafters
• Porch with thick square or round columns
• Stone porch supports
• Exterior chimney made with stone
• Open floor plans; few hallways
• Numerous windows
• Some windows with stained or leaded glass
• Beamed ceilings
• Dark wood wainscoting and moldings
• Built-in cabinets, shelves, and seating

Arts and Crafts History:
During the 1880s, John Ruskin, William Morris, and other English designers and thinkers launched the Arts and Crafts Movement, which celebrated handicrafts and encouraged the use of simple forms and natural materials. In the United States, two California brothers, Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Green, began to design houses that combined Arts and Crafts ideas with a fascination for the simple wooden architecture of China and Japan.

The name "Craftsman" comes from the title of a popular magazine published by the famous furniture designer, Gustav Stickley, between 1901 and 1916. A true Craftsman house is one that is built according to plans published in Stickley's magazine. But other magazines, pattern books, and mail order house catalogs began to publish plans for houses with Craftsman-like details. Soon the word "Craftsman" came to mean any house that expressed Arts and Crafts ideals, most especially the simple, economical, and extremely popular Bungalow.

Carpenter Style homes usually have these features:

• Entry that are sheltered and protected, using doors half glass upper and sidelights
• Rooflines gabled with a maximum pitch of 12 /12, multiple simple roofs of various heights
• Cornices feature bracket detailing
• Porches featuring battered columns resting on stone base, railings rough sawn and square pickets
• Shed roof dormers with grouped windows
• No shutters
• Colonial double hung 
• Siding should be wood 6'' exposure and natural rough sawn with rough edge or beveled, or board and batten
• Masonary fieldstone large with flush or slight raked joints, either drystack or country style joint. Brick can also be used

The Carpenter Style home is closely related to the Arts and Crafts movement, and is similar to the Carolina Piedmont Style'

Arts and Crafts, or Craftsman, houses have many of these features:

• Wood, stone, or stucco siding
• Low-pitched roof
• Wide eaves with triangular brackets
• Exposed roof rafters
• Porch with thick square or round columns
• Stone porch supports
• Exterior chimney made with stone
• Open floor plans; few hallways
• Numerous windows
• Some windows with stained or leaded glass
• Beamed ceilings
• Dark wood wainscoting and moldings
• Built-in cabinets, shelves, and seating

Arts and Crafts History:
During the 1880s, John Ruskin, William Morris, and other English designers and thinkers launched the Arts and Crafts Movement, which celebrated handicrafts and encouraged the use of simple forms and natural materials. In the United States, two California brothers, Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Green, began to design houses that combined Arts and Crafts ideas with a fascination for the simple wooden architecture of China and Japan.

The name "Craftsman" comes from the title of a popular magazine published by the famous furniture designer, Gustav Stickley, between 1901 and 1916. A true Craftsman house is one that is built according to plans published in Stickley's magazine. But other magazines, pattern books, and mail order house catalogs began to publish plans for houses with Craftsman-like details. Soon the word "Craftsman" came to mean any house that expressed Arts and Crafts ideals, most especially the simple, economical, and extremely popular Bungalow.

Shingle Style Homes usually have these features:

• Continuous wood shingles on siding and roof
• Irregular roof lines, usually gambrel in shape
• Cross gables
• Eaves on several levels
• Porches
• Asymmetrical floor plan
• Double Hung Windows, with small traditionally shaped oval or round accent windows. Paladian-style windows with fanlights are appropriate
• Limited use of stone is used in foundation and chimney
• Shutters should be paneled or lovered with period style cutouts being appropriate
• Dormers grouped in pairs shed roofs extensions from main roof
• Covered entries incorporated with wrap around porchs
• Main entry door of half glass with transom and sidelights
• Cornice profiles using crown molded fascia and half round gutters
• Porchs should wrap large portions of the home and terminate in round or octagon outdoor areas.
• Colors should be weathered grays or earthy tones and mossy brown, trim can be either light or dark

Some Shingle Style homes also have these features:

• Wavy wall surface
• Patterned shingles
• Squat half-towers
• Palladian windows
• Rough hewn stone on lower stories
• Stone arches over windows and porches

About the Shingle Style:
Shingle Style houses can take on many forms. Some have tall turrets, suggestive of Queen Anne architecture. Some have gambrel roofs, Palladian windows, and other Colonial Revival details. Some Shingle houses have features borrowed from Tudor, Gothic and Stick styles. But, unlike those styles, Shingle architecture is relaxed and informal. Shingle houses do not have the lavish decorations that were popular during the Victorian era.

The architectural historian Vincent Scully coined the term "Shingle Style" because these homes are usually sided in rustic cedar shingles. However, not all Shingle Style houses are shingle-sided. You will recognize them by their complicated shapes and rambling, informal floor plans.

Shingle Style Homes usually have these features:

• Continuous wood shingles on siding and roof
• Irregular roof lines, usually gambrel in shape
• Cross gables
• Eaves on several levels
• Porches
• Asymmetrical floor plan
• Double Hung Windows, with small traditionally shaped oval or round accent windows. Paladian-style windows with fanlights are appropriate
• Limited use of stone is used in foundation and chimney
• Shutters should be paneled or lovered with period style cutouts being appropriate
• Dormers grouped in pairs shed roofs extensions from main roof
• Covered entries incorporated with wrap around porchs
• Main entry door of half glass with transom and sidelights
• Cornice profiles using crown molded fascia and half round gutters
• Porchs should wrap large portions of the home and terminate in round or octagon outdoor areas.
• Colors should be weathered grays or earthy tones and mossy brown, trim can be either light or dark

Some Shingle Style homes also have these features:

• Wavy wall surface
• Patterned shingles
• Squat half-towers
• Palladian windows
• Rough hewn stone on lower stories
• Stone arches over windows and porches

About the Shingle Style:
Shingle Style houses can take on many forms. Some have tall turrets, suggestive of Queen Anne architecture. Some have gambrel roofs, Palladian windows, and other Colonial Revival details. Some Shingle houses have features borrowed from Tudor, Gothic and Stick styles. But, unlike those styles, Shingle architecture is relaxed and informal. Shingle houses do not have the lavish decorations that were popular during the Victorian era.

The architectural historian Vincent Scully coined the term "Shingle Style" because these homes are usually sided in rustic cedar shingles. However, not all Shingle Style houses are shingle-sided. You will recognize them by their complicated shapes and rambling, informal floor plans.