Featuringdistinctive rooflinesand facades, saltbox-style houses are an iconic example ofAmerican colonial architecture.
Although the style has historic roots, these homes remain popular today.
Earle G. Shettleworth Jr.is a Maine State Historian.
Pettengill House, a historic saltbox home in Freeport, Maine.Credit: Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
What Is a Saltbox House?
Historic saltbox houses are easily identified by their signature one-sided sloped rooflines and simple colonial facades.
They often include a symmetrical brick chimney, too.
Credit:Tria Giovan
Soon, these lean-to additions led to the popularization of the sloped roof style we see today.
Fortunately, many saltbox houses are still standing today.
Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. ## Examples of Modern Saltbox Design
Bothmodernistsand history buffs can find common aesthetic ground in saltbox-style homes.
Pettengill House, a historic saltbox home in Freeport, Maine.Credit: Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division
Her goal was to make the circa-1725 home livable and fresh while preserving historical attributes.
“Those details have a romantic element to them that I’d never change,” Mittleman says.
“It is an updated home with its original soul and charm maintained.”
A modern adaptation of the saltbox house style in Bridgehampton, New York.Credit: Ty Cole
Mittleman used Benjamin Moore’s White Dove on all walls and ceilings for a consistently light and airy feeling.
The fresh wall color draws attention to thetimeworn beamsabove, which are original.
Mittleman finished them with a simple whitewash treatment to brighten and preserve them.
All original floors were refinished using a wax coating to protect them for years to come.
Despite the challenges of working within a limited footprint, the old and new sing together in harmony.
The saltbox slope helps the home withstand extreme weather conditions while minimizing energy expenditure.
The sloped roof also includessolar panelsthat reduce the use and cost of energy for homeowners.
She choserough cedar claddingfor the exterior because this knotty, natural material minimizes maintenance and patinas beautifully over time.
Ultimately, Jacoby found the saltbox style easily adaptable for modern use.
A saltbox home addition designed by architect Christine L. Albertsson.Credit: Peter Bastianelli-Kerze
A modern saltbox-style new build designed by architect Sarah Jacoby.Credit: Ty Cole
