Just like their name suggests, Colonial-Revival style homes pay homage to the Colonial homes that came before. Colonial architecture was heavily influenced by Spanish, French, and British designs, without the luxury most of those homes possessed. Instead, these homes focused on simplicity, symmetry, and practicality. Colonial designs are one of the popular architectural designs for homes.
But Colonial-Revival style homes were not a direct copy of Colonial architecture. They've gone through a few iterations throughout history. In the early 1900s, it was trendy to marry colonial and Victorian architecture. Because of this, Colonial-Revival style homes are known for their mixing of elements. They highlight simple layouts, symmetrical window placements, and gabled roofs. They also have ornate Victorian elements, like large windows and intricate details, porticos, and moldings.