When you think colonial homes, these are most likely the designs you have in mind. The Garrison colonial is the most basic style described above and is the direct descendant of the homes built by the first European settlers. The New England colonial is basically the same design, but with the large, central chimney and fireplace, the result of needing to fight off those cold New England winters. The Southern colonial home added to the basic design the brick exterior that is now a trademark of colonial architecture, as well as moving the chimneys out to the sides of the home rather than keeping them in the center.

This brick construction stayed in the south until the introduction of brick veneer in the 1920's, a time when colonial homes were all the rage, and which is often referred to as part of the "colonial revival" period of American architecture. The later introduction of dormers into these designs also created what was to become a hallmark feature of contemporary colonial home plans.

Colonial homes are designed in the style of houses built by America's first European settlers; homes that were an imitation of English building styles of medieval times. The traditional colonial home consists of a two story, square or rectangular house with steep, gabled roofs, a large, central door, a central chimney and fireplace, and an interior hallway off of which the home's rooms are found. This basic design has served as the jumping off point for a number of other house designs that continue to be popular to the present day. Here's a short list of the different styles of homes that make up what is generally recognized as colonial architecture.