The Cape Cod house accommodated the minimal home design defined by the Federal Housing Administration in the 1930s. This FHA design recommended a minimum of 624 square feet of living space to accommodate a living room, two bedrooms, a full bathroom, and an eat-in kitchen. If the home was built on a concrete slab, the utilities were located in a closet in the kitchen. If it was built with a basement, the utilities were located in the unfinished basement.

Cape Cod homes were low, one-or two-story frame houses with little ornamentation. Some were built with a steep pitched gable roof to provide an unfinished second floor with room for additional bedrooms and a second bathroom. This style, used extensively by the Levitt brothers in Levittown, NY, their first post-war suburban community, caught the attention of builders nationwide. The Cape Cod style was very popular because it was affordable and eligible for VA and FHA loans.

Split-Level/Split-Foyer

The Split-Level and Split-Foyer home style offered three levels, each accommodating different family activities. The basement provided room for a recreation room, laundry area, and garage. The second story above the basement had three bedrooms and a full bathroom. The one-story wing accommodated the kitchen, dining room, and living room. It is interesting to note the living room in the floor plan above has a special location designed for a television set.