A modest projection can change the character of an entire house. Garrison Colonial homes are recognized by an upper story that extends slightly beyond the lower facade, creating a clear shadow line between the floors. Within that familiar form, different masonry bases, siding textures, window arrangements, and smaller side wings can produce surprisingly varied results.
These original architectural illustrations show fictional design concepts, not photographs of documented houses or completed Speshview projects. Some explore traditional details, while others adapt the form with simpler trim or contemporary glazing. They offer exterior inspiration rather than construction drawings; wall support, moisture management, roof details, and site requirements cannot be established from an image.
For historical context, the Ohio History Connection’s Ohio Modern survey identifies the projecting second story as the Garrison Colonial’s distinguishing feature. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Colonial Revival guide places this overhang within the broader revival tradition.
1.) Red Brick Below White Clapboards
Red brick and white clapboards make the change between floors especially easy to read. Let the upper wall project slightly beyond the brick face, leaving a continuous shadow beneath it instead of disguising the step with a large porch. A centered dark door and evenly spaced windows give this version a calm, balanced front. The illustrated brick path repeats the warmer material at ground level, while low planting leaves the junction between stories visible. Keep the door surround relatively shallow so it fits comfortably beneath the projection. If you are considering this combination for an existing house, compare the brick undertone with the proposed siding color in outdoor light before settling on the final white.
2.) A Compact Sage House With an Offset Entrance
A small Garrison Colonial does not need an elaborate entrance to have character. Here, an offset door gives the lower facade room for a generous paired window, while the sage upper story keeps a regular rhythm above it. The slight projection links the two compositions without requiring every opening to align perfectly. Cream masonry below makes the greener siding feel softer, especially beside a narrow gravel path and informal planting. Choose a simple light fitting that does not crowd the door trim. The useful lesson is to balance the front as a whole: a window group can counter the visual weight of an entrance when both have enough surrounding wall to read clearly.
3.) Coastal Shingles Over a Stone Base
Weathered shingles and a gray stone lower story give this interpretation a textured coastal character. The upper projection remains the main organizing line, so the stone should finish neatly beneath it rather than climb around the upstairs windows. Navy trim creates a connection between the roof, door, and small details without competing with the varied wall surfaces. Keep foundation planting low enough for the stone courses to remain visible. A generous side view helps show how the overhang turns the corner, which is harder to appreciate in a straight-on photograph. The illustration explores a sheltered seaside setting; actual material selection should reflect exposure, moisture, and the maintenance approach appropriate to the property.
4.) Natural Cedar With a Low Garden Wing
A low side wing can make a two-story house feel more connected to its garden. Keep that wing lower than the main block so the projecting cedar upper story remains the dominant feature. White brick below provides a clear contrast with the warm wood, while large windows in the wing suggest a different relationship to the outdoor space. The junction works best visually when the smaller roof meets the main house quietly. Repeat the cedar in a door or gate instead of adding another unrelated material. This concept is a contemporary interpretation of the form, so its glazing and reduced ornament should be understood as design choices rather than a reconstruction of an older building.
5.) An All-Cream Facade With Small Pendants
Using one color across both stories lets the wall projection do more of the visual work. Cream clapboards, restrained trim, and small turned pendants create enough detail without needing a strong material contrast. Choose a slightly darker door to establish the entrance, then let the windows remain quiet within the larger facade. The illustrated narrow street setting makes this a useful approach where a complicated palette might feel busy beside neighboring houses. Keep the pendants small in relation to the overhang; their purpose here is to mark the edge, not become oversized brackets. A modest path and a low front garden support the same restrained character while preserving a clear view of the lower wall.
6.) Deep Red Siding in a Snowy Landscape
A deep red upper story stands out beautifully against pale winter ground, especially when the lower masonry stays muted. The roof and chimney should have simple outlines so the color feels deliberate rather than theatrical. In this concept, the projection casts a dark line above the ground-floor windows, giving the facade definition even when the light is flat. A short entrance walk keeps the front composition legible without excessive paving. Consider how the house will look during leafless months, when branches reveal more of the walls and the planting contributes less color. Snow in the illustration describes the setting; it does not establish how the roof or wall assembly would perform in a particular climate.
7.) Wall Dormers Above an Olive Upper Story
Small gabled wall dormers can interrupt the roof edge without removing the strong horizontal line between stories. Keep them aligned with the upstairs windows so each opening has an understandable place within the elevation. Olive siding and dark brick give this version a grounded palette, while pale trim keeps the windows from disappearing into the walls. The lower entry remains comparatively simple because the dormers already supply a more active silhouette. Look at the roof as one composition before adding decorative elements: too many competing peaks can weaken the clarity of the main block. A lightly planted front garden allows the projecting wall and the dormer shapes to remain visible from the approach.
8.) A Quiet Charcoal-and-Limestone Interpretation
Charcoal siding over pale limestone gives the familiar form a quieter contemporary direction. The contrast makes the upper projection unmistakable, so additional trim can be reduced to a few crisp lines around the windows and door. A broad ground-floor window introduces a different scale without erasing the smaller upstairs openings. Keep the stone pattern relatively calm if the aim is a restrained facade; large variations in color could pull attention away from the overall massing. The illustration uses simple landscaping and a clean path to reinforce that clarity. This is a modern interpretation, with its character coming from the relationship between stories rather than an attempt to repeat every traditional decorative detail.
9.) Butter Yellow Siding Beside a Cottage Garden
Butter yellow gives a two-story facade a welcoming presence without requiring bright trim. Pair it with a softly whitewashed brick base so the upper story feels distinct while both materials remain gentle in the same light. The projecting wall supplies a useful shadow line between them, and a muted blue door adds a smaller point of contrast. An informal garden can soften the approach, but leave a little space around the entrance and lower windows. The illustrated flowers are part of the color composition rather than a planting prescription. Choose the final palette by considering the roof, masonry, and seasonal surroundings together, since a yellow that looks quiet on a sample may appear much stronger across a whole upper floor.
10.) A Broad Five-Bay Front With a Lower Garage Wing
A wider facade can stay composed when the main block has a regular sequence of windows. Five bays give the centered entrance a strong role, while a lower garage wing adds width without extending the full two-story height across the site. Gray-blue siding and warm brick keep the palette familiar, and the upper projection ties the long front together. Set the garage visually behind the main facade so its doors do not become the first thing you notice. A broad lawn is one possible setting, but the important design relationship is the difference in height and depth between the central block and its wing. Keep that hierarchy clear before choosing smaller decorative details.
11.) A Narrow House on a Sloping Street
A sloping site changes how the base of a house meets the ground, but the line of the projecting upper story can remain level and calm. This concept uses pale gray siding over stone, with a short run of steps marking the higher entrance side. Keep the foundation treatment visually consistent as the ground falls away so the lower wall does not seem pieced together. A narrow facade benefits from simple window spacing and a clear door position. The stepped garden follows the terrain instead of hiding it behind a large platform. The illustration suggests a possible exterior arrangement; the actual relationship between levels, access, and retaining structures would need to be resolved for the specific site.
12.) Shingles With a Small Side Sunroom
A side sunroom offers a way to introduce more glass while keeping the main facade recognizably solid. Weathered shingle siding above dark green painted brick gives the central block a layered appearance, and the upper projection remains visible beside the lighter glazed addition. Use a lower roof for the sunroom so it reads as a companion volume rather than a competing second main house. Repeating the window-frame color helps connect the two parts even when their wall materials differ. The illustrated garden setting gives the side room a clear orientation toward outdoor space. Consider that relationship early, since an addition’s placement affects the view of the original massing as much as its own appearance.
13.) Warm Sand and Brick in an Open Dry Garden
A sand-colored upper story and earthy brick base can make the form feel comfortable in a more open, dry garden. Keep the roof dark enough to frame the lighter walls, and use a warm timber door to connect the masonry with the entrance. The projecting upper floor creates a visible change in depth, which is especially effective when low-angle light catches the wall below. Sparse planting and a simple gravel approach leave the house’s outline easy to read. This concept explores a different landscape palette while retaining the two-story overhang and side-gabled mass. Select exterior materials for the actual exposure and maintenance needs of the site rather than assuming the illustration establishes climate suitability.
Let the Overhang Organize the Design
Begin with the relationship between the two stories. The projection should remain legible, the lower wall should feel settled on the site, and the roof should bring the composition together. Once those larger relationships are clear, choose a limited palette and decide how much detail the windows and entrance need. A low side wing, a quieter door surround, or a carefully chosen masonry base can change the character without losing the defining overhang. For an existing house, study its proportions and original details before planning alterations, then develop the practical design with the appropriate building professionals.
For another house form with a distinctive profile, explore our saltbox house ideas, where an extended rear roof slope shapes the silhouette.
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