Dormers have evolved over centuries to suit different architectural styles, climates, and functions. Sometimes Dormers are called, “Roofs with dog houses on them.” Here’s a breakdown of historical dormer styles categorized by era and design influence:

🏰 Medieval & Gothic Dormers (12th–15th centuries)

        • Style: Steeply pitched gables with pointed arches.

        • Materials: Stone or timber with heavy lead or slate roofs.

        • Use: Primarily to ventilate and light attics in castles or manor houses.

🏛️ Renaissance Dormers (15th–17th centuries)

        • Style: Classical detailing—columns, pediments, and entablatures.

        • French Influence: The “lucarne” (ornate dormer with decorative scrollwork and pediments) is common in châteaux.

        • Features: Symmetrical placement and integration into formal facades.

🇫🇷 Baroque & Rococo Dormers (17th–18th centuries)

  • Style: Highly ornate with flowing curves, sculpted reliefs, and decorative finials.

  • Roof Shapes: Often incorporated into mansard roofs.

  • Famous Use: Parisian buildings with curved dormers in mansard roofs—still iconic today.

🇬🇧 Georgian Dormers (18th century)

  • Style: Clean lines, symmetry, and minimal ornamentation.

  • Type: Gabled or shed dormers often with sash windows.

  • Placement: Aligned neatly with windows and doors below.

🇺🇸 Colonial & Federal Dormers (18th–early 19th centuries)

  • Style: Modest, functional, and proportional.

  • Type: Gabled or segmental (arched) dormers.

  • Use: Prominent in Colonial Williamsburg and early American homes.

🏡 Victorian Dormers (mid-to-late 19th century)

  • Style: Ornate and varied—includes Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, and Second Empire.

  • Features: Decorative bargeboards, finials, and shingles.

  • Roof Integration: Sometimes compound forms with turrets or towers.

🧱 Craftsman & Arts and Crafts Dormers (early 20th century)

  • Style: Low-pitched shed or gabled dormers with exposed rafters.

  • Materials: Natural wood, stone, and shingled cladding.

  • Philosophy: Emphasized handcrafted, honest materials.

🌆 Tudor Revival Dormers (1920s–1930s)

  • Style: Steep gabled dormers, often with timbering and masonry.

  • Inspiration: English medieval and Elizabethan styles.

  • Roof Details: Asymmetrical, picturesque rooflines.