The French style of architecture has a variety of shape and detailing, yet it is commonly bound by the characteristic design of the roof. French architecture resembles the look and style of Tudor architecture, but lack the dominant front facing cross gables found on the latter. It also reminds you of a Georgian home style with renaissance detailing (i.e. quoins and shutters) that is often used. Identifying features include high and steeply pitched hip roofs with flared rafter tails, decorative half timber facades, brick, stone, and/ or stucco finishes.
French home plans are generally designed as symmetrical, asymmetrical, or what is termed as the towered design. Symmetrical designs, usually seen with the French Provincial style, have massive hip roofs with the main entry door centered. The front is usually formal like the original french manors of France. Wing walls are often added to the sides of the main building. Asymmetrical designs are more common and includes examples of picturesque French Chateau, French farmhouses, French Normandy home designs with an off-centered main entry, and French Eclectic. Towered designs are easily identified by the round tower with the high pitched conical roof. The main entry is usually found at the tower. As in Tudor architecture, half timber is a common feature in the French Normandy and it is sometimes referred to as a Norman cottage due to the influences of the cottages in Normandy.