Some people aren't content just reading about history. They want to live it, or in this case, live in it. It's now possible to buy blueprints for an authentic colonial home -- just like the ones in historic Williamsburg.

In mid-June, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation licensed North Carolina home designer William Poole to sell blueprints for homes with facades identical to those of properties found in the historic Virginia community. However, accommodations have been made on the inside of the homes to fit today's lifestyles.

Taking a step back in time may sound romantic, until you think about the things that were lacking in the 18th century. Foundation spokeswoman Penna Rogers says among the big differences between yesterday and today, "kitchens are inside and bathrooms are inside." Few buyers would argue with those changes.

Rogers says the Poole designs also feature "nice big living rooms, nice big bedrooms" and "all the modern conveniences." She jokes that "we don't worry about garages in Colonial Williamsburg," but they are included in the updated plans.

"The response has been wonderful," according to Rogers. Once word of the designs got out, "we got calls all over the Foundation asking how to get them."

The positive response isn't surprising when you consider how the idea came about. Rogers says "for years and years we've had visitors who come to Colonial Williamsburg and say 'I have to build a Benjamin Powell house. How can I do that?'"

Rogers says Williamsburg-inspired homes have been built across the country. Finally, "everything just kind of came together at once" for Williamsburg to offer authentic design plans. She says, "we had a good architect, we had, of course, great houses in our historic area, and our licensee program is growing."

Now, history buffs can study a portfolio of 18 Williamsburg designs and choose the one that's right for them. The homes vary in size from 2,047 to 4,555 square feet. Rogers says styles range from a "very formal brick home such as the Red Lion or the Wythe House" to a "very charming frame home such as the Benjamin Powell House."

The portfolio of 18 designs can be purchased for $35 through Colonial Williamsburg's catalogue (800-446-9240), or online at Williamsburg Marketplace or William Poole Designs, Inc. Blueprints for the individual designs sell for $1,050 to $1,500.

Just what it will cost to replicate Williamsburg in your part of the country is hard to say. Rogers says the final price tag will depend greatly on the geographic region in which the house is built and "how authentic" a homebuyer wants to be. Since Colonial Williamsburg is only selling the designs, "it's up to the contractor and consumer" how closely they follow the blueprint.

The Foundation isn't aware of any production builders who are yet in the process of recreating Williamsburg elsewhere, but it wouldn't mind if someone did. Rogers says "we'd love to see a Williamsburg community. That would be great."

Carol Ochs is a Washington-based reporter who covers new home trends.

Published: July 31, 2001

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