6 timeless homes in the French Norman Style
Featuring a castle-like stone house in West Virginia and a grand foyer in New York
Washington, D.C.
John J. Whelan designed this 1927 Norman and English-country house with central tower and slate roof. The renovated five-bedroom home has rich historic details, a living room with a fireplace and balcony, a dining room, a chef's kitchen with a walk-in pantry and French doors to a walled stone garden terrace, marble baths, and a home theater.
The landscaped lot in Kalorama is near Rock Creek Park, museums, the zoo, and Kennedy Center. $4,499,000. Michael Rankin, TTR Sotheby's International Realty, (202) 271-3344.
Abington, Pennsylvania
This six-bedroom Normandy Tudor was built in 1903. The house features elaborately worked oak ceiling trim, built-ins, and floors; stained-glass details; six fireplaces; an ornately carved and frescoed billiard room with a bar; and a refreshed gourmet kitchen.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The 5.3-acre landscaped property has a patio, garden, courtyard, specimen trees, pool, one-bedroom pool house, and two-bedroom in-law suite over a garage; Penn State is across the road and Philadelphia about an hour's drive. $3,999,900. Matthew Fusaro, The DeLuca Group at Keller Williams, (267) 252-2898.
Upper Brookville, New York
Château de L'Amour, a seven-bedroom Norman Tudor mansion, was built in 1997 of brick, stone, slate, and cedar shake. Inside are herringbone floors, rich millwork, built-ins, stained-glass and bay windows, stone-clad fireplaces, a marble-clad chef's kitchen, and a primary wing.
The 5-acre wooded lot on Long Island's Oyster Bay includes a circular courtyard, saltwater pool and spa, cabana, firepit, outdoor kitchen, and garage; the train is 10 minutes away. $5,980,000. Jason Friedman, Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty, (516) 236-6226.
Katonah, New York
This 1931 Norman Tudor was created by Lester Beach Scheide. The five-bedroom house features a turret entrance to a grand foyer, geometric coffered ceilings, arched doorways, stained glass, formal living and dining rooms, entertainer's kitchen with breakfast nook, and primary suite with whirlpool tub.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The 17-acre forested property, an hour from midtown Manhattan, has a fishing pond, brook, trails, firepit, sports courts, pool, and two-story pool house with guest quarters. $7,495,000. Francesca Mulone, Coldwell Banker Realty, (914) 943-6442.
Los Angeles, California
Designed by Arthur Bone, this house in Normandy's half-timbered style dates to 1928. The four-bedroom home has exposed beams, built-ins, French doors, leaded diamond windows, a primary bedroom with walk-in closet and sauna, a kitchen with a breakfast nook lit by a sunny arched window, and a wraparound balcony with treetop and city views.
The wooded lot, set in Beachwood Canyon under the iconic Hollywood Sign, includes a stone-paved backyard with dining-living space. $2,795,000. Bryony Atkinson, Maisonre, (323) 377-4858.
Fairmont, West Virginia
In 1999, this 1929 castle-like stone house and tower won a historic preservation award. The four-bedroom home features French doors, arched entryways, built-ins, crown molding, original light fixtures, classic black-and-white tiled bath, laundry chute, shelving nooks, stone fireplaces in the living room and primary bedroom, a formal dining room, a sunroom, and updated HVAC.
The lot, 10 minutes from Fairmont's Main Street, is planted with lawns, mature trees, and established shrubs. $324,000. Bill Porter, Heritage Real Estate, (304) 685-4871.
This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.
-
Kiefer / Van Gogh: a 'remarkable double act'
The Week Recommends Visit this 'heroic' and 'absurd' exhibition at the Royal Academy until 26 October
-
Mark Billingham shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The novelist and actor shares works by Mark Lewisohn, John Connolly and Gillian Flynn
-
Properties of the week: grand rural residences
The Week Recommends Featuring homes in Wiltshire, Devon, and East Sussex
-
Heads of State: 'a perfect summer movie'
The Week Recommends John Cena and Idris Elba have odd-couple chemistry as the US president and British prime minister
-
The Red Brigades: a 'fascinating insight' into the 'most feared' extremist group of 1970s Italy
The Week Recommends A 'grimly absorbing' history of the group and their attempts to overthrow the Italian state
-
Jurassic World Rebirth: enjoyable sequel hampered by plot holes
Talking Point The latest dinosaur reboot captures the essence of the original – but leans too heavily on 'CGI-heavy set pieces'
-
Summer in Seattle: Outdoor dining like nowhere else
Feature Featuring a patio with a waterfront view, a beer garden, and more
-
Film reviews: F1: The Movie, 28 Years Later, and Familiar Touch
Feature An aging race car driver gets one last chance, a kid struggles to survive in this '28 Days Later' update, and a woman with dementia adjusts to her new life