You’ve seen them. Even if you don't know the name, you know the silhouette. A low-slung roof, a massive central chimney that looks like it could withstand a gale, and those perfectly proportioned windows that just feel right. That is Royal Barry Wills architecture. It isn't just a style; for a huge chunk of the 20th century, it was the literal definition of the American Dream.
Royal Barry Wills didn’t invent the Cape Cod cottage. He just perfected it. Honestly, before he came along in the 1920s and 30s, a lot of "revival" architecture in the suburbs was a mess. It was either too clunky or too ornate. Wills changed that. He looked back at the 17th and 18th centuries—the houses built by people who actually had to survive New England winters—and realized they had a secret.
The secret was scale.
The Man Who Saved the Cape Cod
Royal Barry Wills was a Boston architect who graduated from MIT in 1918. He started his firm during a time when most high-end architects were busy trying to build mini-French chateaus or massive Tudor estates for the ultra-wealthy. Wills went the other way. He saw that the average American family wanted something modest, sturdy, and undeniably "homey."
He became a bit of a celebrity. Seriously. He won more awards for small-house design than almost anyone in history. In 1938, Life magazine ran a feature comparing a modern house by Frank Lloyd Wright with a traditional house by Wills. The public went nuts for Wills. They didn't want the "machine for living"; they wanted the white picket fence and the black shutters.
It wasn't just about nostalgia, though. Wills was obsessed with the technical side of the colonial aesthetic. He famously said that the difference between a good house and a bad one was often just a matter of inches. If the eaves were too high, the house looked "top-heavy." If the windows were too small, it looked "mean." He spent his career obsessing over the "drop" of a roofline.
What Actually Makes a Wills House?
If you're walking through a neighborhood in Massachusetts or Connecticut and you see a house that looks like a perfect antique but was clearly built in 1950, you’re likely looking at Royal Barry Wills architecture.
The hallmark is the central chimney. In a true Wills design, the chimney is huge. It’s the anchor. It tells the world that there is a hearth inside, a place for the family to gather. Then there’s the roof. He preferred a steep pitch, often a 12-twelve or even steeper, which helps shed snow but also creates that iconic "snug" look.
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But look closer at the windows. Wills usually used 12-over-12 or 9-over-9 double-hung sash windows. He placed them right up under the eaves. This is a classic colonial trick that makes the house look lower to the ground. It creates a sense of permanence. The house isn't sitting on the land; it’s part of it.
The siding matters too. He loved wood shingles or clapboards with a very narrow exposure. It adds a texture that vinyl or modern fat-plank siding just can't replicate. It’s subtle. It’s quiet.
The Layout: Cozy vs. Cramped
Inside, a Wills house is a masterclass in using every square inch. He hated wasted space. You won't find many massive, soaring foyers in his blueprints. Instead, you get a small entry vestibule—the "swing" room—that keeps the cold air out.
The floor plans are usually built around the chimney. This meant back-to-back fireplaces in the living room and the dining room (or the kitchen). It’s efficient. It’s logical.
However, modern buyers sometimes struggle with the original 1940s layouts. The kitchens were often tiny by today’s standards. They were utilitarian spaces, not the "entertainment hubs" we use now. But the "bones" are so good that people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating them. They’ll knock out a wall between the kitchen and the "keeping room" but keep that original Wills fireplace.
The upstairs of a Wills Cape is where the magic happens. Because of the steep roof, the bedrooms have sloped ceilings and dormer windows. It feels like a hideaway. It’s the opposite of a sterile modern box.
Why People Get Wills Architecture Wrong
There is a huge misconception that any 1950s Cape Cod is a Wills house. Not true.
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After World War II, developers started cranking out "cookie-cutter" Capes to meet the housing demand. These are the houses you see in Levittown. They took the basic shape of a Wills house but stripped away the soul. They used cheap materials, shallow roofs, and thin chimneys. They lacked the "scale and massing" that Wills spent his life studying.
A real Royal Barry Wills house has a specific "squat" look. It’s wider than it is tall. The proportions of the door to the windows are calculated. If you see a Cape where the windows look too far apart or the front door looks like an afterthought, it’s a knock-off. Wills actually wrote several books, like Houses for Homemakers (which sold over 400,000 copies!), specifically to teach people how to spot good design.
He was sort of the first "architect for the people." He wanted everyone to have access to good taste, even if they couldn't afford a custom-designed mansion.
The Enduring Value of the Brand
Even though Royal Barry Wills died in 1962, the firm—Royal Barry Wills Associates—is still around. It’s one of the oldest continuously operating architectural firms in the country. They still design houses based on his principles.
Why? Because his houses hold their value incredibly well.
In the real estate world, a "Certified Royal Barry Wills" home is a major selling point. It’s like saying a car is a Porsche. It implies a level of craftsmanship and architectural integrity that transcends trends. While the "McMansions" of the early 2000s are now seen as tacky and dated, a Wills house from 1945 still looks sophisticated.
It’s about the psychology of home. We want to feel safe. We want to feel like our house is a fortress against the world. The heavy timber, the thick brick, and the low ceilings of Royal Barry Wills architecture provide that. It’s "nesting" in architectural form.
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Living in a Legend: What to Expect
If you’re thinking about buying or building a Wills-style home, you have to embrace the quirks.
- Storage can be an issue. Original Wills houses have small closets. You’ll probably need to get creative with built-ins.
- Natural light is different. You don't get floor-to-ceiling glass. You get pools of light from the multi-pane windows. It’s moody and atmospheric.
- Maintenance is real. These houses were built with wood. You’ll be painting shutters. You’ll be checking the chimney flashing. It’s a labor of love.
But the payoff is a house that feels like it has a story. There’s a reason people describe these homes as "charming" without it sounding like a backhanded compliment. They are genuinely beautiful objects.
Practical Steps for the Wills Enthusiast
If you've fallen in love with this aesthetic, don't just go buy any old Cape. You need to do your homework to ensure you're getting the real deal or at least a high-quality tribute.
First, track down a copy of Houses for Good Living or Better Houses for Budgeteers. Wills wrote these to explain his philosophy. Look at the drawings. Notice how he handles the "skirt" of the house and the way the roof meets the gables. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.
Second, if you are renovating a Wills home, find an architect who understands traditional New England vernacular. Don't let someone put "modern" oversized windows in a Wills facade. It will ruin the scale instantly. You’re better off adding a discreet addition to the rear of the house to get that extra square footage while keeping the front "face" of the house historically accurate.
Third, check the archives. Many of Wills' original plans are archived or still held by the firm in Boston. If you think you own a Wills house, you can sometimes verify it through building permits or by contacting the firm directly. Having that verification can add significant "heritage value" to your property.
Finally, focus on the landscape. A Royal Barry Wills house looks best when it’s framed by mature trees and simple, traditional plantings like hydrangeas or boxwoods. The house is meant to look like it’s been there for two hundred years. Your job is to make sure it stays that way for another two hundred.
Authenticity isn't about copying the past perfectly; it's about understanding why the past worked. Wills understood that better than anyone. He took the DNA of the American shelter and simplified it until it was perfect. That’s why we’re still talking about him today. That’s why his houses are still the ones we want to come home to when the world feels a little too loud.