If they'd just make some attempt, just even consider for a second, a bit of symmetry, a lot of the architecture in suburban US would be much nicer. Some of the roof profiles look like a semi-random pile of shingles. Also wouldn't it be cheaper to have windows that are the same size rather than a random assortment of sizes?
I think part of the issue is that the people paying for these houses have lots of money and a big wish list, but lack practical design skills or any sense of architectural design. It's a classic case of "Your <homeowners> were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should." So you get "ooh, a turret looks cool, I want one!" and "I
neeeeed a five-car garage!" and "we can afford a pool!" with no realization that turrets are horribly unusable, the only reason you want a five-car garage is because you have too much junk, and that pools are maintenance-intensive and just generally a pain in the neck.
Several years ago, DW and I happened upon an open house for
this house (
realtor.com listing) near Houston. (That road is lined with a couple dozen McMansions, across the street from a golf course) To call it ridiculous is to be too kind, although it had no turrets (
some of the neighbors do, though!). If you'd like a little entertainment, zillow and realtor.com both still have some photos, but from what I remember:
--From the top of the front stairs, you could see no fewer than three different types of hardwood flooring--one in the upstairs, a second in the office (visible in the remaining photos on zillow), and a third in the formal dining room.
--The master bathroom had ugly, (worn) gold-leaf swan-shaped faucets, and a jetted tub up on a plinth.
--There were 5 separate A/C units for the house
--Every bedroom had a private bathroom
--The enormous kitchen had a giant, T-shaped island, top-of-the-line appliances of all kinds, and
cobblestone floors.
--The small powder room off the kitchen had
three different patterns of wallpaper, including
leopard print.
--The upstairs bonus room had Route 66-themed wallpaper, and the furniture
had matching upholstery.
It's been a long time since then, so I'm sure I've forgotten a lot of the details. But it was at once humorous because of the lack of taste, and a little bit depressing, because it felt like a home where a six-person family would live separate lives.
Seriously, though, if you're looking for some high-quality architectural humor, take
a Street View Stroll down Cypresswood Drive.