The traditional style consists of: 

Main areas of elaboration:  The I-house presented the perfect opportunity for architectural embellishment.  Gothic arches, Italianate brackets, and country-style Eastlake and Queen Anne millwork all left their marks on the long cornices and gable ends. The flat symmetrical front was the perfect place for another design element, another gable!   Other areas of elaboration in the I-House include differing chimney placement, porch size, porch roof shape, and differing styles of rearward extensions.

Universal Feature: Typicaly rectilinear, two rooms wide, and one room deep.  The facade of an I-House tends to be symmetrical, with a tall, shallow silhouette that helps to define the I-House.  The I-House was common in colder parts of the country where more interior space was needed during the winter months.

Shape: Variations include differing styles of rearward extensions.

Levels: Usually two-story.

Roof Style: Usually side-open gables.

Porches:  Variations include differing porch size and porch roof shape.

Fireplace: Variations include differing chimney placement.