Stylistic labels are mostly thought up and applied by historians rather than by architects and designers, since historians must attempt to classify historic buildings and architects have no need for such labels. An architect simply designs a building for his client, who expresses certain desires, influences and preferences that the architect attempts to blend with his own desires, influences and preferences so that both are pleased with the result. Few buildings are literal expressions of some past or current style. Many are mixtures of two or more stylistic influences, such as Ranch-Colonial, whose stylistic ancestors are 180 degrees apart in both geography and time-period. For these reasons, style labels usually do not neatly fit in any period and can be used only for loose categorization.
However, at least two recent late-Georgian Revival examples in the District have as their owners' inspiration specific circa 1800 houses. No. 5 Cruse Alley, built about 1968, is modeled on the late 1700's Barraud House in Williamsburg, Virginia. The 1995 Roberts House at No. 10 Cruse Alley was inspired by the 1804 George Read house in New Castle, Delaware, which in turn Read patterned after a Philadelphia townhouse that he admired, demonstrating that existing houses have always and continue to serve as loose models for new ones. There are assuredly many other such examples of influences in the District.
There are many admixtures of styles due to numerous additions, remodelings and personal choices. The examples below are some of the more distinct representations:
| Style' | 'General Time Period | Representative Example | |
| 1. | Federal Period | (c.1780-1835) | 1819 Weeden House, 300 Gates Ave. |
| 2. | Greek Revival | (c. 1836-1860) | 1836 Gov. Bibb House, 300 Williams Ave. |
| 3. | Gothic Revival | (c. 1850-1860) | 1859 Church of the Nativity, Eustis Ave. at Greene Street |
| 4. | Italianate | (c.1850-1880) | 1824/1850's Mastin House, 310 Williams Avenue |
| 5. | Italian Villa | (c.1850-1880) | 1819/1850's Morgan House, 558 Franklin Street |
| 6. | Romanesque Revival | (c. 1870-1910) | 1876 First Methodist Church, 217 Randolph Avenue |
| 7. | Queen Anne | (c.1885-1900) | 500 Franklin Street |
| 8. | Eastlake | (c.1885-1900) | 1901 Fletcher House, 210 Williams Avenue |
| 9. | Chateauesque | (c. 1890-1910) | 426 Randolph Ave. (later porch) |
| 10. | Second Empire | (c.1880-1900) | 1887+1890 Goldsmith House, 506 Franklin Street |
| 11. | Colonial Revival (non-literal) | (c.l880-to present) | c. 1986, 429 Echols Avenue |
| 12. | Late Victorian Vernacular | (c. 1890-1910) | 507 Randolph Avenue |
| 13. | Neo-Classical (free-style) | (c. 1900-1929) | 1902 Van Valkenburgh House, 501 Franklin Street |
| 14. | Classical Revival | (c. 1900-1929) | 1917 Masonic Lodge, 409 Lincoln Street (Greek Style) |
| 15. | Renaissance Revival | (c. 1900-1929) | 1929 Merts Center, Randolph & White Streets |
| 16. | Craftsman Style | (c. 1910-1929) | c.1909 McDonnell House, 531 Franklin St. |
| 17. | Bungalow Style | (c. 1910-1929) | 414 Eustis Avenue, 1920's |
| 18. | Prairie Style | (c. 1910-1929) | 1921 Murphy House, 406 Eustis Avenue |
| 19. | Mediterranean Style | (c.1910-1929) | 1929 Hay House, 420 Eustis Avenue |
| 20. | Tudor Style | (c. 1910-1929) | 420 Echols Avenue, 1920's |
| 21. | Dutch Colonial | (c.1910-1929) | 603 Franklin Street, 1920's |
| 22. | Early 20th Century Modern | (c.1920-1941) | c.1940 Madison County Health Dept., 304 Eustis Avenue |
| 23. | Ranch Style | (c. 1945-1965) | 607 Randolph Street, 1950's |
| 24. | Ranch Style Ranch-Colonial | (c. 1945-1965) | 433 Echols, 1950's |
| 25. | Mid-20th Century Modern | (c. 1950-1985) | 1984 Paludan House, 707 S. Greene Street |
| 26. | Georgian Revival | (c. 1965 to present) | 1994 Roberts House, 10 Cruse Alley |
| 27. | Federal Revival | (c. 1980 to present) | c.1970 Simms House, No. 1 Cruse Alley |