Key Elements of Adelaide Creole Style
Urban examples are raised and flush to the sidewalk or street with a roof overhang for rain cover.
Less urban examples are raised and have deep front porches across the front.
Steep pitched roofs with side gables.
Full height or tall, vertically proportioned windows with tall shutters.
Massing is symmetrical usually with equal bays, but can be slightly off at center or end bays. Windows are not necessarily centered in bays, but preferable.
Creole Elements
The Creole Style Architectural styling tends to be void of excessive trimwork or detailing - from the eaves, to porch elements, to windows and doors. Porch columns are simple timbers with chamfered corners, and the porch beams above are usually timber as well. Window framing is made with simple 1x material, and shutters are usually plank type or board and batten - made from material readily available and inexpensive. The more simple, the more authentic Creole it is.
History of Creole Style
Creoles are the "locals" or "natives", a term from the New World during the time of the French and Spaniard controlled Louisiana. Creoles' lives are more public, urban lives, rather than private and rural. Of the three Adelaide styles - Creole, Acadian, and French Colonial - Creole houses are the most simple and tend to be smaller in nature. Because of the urban nature of Creoles, the vast majority of their houses are cottages, shotguns, townhouses, or camelbacks.
Creole houses were typically built raised off the ground due to the frequent flooding, have steeply pitched roofs, and tall windows to the floor or French doors. Urban examples stand flush with the sidewalk with a roof overhang for cover - no porch - usually attached units or the occasional shotgun style with a narrow hipped roof. Slightly less urban examples have generous porches across the full front with side gables. The simple roof shed to the front made construction simple and gave more roof for a 1/2 story living area above the main level. This roof shape also made adding the porch on front or back easy to do with a simple pitch break.
Architectural Styling
Architectural styling tends to be void of excessive trimwork or detailing - from the eaves to porch elements to windows and doors. Porch columns are simple timbers with chamfered corners, and the porch beams above are usually timber as well. Window framing is made with simple 1x material, and shutters are usually plank type or board and batten - made from material readily available and inexpensive. The more simple, likely the more authentic Creole. However, since Creole includes French and Spanish roots, components of Spanish Creole detailing can legitimately "season" the architecture. Spanish Creole elements tend to be a little more ornate or decorative, and there are some definite differences in Spanish Creole building massing - see appropriate Spice Styles which include Spanish Creole.
Acadian
Adelaide Acadian style homes have steep pitched roofs with side gables, deep porches, and more.