The Classic Revival home, which Americans prefer to call the Cape Cod, is a very utilitarian house which makes good use a square floor plan. Unfortunately the sleep loft was a bit cramped because of sloping ceilings. In a general way, this wooden house is based on the somewhat earlier Scottish Home typically consisting largely of quarried stone.

The upper half of this house was less than adequate,  having ceiling/walls angled at 45 degrees. In Scotland stone-masons improved the lighting,  and stand up space,  by adding a dormer complete with windows,  in a gable projecting  from a sloping roof. It was not much of a trial to interpret this modern addition in terms of wood- rather than stone-craft.

The Shed Dormer seems to be derived from a simple lean-to addition, some of which are seen attached to stone buildings in the old country. The Scottish Dormer, which will appear down the line, required some sophisticated sawing and joining, so this sort of add-on probably appalled to those who did it themselves, or lacked the funds to create something more sophisticated.