posted 02-19-2002 12:57 AM            

Gothic being about 11th to 14th century(correct me somebody if that date range is way out.)

Castles were built mostly of stone(brick and Tapia were also used) and were built for defence. The living quaters within the castles were often cramped(communal for most) and had little in the way of windows. The floor was the bed for most people in a castle.
A gothic style town house on the other hand was built mostly of heavy timbers infilled with either wattle and daub, brick or stone, the lower storey often being solid stone. It was devided into many rooms and levels. They had windows, particularly front and back as the sides often touched the adjoining building. They were unfortified and quite easy to break into(The term "break and entre" is said to come from this period where the wattle and daub panels were broken to gain entry).
Farmhouses are somewhat different again. Much simpler and often incorporating stables into the same structure.

There are plans somewhere on the web of a London townhouse, but I think a little later than gothic.
Read some of the old threads in the building your own castle forum, as well as this one. this one.

What elements of gothic are you looking to put into your house?