Best of the Week: 33 Homes That Make a Great First Impression
A well-designed facade sets the tone for what's to come inside your home. Here are 33 exteriors to inspire
Georgia Madden
8 May 2019
From striking colour combinations and sumptuous materials to luscious landscaping, dress your home to impress with a beautifully designed facade. We’ve gathered together 33 examples of stand-out facades from the Houzz archives to get your creative juices flowing.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
1. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Bask Interiors
Features: A simple but striking palette of grey, white and terracotta.
Read more about this Hamptons-inspired bungalow
Designer: Bask Interiors
Features: A simple but striking palette of grey, white and terracotta.
Read more about this Hamptons-inspired bungalow
2. Location: Japan
Features: A wall of blue interspersed with touches of timber and white creates drama.
Features: A wall of blue interspersed with touches of timber and white creates drama.
3. Location: Montana, USA
Designer: Intrinsik Architecture and Design 5 Landscape Architecture
Features: Simple lines and a utilitarian materials palette.
Designer: Intrinsik Architecture and Design 5 Landscape Architecture
Features: Simple lines and a utilitarian materials palette.
4. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: This glass-fronted home resembles a Rubik’s cube – an unconventional but arresting solution for a narrow site.
Designer: Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Features: This glass-fronted home resembles a Rubik’s cube – an unconventional but arresting solution for a narrow site.
5. Location: Adelaide, SA
Designer: Grieve Gillett Andersen
Features: Lashings of timber and a deceptively simple form.
Designer: Grieve Gillett Andersen
Features: Lashings of timber and a deceptively simple form.
6. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Features: The colour variation in this weathered timber cladding ups its visual appeal.
Features: The colour variation in this weathered timber cladding ups its visual appeal.
7. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Grundella Constructions
Features: A dramatic feature window commands attention from the street.
Read more about this controversial and contemporary home
Designer: Grundella Constructions
Features: A dramatic feature window commands attention from the street.
Read more about this controversial and contemporary home
8. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: Seamus Ryan
Features: A soft layering of greys in the walls, roof and front door creates a sophisticated and welcoming feel in this Federation home.
Designer: Seamus Ryan
Features: A soft layering of greys in the walls, roof and front door creates a sophisticated and welcoming feel in this Federation home.
9. Location: Singapore
Designer: Nyee Phoe Flower Garden
Features: A green wall that makes for an enticing exterior.
Designer: Nyee Phoe Flower Garden
Features: A green wall that makes for an enticing exterior.
10. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Pascon Group
Features: A wall of concrete, unconventional steps and statement lighting.
Designer: Pascon Group
Features: A wall of concrete, unconventional steps and statement lighting.
11. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Robert Harwood Architect
Features: Steel, slatted timber and raised vegie garden beds. A thoroughly modern exterior.
Designer: Robert Harwood Architect
Features: Steel, slatted timber and raised vegie garden beds. A thoroughly modern exterior.
12. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Schemes & Spaces
Features: Intricate metalwork accentuated in matt black.
Designer: Schemes & Spaces
Features: Intricate metalwork accentuated in matt black.
13. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Melbourne Design Studios
Features: Old meets new; the pitched roof speaks of a traditional home, while the brick, slatted timber and minimal detailing convey a more modern message.
Designer: Melbourne Design Studios
Features: Old meets new; the pitched roof speaks of a traditional home, while the brick, slatted timber and minimal detailing convey a more modern message.
14. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: Residential Attitudes
Features: Classic breeze blocks boost air flow and add eye-catching pattern to this home’s exterior.
Designer: Residential Attitudes
Features: Classic breeze blocks boost air flow and add eye-catching pattern to this home’s exterior.
15. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Designer: Habitat Horticulture
Features: A luscious greenwall on the side of the building commands attention while boosting privacy.
Designer: Habitat Horticulture
Features: A luscious greenwall on the side of the building commands attention while boosting privacy.
16. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Ande Bunbury Architects
Features: Zinc cladding gives this coastal holiday home a somewhat whimsical yet thoroughly contemporary feel.
Designer: Ande Bunbury Architects
Features: Zinc cladding gives this coastal holiday home a somewhat whimsical yet thoroughly contemporary feel.
17. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Eco Edge Architecture + Interior Design
Features: A Victorian-look exterior with clean, classic appeal.
Designer: Eco Edge Architecture + Interior Design
Features: A Victorian-look exterior with clean, classic appeal.
18. Location: Geelong, Victoria
Designer: Auhaus Architecture
Features: A fine-lined concrete facade featuring oversize windows makes for a showstopper.
Designer: Auhaus Architecture
Features: A fine-lined concrete facade featuring oversize windows makes for a showstopper.
19. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Rebecca Naughtin Architect
Features: This home’s classic pitched roof and weatherboard facade are a perfect fit for the traditional streetscape, while its pared-back aesthetic brings it right up to date.
Designer: Rebecca Naughtin Architect
Features: This home’s classic pitched roof and weatherboard facade are a perfect fit for the traditional streetscape, while its pared-back aesthetic brings it right up to date.
20. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Element Property Group
Features: Beautifully balanced; sleek vertical screening on the first floor contrasts with the rugged curves of the stonework on the ground floor.
Designer: Element Property Group
Features: Beautifully balanced; sleek vertical screening on the first floor contrasts with the rugged curves of the stonework on the ground floor.
21. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: David Edelman Architects
Features: A dramatic slanted roof and a monochromatic palette.
Designer: David Edelman Architects
Features: A dramatic slanted roof and a monochromatic palette.
22. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Steve Domoney Architecture
Features: Hints of a tin shed, a partially concealed front door and weathered timber… a country-style facade reimagined.
Designer: Steve Domoney Architecture
Features: Hints of a tin shed, a partially concealed front door and weathered timber… a country-style facade reimagined.
23. Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Designer: Luxbuilt
Features: Aluminium louvres provide shading and privacy to the interior while adding interest to this contemporary home’s facade.
Designer: Luxbuilt
Features: Aluminium louvres provide shading and privacy to the interior while adding interest to this contemporary home’s facade.
24. Location: Geelong, Victoria
Designer: Altereco Design
Features: Timber battens give the entire building an understated yet intriguing aesthetic.
Designer: Altereco Design
Features: Timber battens give the entire building an understated yet intriguing aesthetic.
25. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Sitedesign+Studios
Features: An exaggerated roofline, a lush window box filled with greenery and lashings of calming white.
Designer: Sitedesign+Studios
Features: An exaggerated roofline, a lush window box filled with greenery and lashings of calming white.
26. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Matyas Architects
Features: A brilliant brick facade.
Designer: Matyas Architects
Features: A brilliant brick facade.
27. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: David Barr Architects
Features: The facade cleverly plays with the eye – from the front it looks like a solid cube, while from the side the projected battens give it an intriguing three-dimensional appearance.
Designer: David Barr Architects
Features: The facade cleverly plays with the eye – from the front it looks like a solid cube, while from the side the projected battens give it an intriguing three-dimensional appearance.
28. Location: Seattle, USA
Designer: Studio Zerbey Architecture + Design
Features: A classic pitched roofline, a charcoal-painted facade and wide front steps create a warm, welcoming feel.
Designer: Studio Zerbey Architecture + Design
Features: A classic pitched roofline, a charcoal-painted facade and wide front steps create a warm, welcoming feel.
29. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Kalka
Features: Brilliant white balances swathes of steel-grey, while touches of timber add warmth.
Designer: Kalka
Features: Brilliant white balances swathes of steel-grey, while touches of timber add warmth.
30. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Ampson Design & Construction
Features: Little details such as the herringbone-laid brickwork along the front path and the trio of rusted stripes above the front verandah add charm to this period entrance.
Designer: Ampson Design & Construction
Features: Little details such as the herringbone-laid brickwork along the front path and the trio of rusted stripes above the front verandah add charm to this period entrance.
31. Location: Devon, UK
Designer: David Sheppard Architects
Features: A facade that blends into the landscape. The green roof ups the natural appeal.
Designer: David Sheppard Architects
Features: A facade that blends into the landscape. The green roof ups the natural appeal.
32. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Anderson Architecture
Features: A classic Sydney terrace reimagined in black steel and timber.
Designer: Anderson Architecture
Features: A classic Sydney terrace reimagined in black steel and timber.
33. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Zen Architects
Features: A facade that nestles into the landscape… and we’re loving how the front window extends to the ceiling so you can look up and watch the stars at night.
Tell us
Which of these facades do you love the best? Tell us in the Comments below and remember to like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more renovation ideas? Don’t miss Picture Perfect: 25 Ideas for Narrow Spaces in Your Home
Designer: Zen Architects
Features: A facade that nestles into the landscape… and we’re loving how the front window extends to the ceiling so you can look up and watch the stars at night.
Tell us
Which of these facades do you love the best? Tell us in the Comments below and remember to like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more renovation ideas? Don’t miss Picture Perfect: 25 Ideas for Narrow Spaces in Your Home
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A great range of architectural styles, demonstrating many interesting facades. I loved most of the timber and brick accents. Then realised that there was a complete lack of colour, apart from the timber and brick and one striking blue house. Monochrome, grey, grey and more grey! The only grey house that I thought looked like it should have been that colour was #28, Seattle, USA. I am totally over Grey Grey Grey! No personality, no warmth. I do admit that some of the very modern houses in white and black look very striking - but Grey?!! Come on folks, where's the colour!
4 and 12 for me.
4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 18, 26, 31, 32, 33 lots to love for me