What the 10 Most-Saved Home Exterior Photos of 2022 Reveal
Don't miss the most popular facades and home exteriors on Houzz this year and find out why readers loved them
Every year, we present the most popular images of home exteriors on Houzz, as saved by our design-savvy readers – you! These photographs are from projects uploaded by professionals on Houzz from 14 December 2021 to 14 December 2022, and saved by Houzz Australia users from 1 December 2022 to 14 December 2022. What’s most interesting are the contemporary styles that infuse the majority of these homes. Goodbye, country style and Victorian facades; hello, contemporary design and modern homes.
2. Face the front
Look familiar? This is the front of the home previously pictured. Again, recycled materials, contrasting colours and timber cladding are celebrated in the design – as well as by our cherished readers.
Are you hoping to make your dream home a reality? Find builders near you on Houzz to compare quotes and cost estimates
Look familiar? This is the front of the home previously pictured. Again, recycled materials, contrasting colours and timber cladding are celebrated in the design – as well as by our cherished readers.
Are you hoping to make your dream home a reality? Find builders near you on Houzz to compare quotes and cost estimates
3. Back to black
Side gardens have traditionally received scant attention compared to front and backyards, which carry greater clout both online and in our daily lives. In fact, we believe this is the first time that a skinny side garden has made it into the round-up of Houzz’s top 10 most-saved images.
We also noted a 37 percent increase in the search term ‘side garden’ on Houzz Australia from January to March 2022 versus January to March 2021. It goes to show that our judicious readers understand that even the tiniest sliver of outdoor space is worthy of thoughtful design and attention to detail.
Designed by DOOD Studio in Footscray, Victoria, this narrow side garden – and the house it calls home – balances the brawny masculinity of the black cladding with beautiful sophistication in the path and plantings.
Side gardens have traditionally received scant attention compared to front and backyards, which carry greater clout both online and in our daily lives. In fact, we believe this is the first time that a skinny side garden has made it into the round-up of Houzz’s top 10 most-saved images.
We also noted a 37 percent increase in the search term ‘side garden’ on Houzz Australia from January to March 2022 versus January to March 2021. It goes to show that our judicious readers understand that even the tiniest sliver of outdoor space is worthy of thoughtful design and attention to detail.
Designed by DOOD Studio in Footscray, Victoria, this narrow side garden – and the house it calls home – balances the brawny masculinity of the black cladding with beautiful sophistication in the path and plantings.
4. Crisp contrast
This home was a big hit for Houzz users – this is the new rear extension belonging to the side garden in the previous image. Here we see the timeless contrast of black and white that features strongly in this collection of images. Warmed by an idyllic undercover alfresco entertaining area, this inspired use of space and the clever way indoors and outdoors are linked is sending us green with envy – and we’re not the only ones.
See the rest of this Melbourne home
This home was a big hit for Houzz users – this is the new rear extension belonging to the side garden in the previous image. Here we see the timeless contrast of black and white that features strongly in this collection of images. Warmed by an idyllic undercover alfresco entertaining area, this inspired use of space and the clever way indoors and outdoors are linked is sending us green with envy – and we’re not the only ones.
See the rest of this Melbourne home
5. Old meets new
Earlier this year we covered the journey of this 90-year-old cottage in a story after its owners – interior designer Sarah Davey and her husband, builder Jared Davey – breathed new life into its old soul.
The home is located in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, and what’s most interesting here is how the original facade has been gently modernised with a new palette, updated fence and threshold, and contemporary native plantings. The couple collaborated with building designer Stuart Osman and the interior is just as gorgeous – if not even more stunning – than the exterior, so be sure to take a peek!
Earlier this year we covered the journey of this 90-year-old cottage in a story after its owners – interior designer Sarah Davey and her husband, builder Jared Davey – breathed new life into its old soul.
The home is located in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, and what’s most interesting here is how the original facade has been gently modernised with a new palette, updated fence and threshold, and contemporary native plantings. The couple collaborated with building designer Stuart Osman and the interior is just as gorgeous – if not even more stunning – than the exterior, so be sure to take a peek!
6. Meet stacked stone
From Queensland to Victoria, this contemporary home by building designer Dylan Barber Building Design combines the black, white and timber that has proved popular in exteriors for our readers this year. Added to the mix is stacked stone, which we predict we’ll be seeing a lot more of in the new year and beyond.
Many of our readers are paying heightened attention to finding or designing a handsome home for their wheels, as well as themselves. ‘Garage’ is a search term that experienced a 30 percent jump on Houzz Australia from January to March 2022 versus January to March 2021, making this a winning design for many.
From Queensland to Victoria, this contemporary home by building designer Dylan Barber Building Design combines the black, white and timber that has proved popular in exteriors for our readers this year. Added to the mix is stacked stone, which we predict we’ll be seeing a lot more of in the new year and beyond.
Many of our readers are paying heightened attention to finding or designing a handsome home for their wheels, as well as themselves. ‘Garage’ is a search term that experienced a 30 percent jump on Houzz Australia from January to March 2022 versus January to March 2021, making this a winning design for many.
7. Modernist lines
For those who have paused to wonder if the ever-popular timber-battened facades are dead, this home shows there’s life in the trend yet – and many readers agree. Again, we see the striking contrast between black and white, this time with two vertically stacked volumes presenting from the street.
Designed by WALA, the owners of this new modernist-leaning build requested a beach house without the typical beachy tropes and we think they’ve achieved exactly that.
Browse more stunning Australian home facades
For those who have paused to wonder if the ever-popular timber-battened facades are dead, this home shows there’s life in the trend yet – and many readers agree. Again, we see the striking contrast between black and white, this time with two vertically stacked volumes presenting from the street.
Designed by WALA, the owners of this new modernist-leaning build requested a beach house without the typical beachy tropes and we think they’ve achieved exactly that.
Browse more stunning Australian home facades
8. Batten the hatches
With echoes of deja vu, this Melbourne home by Kube Constructions also combines exterior-batten detailing with the black-and-white palette that Houzz readers love. This time a crisply pitched roof tops it off, but the real surprise lies in the contrast between this home’s rear extension and front facade (click into the image, then on ‘Other photos in This Project’ to see).
The much-prized indoor-outdoor connection is also evident here, so it’s no surprise that this photograph was saved in spades.
With echoes of deja vu, this Melbourne home by Kube Constructions also combines exterior-batten detailing with the black-and-white palette that Houzz readers love. This time a crisply pitched roof tops it off, but the real surprise lies in the contrast between this home’s rear extension and front facade (click into the image, then on ‘Other photos in This Project’ to see).
The much-prized indoor-outdoor connection is also evident here, so it’s no surprise that this photograph was saved in spades.
9. Cottage cool
Who could resist the furry friend in this photo, not to mention the playful lilypad-shaped pavers? Not us at Houzz, and not our readers, who saved this image to their Ideabooks in droves.
This is the home of Melbourne-based architect Lisa Breeze, which was built against the background of pandemic-induced lockdowns. The exterior combines many stalwart features of vernacular cottage architecture – weatherboard cladding, a pitched roof, strong indoor-outdoor connection, plantings and pavings – but with a twist.
See the rest of this family home
Who could resist the furry friend in this photo, not to mention the playful lilypad-shaped pavers? Not us at Houzz, and not our readers, who saved this image to their Ideabooks in droves.
This is the home of Melbourne-based architect Lisa Breeze, which was built against the background of pandemic-induced lockdowns. The exterior combines many stalwart features of vernacular cottage architecture – weatherboard cladding, a pitched roof, strong indoor-outdoor connection, plantings and pavings – but with a twist.
See the rest of this family home
10. Backyard bliss
Bricks are definitely having a moment in residential design, with these humble building blocks being laid in playful patterns, including the rectangular vertical brickwork in this Perth house by Robeson Architects. But it’s the great combination of the wide steps designed for lounging on, the easily accessible barbecue and the indoor-outdoor connection that lured readers into saving this photograph.
Which images will prove popular in 2023? Stay tuned and, until then, keep saving your favourite photos to those Ideabooks, folks.
Your turn
Which of these 10 exteriors is your pick of the bunch? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
If you enjoyed these designs, you’ll love this Exterior of the Week: Curvy, Cream Brickwork for Zen-Like Vibes
Bricks are definitely having a moment in residential design, with these humble building blocks being laid in playful patterns, including the rectangular vertical brickwork in this Perth house by Robeson Architects. But it’s the great combination of the wide steps designed for lounging on, the easily accessible barbecue and the indoor-outdoor connection that lured readers into saving this photograph.
Which images will prove popular in 2023? Stay tuned and, until then, keep saving your favourite photos to those Ideabooks, folks.
Your turn
Which of these 10 exteriors is your pick of the bunch? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
If you enjoyed these designs, you’ll love this Exterior of the Week: Curvy, Cream Brickwork for Zen-Like Vibes
Built by Refined Edge Homes, this contemporary home in Perth, WA, hints at history with its fresh twist on the traditional pitched roof and its use of recycled bricks. The alfresco cooking space is one to note and it reflects the ever-growing trend in this part of the world to shift our indoor areas outside to better connect them with nature.
You’ve probably observed this trend steadily rising, as have we: our data reflects year-over-year growth in searches on Houzz Australia from January to March 2022 versus January to March 2021 with particular terms. We saw a 12 percent increase for the search term ‘outdoor kitchen’, while ‘outdoor entertainment’ rose by 16 percent and ‘covered bbq alfresco area’ increased by a whopping 44 percent. This house ticks all those boxes in one neat, accessible alfresco space, so it’s no wonder it proved popular.