The best of past and present architectural styles combine in this welcoming, farmhouse-inspired design. Clad in low-maintenance siding, the distinctive exterior has plenty of street appeal, with its columned porch, multiple gables, shutters and interesting roof lines. Other exterior highlights included trusses over the garage doors, horizontal lap siding and brick and stone accents. The interior is equally impressive, with an open floor plan that accommodates today’s family and modern lifestyles. An eight-foot covered porch leads into a large foyer and a powder room. Beyond, the spacious first floor includes more than 2,000 square feet, with one side dominated by public spaces that include a large open living room, centrally located kitchen with a large island that seats six and a u-shaped counter plan, formal dining area that seats eight for holidays and special occasions and a convenient laundry and mud room. The left side of the floor plan contains the serene master suite, with an oversized master bath, large walk-in closet and 16 by 18-foot master bedroom that includes a large picture window that lets in maximum light and is perfect for capturing nearby views. Relax with a cup of morning coffee or an evening cocktail on the nearby covered patio, which can be accessed from both the living room and the master bedroom. Upstairs, an additional 900 square feet includes two 11 by 14-foot upper bedrooms with bath and closet and a an approximately 700 square foot guest suite over the garage that includes a relaxing sitting area, galley kitchen and bath, perfect for guests or in-laws.

Mountain Modern in Martis Camp

Heslin Construction

This is an example of a country two-storey brown house exterior in Sacramento with mixed siding and a shed roof.

Los Altos Modern Prairie II

Studio S Squared Architecture, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional two-storey stucco beige house exterior in San Francisco with a hip roof and a metal roof.

Naperville Landscape

KD Landscape

Summer Beauty onion surround the stone entry columns while the Hydrangea begin to glow from the landscape lighting. Landscape design by John Algozzini. Photo courtesy of Mike Crews Photography.

Dorset Country Cottage

Stephanie Dunning Interior Design

This is an example of a country two-storey beige exterior in Wiltshire.

Tudor Revival Home

Cella Architecture

Cella Architecture - Erich Karp, AIA Laurelhurst Portland, OR This new Tudor Revival styled home, situated in Portland’s Laurelhurst area, was designed to blend with one of the city’s distinctive old neighborhoods. While there are a variety of existing house styles along the nearby streets, the Tudor Revival style with its characteristic steeply pitched roof lines, arched doorways, and heavy chimneys occurs throughout the neighborhood and was the ideal style choice for the new home. The house was conceived with a steeply pitched asymmetric gable facing the street with the longer rake sweeping down in a gentle arc to stop near the entry. The front door is sheltered by a gracefully arched canopy supported by twin wooden corbels. Additional details such as the stuccoed walls with their decorative banding that wraps the house or the flare of the stucco hood over the second floor windows or the use of unique materials such as the Old Carolina brick window sills and entry porch paving add to the character of the house. But while the form and details for the home are drawn from styles of the last century, the home is certainly of this era with noticeably cleaner lines, details, and configuration than would occur in older variants of the style.

Buckhead

J Steven Kemp Architect

Photo of a mid-sized traditional three-storey brick beige house exterior in Atlanta with a shingle roof.

French Country

Creative Touch Interiors

Side Entrance to custom French Home with charming archway into a hidden garden.
Large traditional two-storey beige exterior in Houston with stone veneer.

Stone Residence 1

Norris Architecture

A traditional house that meanders around courtyards built as though it where built in stages over time. Well proportioned and timeless. Presenting its modest humble face this large home is filled with surprises as it demands that you take your time to experience it.

Tudor Exterior

Paul Moon Design

This is an example of a large traditional two-storey beige exterior in Seattle with stone veneer.

Lindenwood Custom

Mosier Luxury Homes

Inspiration for a large midcentury one-storey beige house exterior in Austin with mixed siding, a flat roof, a metal roof, a black roof and board and batten siding.

Barndominium 1121-01

J&E Renderings

Design ideas for a large industrial two-storey beige house exterior in Atlanta with concrete fiberboard siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

McCracken Point: Craftsman Lake Home

Timberlake Custom Homes

This Craftsman lake view home is a perfectly peaceful retreat. It features a two story deck, board and batten accents inside and out, and rustic stone details.

Real Estate Photography

Heidi Kreske Photography

Photo of a traditional two-storey brown house exterior in Portland with wood siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a brown roof and shingle siding.

Red Bud

Bernardo Pozas Residential Design

This is an example of a contemporary two-storey glass brown house exterior in Austin with a flat roof.

Seashore Colonial

Rice and Brown Architects

Another front view featuring custom louvered vents and exposed rafter tails.
Inspiration for a beach style beige house exterior in New York with a gambrel roof and a shingle roof.

Schiff

Michael Lee Architects

Design ideas for a contemporary three-storey brown house exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding and a flat roof.

South Shore Smart Home

Groom Construction Co., Inc.

This is an example of a large traditional two-storey beige house exterior in Boston with a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Custom Barndominium

Broadshield Custom Homes and Contractors

Photo of a mid-sized country one-storey beige house exterior in Austin with mixed siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Platte Lake 1

Lands End Development - Designers & Builders

Design ideas for a country brown house exterior in Minneapolis with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Beige, Brown Exterior Design Ideas

The front exterior of your home – the driveway, front yard, verandah and entrance – is a fantastic place to start making that all-important first impression on house guests. Even mailboxes and house numbers can have a wonderful way of grabbing people’s attention. The architectural design should reflect the overall style of your house and the family that live there; while your choice of materials will help your house blend in with its surrounds. Browse the photos on Houzz for ideas and inspiration for the exterior of your house, and strike up a conversation with the architects and designers of your favourite picks. You’ll find house designs for contemporary, eclectic, modern, traditional styles and more.

How do I decide on the exterior style of my home?

Your location, overall sense of style, budget and current home layout will dictate the style of your exterior. If you’re renovating a period home, the materials and features you use should reflect the date in which it was built, while a unique colour scheme could add contemporary flair. New homes may prefer to look to modern or contemporary designs with structural simplicity, whereas, if you live by the ocean, a beach-style design may better suit your locale. That’s not to say you can’t build a new home that has period influences. If you’re a traditionalist, you can borrow architectural details from the Art Deco period, for instance, or use finishes that reflect more of a Scandinavian style, too.

What exterior house colours and materials should I use?

Traditional homes typically use brick and timber building materials, while stone, board-formed concrete and metal cladding are popular contemporary options. Again, the materials you use will depend on your location and the statement you want to make. Your budget will also affect your choice. Vinyl siding is affordable and easy to install, while stone is more expensive but durable and low maintenance. If you’re not ready to renovate but want to update the exterior of your home, you can still paint it. Look to your neighbours when choosing exterior house colours. Consider the streetscape and what type of colours are already in use, firstly, so you don’t replicate next door’s shade; and secondly, so you don’t stand out like a sore thumb. If you’re renovating a period home, you could paint features or intricate details in a bold, standout hue. Front doors, garage doors and window trims also look great in eye-catching colours, even if the rest of the house’s facade is neutral.

How can I maximise my home’s street appeal?

To spice up your home’s architectural design, landscape the surrounding area with plants and pathways that accent the style of your home. If you just need a quick revamp, look at your cement and pavers – these can split and crack over time; and repairing or replacing them can do wonders for your street appeal, especially if it’s a large area like your driveway. Plants, garden paths or low walls can can also add structure to your front yard. Light up your home with sufficient outdoor lighting to make walking up to the front door easy at night. You could use bollard lights along your entry path, or replace tiny wall sconces with statement pendant lighting at the entrance or on your verandah. Decorative elements such as house numbers, mailboxes and doormats will also add character. And if you're looking to sell your house, it may be worth hiring a stylist to help make the most of your property.