Photo of a contemporary two-storey beige house exterior in Sydney with wood siding and a gable roof.

Contemporary Exterior

Inspiration for a large contemporary grey house exterior in San Francisco with wood siding and four or more storeys.

Coventry Lake Contemporary Stunner

Nosan Signature Homes

This home is inspired by the Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House in Chicago and features large overhangs and a shallow sloped hip roof. The exterior features long pieces of Indiana split-faced limestone in varying heights and elongated norman brick with horizontal raked joints and vertical flush joints to further emphasize the linear theme. The courtyard features a combination of exposed aggregate and saw-cut concrete while the entry steps are porcelain tile. The siding and fascia are wire-brushed African mahogany with a smooth mahogany reveal between boards.

Cycle House

chadbourne + doss architects

A new Seattle modern house designed by chadbourne + doss architects houses a couple and their 18 bicycles. 3 floors connect indoors and out and provide panoramic views of Lake Washington. photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Bowman Residence Front Exterior

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The driving impetus for this Tarrytown residence was centered around creating a green and sustainable home. The owner-Architect collaboration was unique for this project in that the client was also the builder with a keen desire to incorporate LEED-centric principles to the design process. The original home on the lot was deconstructed piece by piece, with 95% of the materials either reused or reclaimed. The home is designed around the existing trees with the challenge of expanding the views, yet creating privacy from the street. The plan pivots around a central open living core that opens to the more private south corner of the lot. The glazing is maximized but restrained to control heat gain. The residence incorporates numerous features like a 5,000-gallon rainwater collection system, shading features, energy-efficient systems, spray-foam insulation and a material palette that helped the project achieve a five-star rating with the Austin Energy Green Building program. Photography by Adam Steiner

Coastal Remodel and Addition Contemporary Fusion

Jade Architecture

This is an example of a contemporary house exterior in San Luis Obispo with wood siding, a gable roof, a metal roof and a brown roof.

Wildwood

Giulietti Schouten Weber Architects

This is an example of a contemporary two-storey white house exterior in Portland with wood siding, a flat roof and a mixed roof.

Fremont High-Performing Home

Board & Vellum

Photo by Andrew Giammarco.
Design ideas for a large contemporary three-storey white house exterior in Seattle with wood siding, a shed roof and a metal roof.

Brodecky House: Street Entry

Atlas Architects

Deep recessed windows against textural reclaimed brick, timber and landscaping inform a contemporary and warm entry. Photography: Tess Kelly
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary two-storey black house exterior in Melbourne with wood siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Modern Farmhouse

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This modern farmhouse located outside of Spokane, Washington, creates a prominent focal point among the landscape of rolling plains. The composition of the home is dominated by three steep gable rooflines linked together by a central spine. This unique design evokes a sense of expansion and contraction from one space to the next. Vertical cedar siding, poured concrete, and zinc gray metal elements clad the modern farmhouse, which, combined with a shop that has the aesthetic of a weathered barn, creates a sense of modernity that remains rooted to the surrounding environment. The Glo double pane A5 Series windows and doors were selected for the project because of their sleek, modern aesthetic and advanced thermal technology over traditional aluminum windows. High performance spacers, low iron glass, larger continuous thermal breaks, and multiple air seals allows the A5 Series to deliver high performance values and cost effective durability while remaining a sophisticated and stylish design choice. Strategically placed operable windows paired with large expanses of fixed picture windows provide natural ventilation and a visual connection to the outdoors.

Cunningham Renovation

splyce design

Sama Jim Canzian
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary three-storey brown house exterior in Vancouver with wood siding and a shed roof.

Harringay Kitchen

Jacob Alexander Cabinet Makers

In collaboration with Merrett Houmøller Architects
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary three-storey black townhouse exterior in London with wood siding and a gable roof.

Wayzata Residence

reSAWN TIMBER co.

Paul Crosby Architectural Photography NIGIRI shou sugi ban charred Accoya wood exterior siding on a private residence on Lake Minnetonka in Wayzata, MN.

Golden

Ardington and Associates Design Inc.

Metropolis Studio
This is an example of a contemporary two-storey brown house exterior in Ottawa with wood siding and a flat roof.

Cordillera Ranch Residence

WoodCo

Cordillera Ranch Residence Builder: Todd Glowka Designer: Jessica Claiborne, Claiborne & Co too Photo Credits: Lauren Keller Materials Used: Macchiato Plank, Vaal 3D Wallboard, Ipe Decking European Oak Engineered Wood Flooring, Engineered Red Oak 3D wall paneling, Ipe Decking on exterior walls. This beautiful home, located in Boerne, Tx, utilizes our Macchiato Plank for the flooring, Vaal 3D Wallboard on the chimneys, and Ipe Decking for the exterior walls. The modern luxurious feel of our products are a match made in heaven for this upscale residence.

Tanglewood Modern House

Flavin Architects

This new modern house is located in a meadow in Lenox MA. The house is designed as a series of linked pavilions to connect the house to the nature and to provide the maximum daylight in each room. The center focus of the home is the largest pavilion containing the living/dining/kitchen, with the guest pavilion to the south and the master bedroom and screen porch pavilions to the west. While the roof line appears flat from the exterior, the roofs of each pavilion have a pronounced slope inward and to the north, a sort of funnel shape. This design allows rain water to channel via a scupper to cisterns located on the north side of the house. Steel beams, Douglas fir rafters and purlins are exposed in the living/dining/kitchen pavilion. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Skinners Shoot Residence

Zaher Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary one-storey black exterior in Gold Coast - Tweed with wood siding.

Greenville Modern Residence

Goggans Architecture & Interiors

Photography by Rebecca Lehde
Photo of a large contemporary two-storey exterior in Charleston with a hip roof and wood siding.

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST MODERN

L3 Group/Custom Island Homes

Photo of a contemporary two-storey brown exterior in New York with wood siding and a flat roof.

Royal River Home + Studio

BRIBURN – Architecture for Life

Irvin Serrano
Large contemporary one-storey brown house exterior in Portland Maine with wood siding and a shed roof.

Contemporary Exterior Design Ideas with Wood Siding

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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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 contemporary 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.