This is an example of an industrial exterior in Melbourne.

In our Deco House Essendon project we pay homage to the 1940's with Art Deco style elements in this stunning design.
Photo of a large contemporary two-storey brick house exterior in Melbourne with a metal roof.

This is an example of a contemporary exterior in Perth.

Inspiration for a country exterior in Gold Coast - Tweed.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary two-storey black house exterior in Geelong with a flat roof.

This is an example of a contemporary two-storey house exterior in Sunshine Coast with a flat roof.

https://archello.com/project/kingsford-project

Photo of a contemporary exterior in Sydney.

Photo of a contemporary exterior in Other.

Design ideas for a contemporary exterior in Melbourne.

Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

When Ami McKay was asked by the owners of Park Place to design their new home, she found inspiration in both her own travels and the beautiful West Coast of Canada which she calls home. This circa-1912 Vancouver character home was torn down and rebuilt, and our fresh design plan allowed the owners dreams to come to life. A closer look at Park Place reveals an artful fusion of diverse influences and inspirations, beautifully brought together in one home. Within the kitchen alone, notable elements include the French-bistro backsplash, the arched vent hood (including hidden, seamlessly integrated shelves on each side), an apron-front kitchen sink (a nod to English Country kitchens), and a saturated color palette—all balanced by white oak millwork. Floor to ceiling cabinetry ensures that it’s also easy to keep this beautiful space clutter-free, with room for everything: chargers, stationery and keys. These influences carry on throughout the home, translating into thoughtful touches: gentle arches, welcoming dark green millwork, patterned tile, and an elevated vintage clawfoot bathtub in the cozy primary bathroom.

Jason Hartog Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary exterior in Toronto with mixed siding.

Design ideas for a scandinavian exterior in London.

Large country two-storey white house exterior in Nashville with mixed siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Noah Walker
Photo of a contemporary three-storey brown house exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding and a flat roof.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values.

View to entry at sunset. Dining to the right of the entry. Photography by Stephen Brousseau.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern one-storey brown house exterior in Seattle with mixed siding, a shed roof and a metal roof.

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional two-storey white exterior in Atlanta with a gable roof, a brown roof and a mixed roof.