Walter Jennings
Photo of a large modern house exterior in Other with stone veneer.

Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts two-storey green house exterior in Other with mixed siding and a gable roof.

Scandinavian Modern Exterior

10K Architecture

10K designed this new construction home for a family of four who relocated to a serene, tranquil, and heavily wooded lot in Shorewood. Careful siting of the home preserves existing trees, is sympathetic to existing topography and drainage of the site, and maximizes views from gathering spaces and bedrooms to the lake. Simple forms with a bold black exterior finish contrast the light and airy interior spaces and finishes. Sublime moments and connections to nature are created through the use of floor to ceiling windows, long axial sight lines through the house, skylights, a breezeway between buildings, and a variety of spaces for work, play, and relaxation.

Ridgeside Vineyard Farmhouse

Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc.

Photographer: Allen Russ from Hoachlander Davis Photography, LLC Principal Architect: Steve Vanze, FAIA, LEED AP Project Architect: Ellen Hatton, AIA -- 2008

Modern Farm in Horse Country

PatriARCH Architecture

This is an example of a large country one-storey white house exterior in San Francisco with wood siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Entertainer's Dream - Front

Bohannon Design Team

The home features high clerestory windows and a welcoming front porch, nestled between beautiful live oaks.
Mid-sized country one-storey grey house exterior in Dallas with stone veneer, a gable roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Tuscany Thin Stone Veneer Exterior

Quarry Mill

Tuscany natural thin veneer from the Quarry Mill gives this residential home an old world feel. Tuscany stone’s light shades of gray, tans, and a few hints of white bring a natural, earthy tone to your new stone project. This natural stone veneer has rectangular shapes that work well for large and small projects like siding, backsplashes, and chimneys. The various textures of Tuscany stone make it a great choice for rustic and contemporary decors. Accessories like antiques, fine art and even modern appliances will complement Tuscany stones.

Modern Farmhouse

User

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.

Beautiful Home

Supple Homes, Inc

Design ideas for a large modern one-storey stucco white house exterior in San Francisco with a metal roof and a flat roof.

Marietta Exterior Update

HomeVisionConcepts, Inc

Large traditional two-storey grey exterior in Atlanta with mixed siding.

Geode Home

Highline Partners, Ltd

Dan Armstrong
Country one-storey exterior in Other with wood siding and a shed roof.

Rustic Barn

VanderHorn Architects

Inspiration for a large country two-storey brown exterior in New York with wood siding and a gable roof.

Detailed Craftsman Home

User

Detailed Craftsman Front View. Often referred to as a "bungalow" style home, this type of design and layout typically make use of every square foot of usable space. Another benefit to this style home is it lends itself nicely to long, narrow lots and small building footprints. Stunning curb appeal, detaling and a friendly, inviting look are true Craftsman characteristics. Makes you just want to knock on the door to see what's inside! Steven Begleiter/ stevenbegleiterphotography.com

Hathaway Point Lake Cottage

Bickford Construction Corporation

Lake Cottage Porch, standing seam metal roofing and cedar shakes blend into the Vermont fall foliage. Simple and elegant. Photos by Susan Teare
Design ideas for a country one-storey exterior in Burlington with wood siding, a metal roof and a black roof.

Addition

Alair Homes Decatur

Atlanta Historic Addition
Photo of a traditional brick exterior in Atlanta.

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.

Echelon Estate - New Home Built in Jones Hill Gympie

Corbet Johns Builders

Modern one-storey brick beige house exterior in Other with a metal roof.

Modern Kirkland New Build

Seattle Staged to Sell and Design LLC

Front exterior of contemporary new build home in Kirkland, WA.
Photo of a midcentury two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Seattle with mixed siding and a shed roof.

Mountain Modern Retreat

Suman Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized modern two-storey brown exterior in Denver with mixed siding and a shed roof.

My Own House

Hoffman Grayson Architects LLP

Originally, the front of the house was on the left (eave) side, facing the primary street. Since the Garage was on the narrower, quieter side street, we decided that when we would renovate, we would reorient the front to the quieter side street, and enter through the front Porch. So initially we built the fencing and Pergola entering from the side street into the existing Front Porch. Then in 2003, we pulled off the roof, which enclosed just one large room and a bathroom, and added a full second story. Then we added the gable overhangs to create the effect of a cottage with dormers, so as not to overwhelm the scale of the site. The shingles are stained Cabots Semi-Solid Deck and Siding Oil Stain, 7406, color: Burnt Hickory, and the trim is painted with Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior Low Luster Narraganset Green HC-157, (which is actually a dark blue). Photo by Glen Grayson, AIA

All Siding Materials 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.