A garage addition in the Aspen Employee Housing neighborhood known as the North Forty. A remodel of the existing home, with the garage addition, on a budget to comply with strict neighborhood affordable housing guidelines. The garage was limited in square footage and with lot setbacks.

City Modern Farmhouse Town & Country Charlotte

Linnane Homes

Inspiration for a large country two-storey white house exterior in Charlotte with painted brick siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a black roof and board and batten siding.

Franklin Park Custom Home

WINN Design+Build

Photo of a large two-storey brick white house exterior in DC Metro with a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Lincoln

Acorn Deck House Company

With a grand total of 1,247 square feet of living space, the Lincoln Deck House was designed to efficiently utilize every bit of its floor plan. This home features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a two-car detached garage and boasts an impressive great room, whose soaring ceilings and walls of glass welcome the outside in to make the space feel one with nature.

Denver Modern Home

Material

Denver Modern with natural stone accents.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern three-storey grey house exterior in Denver with stone veneer and a flat roof.

Geometric Modern Stone Facade

Eldorado Stone

Stone: Oyster - Cut Coarse Stone Cut Coarse Stone is reminiscent of a saw-cut Turkish Limestone. The highly textural and yet contemporary linear-style installs with a clean, dry-stack application. This stone is the perfect scale for an efficient installation, appealing to both commercial and residential exteriors and interiors. The stones include three different heights of 3″, 6″ and 9″ and various lengths from 12″ to 24″. The muted color palette is indicative of natural limestone. Get a Sample of Oyster: http://www.eldoradostone.com/products/cut-coarse-stone/oyster/

Waterfront Residence in Darien

Thompson Raissis Architects

This is an example of a large traditional three-storey blue house exterior in New York with wood siding, a gambrel roof and a shingle roof.

NASHVILLE RESIDENCE

Marvin

Architect: Blaine Bonadies, Bonadies Architect Photography By: Jean Allsopp Photography “Just as described, there is an edgy, irreverent vibe here, but the result has an appropriate stature and seriousness. Love the overscale windows. And the outdoor spaces are so great.” Situated atop an old Civil War battle site, this new residence was conceived for a couple with southern values and a rock-and-roll attitude. The project consists of a house, a pool with a pool house and a renovated music studio. A marriage of modern and traditional design, this project used a combination of California redwood siding, stone and a slate roof with flat-seam lead overhangs. Intimate and well planned, there is no space wasted in this home. The execution of the detail work, such as handmade railings, metal awnings and custom windows jambs, made this project mesmerizing. Cues from the client and how they use their space helped inspire and develop the initial floor plan, making it live at a human scale but with dramatic elements. Their varying taste then inspired the theme of traditional with an edge. The lines and rhythm of the house were simplified, and then complemented with some key details that made the house a juxtaposition of styles. The wood Ultimate Casement windows were all standard sizes. However, there was a desire to make the windows have a “deep pocket” look to create a break in the facade and add a dramatic shadow line. Marvin was able to customize the jambs by extruding them to the exterior. They added a very thin exterior profile, which negated the need for exterior casing. The same detail was in the stone veneers and walls, as well as the horizontal siding walls, with no need for any modification. This resulted in a very sleek look. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Marvin Ultimate Casement Window

Classic Cottage

Jules Duffy Designs

Photography by Laura Moss
Inspiration for a traditional one-storey grey exterior in New York.

Monroe House

Moore Architects, PC

The site for this new house was specifically selected for its proximity to nature while remaining connected to the urban amenities of Arlington and DC. From the beginning, the homeowners were mindful of the environmental impact of this house, so the goal was to get the project LEED certified. Even though the owner’s programmatic needs ultimately grew the house to almost 8,000 square feet, the design team was able to obtain LEED Silver for the project. The first floor houses the public spaces of the program: living, dining, kitchen, family room, power room, library, mudroom and screened porch. The second and third floors contain the master suite, four bedrooms, office, three bathrooms and laundry. The entire basement is dedicated to recreational spaces which include a billiard room, craft room, exercise room, media room and a wine cellar. To minimize the mass of the house, the architects designed low bearing roofs to reduce the height from above, while bringing the ground plain up by specifying local Carder Rock stone for the foundation walls. The landscape around the house further anchored the house by installing retaining walls using the same stone as the foundation. The remaining areas on the property were heavily landscaped with climate appropriate vegetation, retaining walls, and minimal turf. Other LEED elements include LED lighting, geothermal heating system, heat-pump water heater, FSA certified woods, low VOC paints and high R-value insulation and windows. Hoachlander Davis Photography

Ridgeview

Ridge Creek Custom Homes

Photo of a traditional two-storey grey exterior in Minneapolis with vinyl siding and a gable roof.

765 studio/residence, a modern residence in Atlanta, Georgia

TaC studios, architects

Pool oasis in Atlanta. Pool oasis in Atlanta with large deck. The pool finish is Pebble Sheen by Pebble Tec, the dimensions are 8' wide x 50' long. The deck is Dasso XTR bamboo decking.

Starry Night Farm

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

Photographer: Jim Graham
Country two-storey exterior in Philadelphia with stone veneer and a gable roof.

Custom Built Home 9

Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.

This modern farmhouse exudes elegance with its steel-clad exterior, Rocky Mountain Castlestone accents, and a charming cupola. Floor-to-ceiling Marvin windows flood the living spaces with natural light and offer stunning vistas of the surrounding countryside. A stamped concrete patio overlooks the in-ground pool, gazebo, and outdoor kitchen, creating a luxurious outdoor retreat The property features a built-in trampoline, a putting green for active recreation, and a five-stall garage for ample storage. Accessed through a gated entrance with a long, scenic drive, a stone-covered bridge welcomes you to this idyllic retreat, seamlessly blending contemporary luxury with rustic charm. Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc., General Contractor; Helman Sechrist Architecture, Architect; JJ Osterloo Design, Designer; Photography by Marie Kinney & Amanda McMahon

Lake Winnipesaukee Guest House

Beckwith Builders, Inc.

Inspiration for a transitional exterior in Portland Maine.

The Lumiere House

ACM Design

This is an example of an exterior in Other.

Belle Oaks

Sitterle Homes

Photo of a country exterior in Other.

Tiny House at Cheekwood

Noble Johnson Architects

Tiny House Exterior Photography: Gieves Anderson Noble Johnson Architects was honored to partner with Huseby Homes to design a Tiny House which was displayed at Nashville botanical garden, Cheekwood, for two weeks in the spring of 2021. It was then auctioned off to benefit the Swan Ball. Although the Tiny House is only 383 square feet, the vaulted space creates an incredibly inviting volume. Its natural light, high end appliances and luxury lighting create a welcoming space.

Melody Ln, Naperville, IL

M House Development

This is an example of a country two-storey white house exterior in Chicago with wood siding, a gable roof, a mixed roof and a black roof.

TCD Dobby Modern Farmhouse

TCD Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized country two-storey white house exterior in Other with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

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.