The Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C boasts some of the most beautiful and well maintained bungalows of the late 19th century. Residential streets are distinguished by the most significant craftsman icon, the front porch. Porter Street Bungalow was different. The stucco walls on the right and left side elevations were the first indication of an original bungalow form. Yet the swooping roof, so characteristic of the period, was terminated at the front by a first floor enclosure that had almost no penetrations and presented an unwelcoming face. Original timber beams buried within the enclosed mass provided the only fenestration where they nudged through. The house, known affectionately as ‘the bunker’, was in serious need of a significant renovation and restoration. A young couple purchased the house over 10 years ago as a first home. As their family grew and professional lives matured the inadequacies of the small rooms and out of date systems had to be addressed. The program called to significantly enlarge the house with a major new rear addition. The completed house had to fulfill all of the requirements of a modern house: a reconfigured larger living room, new shared kitchen and breakfast room and large family room on the first floor and three modified bedrooms and master suite on the second floor. Front photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography. All other photos by Prakash Patel.

Brand Rd. | New Construction

The Bellepoint Company

Country exterior in Columbus.

Overlook Show Home

Axiom Luxury Homes

Justin Krug
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary one-storey exterior in Portland.

Shelburne Bay Shingle

Red House Building

This classic shingle-style home perched on the shores of Lake Champlain was designed by architect Ramsay Gourd and built by Red House Building. Complete with flared shingle walls, natural stone columns, a slate roof with massive eaves, gracious porches, coffered ceilings, and a mahogany-clad living room; it's easy to imagine that watching the sunset may become the highlight of each day!

Sublime Sanctuary - Exterior

Drewett Works

Situated on a hillside in Horseshoe Canyon, this 15,000-square-foot estate was designed with several wings housing multiple bedrooms, private baths and access to outdoor living spaces. Project Details // Sublime Sanctuary Upper Canyon, Silverleaf Golf Club Scottsdale, Arizona Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: American First Builders Interior Designer: Michele Lundstedt Landscape architecture: Greey | Pickett Photography: Werner Segarra https://www.drewettworks.com/sublime-sanctuary/

Modern Farmhouse

Strata Landscape Architecture

Photo of a country exterior in San Francisco.

守山の家

User

This is an example of a contemporary exterior in Nagoya.

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.

Norman

Bloom Architecture

Adjacent to a 40 acre conservation area, this house on a slope is designed to maximize the connection to the woods, while maintaining privacy from this popular public hiking area. Despite its location in a suburban neighborhood, the house is made to feel like a wooded retreat. With passive-solar strategies, the house orients northward to nature, while allowing the southerly sun to enter through large openings and clerestories. A geothermal system provides the hot water, heating and cooling.

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.

Rustic Beach Cottage Second Dwelling Unit in Santa Cruz, CA

Golden Visions Design

Exterior front entry of the second dwelling beach house in Santa Cruz, California, showing the main front entry. The covered front entry provides weather protection and making the front entry more inviting. Golden Visions Design Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Inspired Mid-Century Modern Home for Pardee Homes Las Vegas

Bobby Berk

This Midcentury modern home was designed for Pardee Homes Las Vegas. It features an open floor plan that opens up to amazing outdoor spaces.
Mid-sized midcentury one-storey exterior in Los Angeles.

Horizontal Patio Fencing and Gate with Stainless Contemporary Latch

360 Yardware

The Alta Contemporary Modern Stainless Steel Gate Latch is a lovely modern gate latch. The Alta is a two-sided latch, operable from both sides. A modern lever gate latch, this stainless steel gate latch is ideal for coastal locations. The Alta Latch is crafted of 316 Stainless Steel for the best protection against the elements In this photo, you are viewing the exterior (walkway) side of the gate and fence. Budget was reduced by not applying the horizontal wood fence and gate boards to the exterior. Pull the gate toward you and step up into a private retreat patio. Photos by 360 Yardware

Tiny cabins with log siding, barn wood siding and adirondack siding

Woodhaven Log & Lumber

WoodHaven log siding is showcased on the center two tiny cabins in this shot. You can have one with or without a porch, and put the electrical outlets and windows anywhere you want.

Kew House

Nic Owen Architects

This is an example of a large contemporary two-storey black exterior in Melbourne with metal siding and a gable roof.

Pacific Palisades Exteriors

CertaPro Painters of Santa Monica

Large traditional two-storey blue exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding.

Spanish Remodel

Winter Park Design

Photo of a large mediterranean two-storey white exterior in Orlando with vinyl siding and a hip roof.

Aluminum Doors

OVERHEAD DOOR - Atlanta

Modern Aluminum 511 series Overhead Door for this modern style home to perfection.
Inspiration for a large contemporary two-storey grey house exterior in Atlanta with mixed siding and a flat roof.

Residential Exteriors

Dann Coffey Photography

Outdoor Living

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Photo of an eclectic exterior in Boston.

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.