Country brick exterior in Dallas.

Window Design Center October 2008

Marvin Windows and Doors
This is an example of an expansive traditional three-storey brick red house exterior in Other with a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Brick Tapestry

User

Inspiration for a traditional brick exterior in Other with a gable roof.

Wilton Historic Restoration

Four Brothers Design + Build

Complete restoration of historic plantation home in Middlesex Virginia.
Photo of an expansive country two-storey brick red exterior in DC Metro with a gambrel roof.

The Baker's

Patterson Homes LLC

Inspiration for a traditional two-storey brick exterior in Other.

Blackand 449

Virtual Studio Innovations

thevsigroup.com
Traditional two-storey brick red house exterior in Atlanta with a hip roof and a shingle roof.

Country affair

Kitchen Architecture Ltd

Kitchen Architecture - bulthaup b3 furniture in white structured oak, clay laminate and sand-beige aluminium with a 10 mm stainless steel work surface.

Vancouver

Teragon Developments & Construction Inc.

Mid-sized traditional two-storey brick grey house exterior in Vancouver with a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Rosedale 'PARK'

Amantea Architects

Rosedale ‘PARK’ is a detached garage and fence structure designed for a residential property in an old Toronto community rich in trees and preserved parkland. Located on a busy corner lot, the owner’s requirements for the project were two fold: 1) They wanted to manage views from passers-by into their private pool and entertainment areas while maintaining a connection to the ‘park-like’ public realm; and 2) They wanted to include a place to park their car that wouldn’t jeopardize the natural character of the property or spoil one’s experience of the place. The idea was to use the new garage, fence, hard and soft landscaping together with the existing house, pool and two large and ‘protected’ trees to create a setting and a particular sense of place for each of the anticipated activities including lounging by the pool, cooking, dining alfresco and entertaining large groups of friends. Using wood as the primary building material, the solution was to create a light, airy and luminous envelope around each component of the program that would provide separation without containment. The garage volume and fence structure, framed in structural sawn lumber and a variety of engineered wood products, are wrapped in a dark stained cedar skin that is at once solid and opaque and light and transparent. The fence, constructed of staggered horizontal wood slats was designed for privacy but also lets light and air pass through. At night, the fence becomes a large light fixture providing an ambient glow for both the private garden as well as the public sidewalk. Thin striations of light wrap around the interior and exterior of the property. The wall of the garage separating the pool area and the parked car is an assembly of wood framed windows clad in the same fence material. When illuminated, this poolside screen transforms from an edge into a nearly transparent lantern, casting a warm glow by the pool. The large overhang gives the area by the by the pool containment and sense of place. It edits out the view of adjacent properties and together with the pool in the immediate foreground frames a view back toward the home’s family room. Using the pool as a source of light and the soffit of the overhang a reflector, the bright and luminous water shimmers and reflects light off the warm cedar plane overhead. All of the peripheral storage within the garage is cantilevered off of the main structure and hovers over native grade to significantly reduce the footprint of the building and minimize the impact on existing tree roots. The natural character of the neighborhood inspired the extensive use of wood as the projects primary building material. The availability, ease of construction and cost of wood products made it possible to carefully craft this project. In the end, aside from its quiet, modern expression, it is well-detailed, allowing it to be a pragmatic storage box, an elevated roof 'garden', a lantern at night, a threshold and place of occupation poolside for the owners. Photo: Bryan Groulx

New Front Entry

Southview Design

Modular block retaining walls with wide steps and landings extended the architecture of the home out to the street.
Photo of a traditional brick exterior in Minneapolis.

Alexandria, VA: Kitchen Remodel

Case Architects & Remodelers

Project Developer Elle Hunter https://www.houzz.com/pro/eleanorhunter/elle-hunter-case-design-and-remodeling Designer Elena Eskandari https://www.houzz.com/pro/eeskandari/elena-eskandari-case-design-remodeling-inc Photography by Stacy Zarin Goldberg

Brede Valley

Marian Boswall Landscape Architects

This is an example of a large country brick brown exterior in Kent.

Dallas Area Residence

Brown Design Group

This is an example of a traditional brick exterior in Dallas with a clipped gable roof.

McDaniel Oaks Entry View

LS3P Living

Entry View | Custom home Studio of LS3P ASSOCIATES LTD. | Marc Lamkin Photography
Mid-sized traditional two-storey brick beige exterior in Atlanta.

Luxury Development in Surrey

Timberlook - Heritage Flush Sash Windows & Doors

A suite of Timberlook products was permitted in a luxury development. This exclusive residential area required new build developments to choose windows and doors with care. The traditional style and period details of our windows and doors are sympathetic to the surrounding architecture, while also ensuring that the home is thermally efficient and secure. Almost indistinguishable from real timber externally, yet unlike expensive wooden windows. The timber-effect uPVC will not require ongoing painting or treatment, nor will they eventually be welded shut with layers of paint. Frames will not warp, twist, shrink or swell with the weather. We offer free colour swatches, frame samples, and quick quotes - get in touch today to discuss your next renovation or building project.

Rosedale 6

MHLA Inc

Inspiration for a large traditional three-storey brick brown exterior in Toronto.

McLean Whole House Makeover

Gilday Renovations

Although 50's and 60's built ranchers convert naturally into open plan contemporary style homes, this owner wanted to stick with tradition. So the architect developed a country estate style look that is well suited to the site.

Exterior

Marino Custom Homes, LLC

Ron Kolb
Traditional brick exterior in Cincinnati.

Plan #119D-0003

House Plans and More

Photo courtesy of McGinnis Design Group, Inc. and can be found on houseplansandmore.com
Traditional brick exterior in St Louis.

Front Entry of Marsh Grass Island

Conte & Conte, LLC

Inspiration for a traditional brick exterior in New York.

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.