SW corner two way cantilevered deck.
Design ideas for a contemporary two-storey black exterior in Seattle with wood siding.

Detailed Craftsman Home

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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

Gracious front porch

Bennett Frank McCarthy Architects, Inc.

Small arts and crafts two-storey green exterior in DC Metro with wood siding and a gable roof.

A Small Retreat by the Ocean

Castanes Architects PS

Another exterior view of the ocean retreat from the ocean side.
Design ideas for a small contemporary one-storey exterior in Seattle with a shed roof.

Lido Rose

Trinity Custom Homes

Inspiration for a beach style exterior in Tampa.

Lakefront Modern

Shelter Architecture

This home takes full advantage of its urban waterside location, aptly named the Lakefront Modern residence. Large, north-facing windows provide fantastic views and let optimal natural light, with minimal glare, fill two artist studios inside. The exterior patios and decks have also been designed for seamless indoor and outdoor use.

Contemporary Elegance: A Masterclass in Exterior Design

Meliza Veloz Designs

Imagine a home that whispers luxury rather than shouts it. That's the essence of a Contemporary Elegant Exterior Home. Here's a detailed description to spark your imagination: Curb Appeal Clean Lines: The overall impression is one of simplicity and order. Straight lines dominate the design, with minimal curves or ornamentation. Geometry in Play: Rectangles, squares, and other geometric shapes are used to create a visually interesting facade. High-Quality Materials: Stucco, stone veneer, or wood panels adorn the exterior, often in a combination for added texture. Think muted, natural tones for a timeless look. Windows and Doors Large Windows: Expansive windows bathe the interior in natural light and blur the lines between indoors and outdoors. Picture large panels of glass or floor-to-ceiling windows. Minimalist Door: A sleek, modern door with clean lines complements the overall aesthetic. Pops of Color While neutral tones reign supreme, a touch of color can add personality. This could be a brightly painted front door, a pop of color in the landscaping, or strategically placed planters with vibrant flowers. Putting it Together Roof: A flat roof or a low-pitched gable roof maintains the clean lines. Modern materials like metal or high-quality asphalt shingles are popular choices. Landscaping: Simple and elegant landscaping with clean lines and muted tones complements the home's architecture. Think manicured lawns, strategically placed shrubs, and pops of color from flowers. Overall Vibe The Contemporary Elegant Exterior Home exudes sophistication and timeless style. It's a home that makes a statement through its clean lines, high-quality materials, and subtle hints of luxury. It welcomes you in with a sense of light, openness, and understated elegance.

Skavanish - view from garden

Cook Architects

Design ideas for a contemporary exterior in Cork.

DeerCrest Lot 1

Douglas Knight Construction

This is an example of an exterior in Salt Lake City.

Adessa Electrical New Home

Adessa Electrical

Design ideas for an exterior in Melbourne.

Vanaharika

StudioHC

Photo of a contemporary exterior in Bengaluru.

Wingspan

Rhodes Architecture + Light

Material expression and exterior finishes were carefully selected to reduce the apparent size of the house, last through many years, and add warmth and human scale to the home. The unique siding system is made up of different widths and depths of western red cedar, complementing the vision of the structure's wings which are balanced, not symmetrical. The exterior materials include a burn brick base, powder-coated steel, cedar, acid-washed concrete and Corten steel planters.

Ms. Vasanthi Residence - Exterior Design

Stambha Architects

Inspiration for an exterior in Chennai.

Peregrine’s Nest

Living Stone Design + Build

Design ideas for an arts and crafts exterior in Other.

Bungalow

Alexander Custom Homes of Houston

This is an example of an arts and crafts exterior in Houston.

Mueller Transitional

Shaddock Custom Builders and Developers

Photo of a transitional exterior in Dallas.

Onyx Black - Oakridge®

Owens Corning Roofing

Design ideas for a traditional beige house exterior in Other with a shingle roof and a black roof.

TUMBLE CREEK custom home

Design Harmony

Photo of a mid-sized modern two-storey grey house exterior in Seattle with wood siding, a shed roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Walloon Lake Residence | Modern Waterfront

W. Pearsall Construction Inc.

This modern waterfront home was built for today’s contemporary lifestyle with the comfort of a family cottage. Walloon Lake Residence is a stunning three-story waterfront home with beautiful proportions and extreme attention to detail to give both timelessness and character. Horizontal wood siding wraps the perimeter and is broken up by floor-to-ceiling windows and moments of natural stone veneer. The exterior features graceful stone pillars and a glass door entrance that lead into a large living room, dining room, home bar, and kitchen perfect for entertaining. With walls of large windows throughout, the design makes the most of the lakefront views. A large screened porch and expansive platform patio provide space for lounging and grilling. Inside, the wooden slat decorative ceiling in the living room draws your eye upwards. The linear fireplace surround and hearth are the focal point on the main level. The home bar serves as a gathering place between the living room and kitchen. A large island with seating for five anchors the open concept kitchen and dining room. The strikingly modern range hood and custom slab kitchen cabinets elevate the design. The floating staircase in the foyer acts as an accent element. A spacious master suite is situated on the upper level. Featuring large windows, a tray ceiling, double vanity, and a walk-in closet. The large walkout basement hosts another wet bar for entertaining with modern island pendant lighting. Walloon Lake is located within the Little Traverse Bay Watershed and empties into Lake Michigan. It is considered an outstanding ecological, aesthetic, and recreational resource. The lake itself is unique in its shape, with three “arms” and two “shores” as well as a “foot” where the downtown village exists. Walloon Lake is a thriving northern Michigan small town with tons of character and energy, from snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter to morel hunting and hiking in the spring, boating and golfing in the summer, and wine tasting and color touring in the fall.

1950's ranch remodel in Harrington Park, NJ

Helena Bryan

James Hardie Artisan V-Groove siding
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern one-storey white house exterior in New York with concrete fiberboard siding and a grey 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.