The swimming pool sits between the main living wing and the upper level family wing. The master bedroom has a private terrace with forest views. Below is a pool house sheathed with zinc panels with an outdoor shower facing the forest. Photographer - Peter Aaron

Self Build – Earth Sheltered in Open Countryside

Thomas Studio

The roof terrace connects to the ground level to become a seem less connection with the environment.
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary two-storey brick white house exterior in West Midlands with a flat roof and a green roof.

Island Passive House

The Artisans Group, Inc.

This prefabricated 1,800 square foot Certified Passive House is designed and built by The Artisans Group, located in the rugged central highlands of Shaw Island, in the San Juan Islands. It is the first Certified Passive House in the San Juans, and the fourth in Washington State. The home was built for $330 per square foot, while construction costs for residential projects in the San Juan market often exceed $600 per square foot. Passive House measures did not increase this projects’ cost of construction. The clients are retired teachers, and desired a low-maintenance, cost-effective, energy-efficient house in which they could age in place; a restful shelter from clutter, stress and over-stimulation. The circular floor plan centers on the prefabricated pod. Radiating from the pod, cabinetry and a minimum of walls defines functions, with a series of sliding and concealable doors providing flexible privacy to the peripheral spaces. The interior palette consists of wind fallen light maple floors, locally made FSC certified cabinets, stainless steel hardware and neutral tiles in black, gray and white. The exterior materials are painted concrete fiberboard lap siding, Ipe wood slats and galvanized metal. The home sits in stunning contrast to its natural environment with no formal landscaping. Photo Credit: Art Gray

Split House

Haywood Design Studio

Carriage house, laneway house, in-law suite, investment property, seasonal rental, long-term rental.
Small transitional two-storey grey exterior in Vancouver with mixed siding, a flat roof and a green roof.

Neubau

HUHN Architekten PartGmbB

This is an example of a mid-sized modern two-storey stucco white house exterior in Dusseldorf with a flat roof and a green roof.

SC14 Einfamilienhaus im Kreis Göppingen

Schiller Architektur BDA

Ralf Just Fotografie, Weilheim
Inspiration for a large modern two-storey stucco white house exterior in Stuttgart with a flat roof and a green roof.

Chestnut Cladding with Flat Roof

HBK Architects

Photo of a small contemporary one-storey exterior in Other with wood siding, a flat roof, a green roof and board and batten siding.

Lake Oswego Modern Estate

Grove Custom Homes

This is an example of a large contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Portland with mixed siding, a flat roof and a green roof.

Lake Oswego Modern Estate

Grove Custom Homes

Design ideas for a large contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Portland with mixed siding, a flat roof and a green roof.

Chameleon

Daniel Koh Photography

Daniel Koh
Inspiration for a tropical two-storey grey house exterior in Other with a flat roof and a green roof.

Mustang Circle

KA DesignWorks

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary two-storey brown house exterior in Denver with mixed siding, a flat roof and a green roof.

Renew

Zola European Windows

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

Exterior

David Coulson Design Ltd.

An exterior shot of the 900 sq.ft. Japanesque style studio with a green roof.
This is an example of a small country one-storey brown house exterior in Other with wood siding, a flat roof and a green roof.

Naples Modern

In-Site Design Group LLC

Daniel Newcomb photography
Large modern two-storey stucco white house exterior in Miami with a flat roof and a green roof.

Mason-Grabell Residence

Arielle C. Schechter, AIA

The southern exterior has a screen porch in the middle which cantilevers out toward the site. The porch connects on the left to a wrap around deck.
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury one-storey blue house exterior in Raleigh with concrete fiberboard siding, a flat roof and a green roof.

Canyon

Koch Architects

Mid-Century Modern Restoration - Cantilever balcony with glass railing, mid-century-modern home renovation in Lafayette, California. Photo by Jonathan Mitchell Photography

Contemporary Exterior

Photo of a contemporary two-storey exterior in Christchurch with wood siding, a flat roof and a green roof.

Yin Yang House

Brooks + Scarpa Architects

The Yin-Yang House is a net-zero energy single-family home in a quiet Venice, CA neighborhood. The design objective was to create a space for a large and growing family with several children, which would create a calm, relaxed and organized environment that emphasizes public family space. The home also serves as a place to entertain, and a welcoming space for teenagers as they seek social space with friends. The home is organized around a series of courtyards and other outdoor spaces that integrate with the interior of the house. Facing the street the house appears to be solid. However, behind the steel entry door is a courtyard, which reveals the indoor-outdoor nature of the house behind the solid exterior. From the entry courtyard, the entire space to the rear garden wall can be seen; the first clue of the home’s spatial connection between inside and out. These spaces are designed for entertainment, and the 40 foot sliding glass door to the living room enhances the harmonic relationship of the main room, allowing the owners to host many guests without the feeling of being overburdened. The tensions of the house’s exterior are subtly underscored by a 12-inch steel band that hews close to, but sometimes rises above or falls below the floor line of the second floor – a continuous loop moving inside and out like a pen that is never lifted from the page, but reinforces the intent to spatially weave together the indoors with the outside as a single space. Scale manipulation also plays a formal role in the design of the structure. From the rear, the house appears to be a single-story volume. The large master bedroom window and the outdoor steps are scaled to support this illusion. It is only when the steps are animated with people that one realizes the true scale of the house is two stories. The kitchen is the heart of the house, with an open working area that allows the owner, an accomplished chef, to converse with friends while cooking. Bedrooms are intentionally designed to be very small and simple; allowing for larger public spaces, emphasizing the family over individual domains. The breakfast room looks across an outdoor courtyard to the guest room/kids playroom, establishing a visual connection while defining the separation of uses. The children can play outdoors while under adult supervision from the dining area or the office, or do homework in the office while adults occupy the adjacent outdoor or indoor space. Many of the materials used, including the bamboo interior, composite stone and tile countertops and bathroom finishes are recycled, and reinforce the environmental DNA of the house, which also has a green roof. Blown-in cellulose insulation, radiant heating and a host of other sustainable features aids in the performance of the building’s heating and cooling. The active systems in the home include a 12 KW solar photovoltaic panel system, the largest such residential system available on the market. The solar panels also provide shade from the sun, preventing the house from becoming overheated. The owners have been in the home for over nine months and have yet to receive a power bill.

SC14 Einfamilienhaus im Kreis Göppingen

Schiller Architektur BDA

Ralf Just Fotografie, Weilheim
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern two-storey grey house exterior in Stuttgart with a flat roof, a green roof and mixed siding.

South Lake Union Houseboat.

Phinney Ridge Painting

We have painted several houseboats in Seattle, they do require the renting of a barge, extra masking and prep to make sure we do not contaminate the water.

Exterior Design Ideas with a Flat Roof and a Green Roof

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.