Exploring passive solar design and thermal temperature control, a small shack was built using wood pallets and re-purposed materials obtained for free. The goal was to create a prototype to see what works and what doesn't, firsthand. The journey was rough and many valuable lessons were learned.

Lake of the Isles

Regarding Design

Sumptuous spaces are created throughout the house with the use of dark, moody colors, elegant upholstery with bespoke trim details, unique wall coverings, and natural stone with lots of movement. The mix of print, pattern, and artwork creates a modern twist on traditional design.

Modern Craftsman | Willow Glen | Cherry

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

Multiple rooflines, textured exterior finishes and lots of windows create this modern Craftsman home in the heart of Willow Glen. Wood, stone and glass harmonize beautifully, while the front patio encourages interactions with passers-by.

White Cliff Craftsman

Shaddock Custom Builders and Developers

Inspiration for a large country two-storey grey house exterior in Dallas with a mixed roof, a gable roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Stamford Road - Timber clad extension

HEM Architects

Timber rear extension with sliding doors opening out to the garden.
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary three-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Other with wood siding, a gable roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Belle Isle Lake House with Guest House

Artisan Custom Homes

Design ideas for an expansive country two-storey grey house exterior in Charlotte with stone veneer, a gable roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Chulainn- A

Apex Design & Drafting

This beautifully detailed home adorned with rustic elements uses wood timbers, metal roof accents, a mix of siding, stucco and clerestory windows to give a bold look. While maintaining a compact footprint, this plan uses space efficiently to keep the living areas and bedrooms on the larger side. This plan features 4 bedrooms, including a guest suite with its own private bathroom and walk-in closet along with the luxurious master suite.

Historical Home Exterior in Penn Valley

Rudloff Custom Builders

What a treat it was to work on this 190-year-old colonial home! Since the home is on the Historical Register, we worked with the owners on its preservation by adding historically accurate features and details. The stucco is accented with “Colonial Blue” paint on the trim and doors. The copper roofs on the portico and side entrance and the copper flashing around each chimney add a pop of shine. We also rebuilt the house’s deck, laid the slate patio, and installed the white picket fence. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo credit: Linda McManus Before photo credit: Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty

Libertyville Custom Farmhouse Side Entry

Great Rooms Building Group

Design ideas for a transitional two-storey white house exterior in Chicago with concrete fiberboard siding, a mixed roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

The Victoria | Farmhouse Exterior

JayMarc Homes

The Victoria's Exterior exudes a classic farmhouse charm with its elegant design. The white house stands prominently, radiating a sense of simplicity and grace. Black trim accentuates the architectural features, enhancing the visual appeal of the home. A sleek metal roof crowns the structure, adding a touch of modernity to the traditional farmhouse style. Three-car garage doors complete the front facade, providing ample space for vehicles and storage. White windows with black trim create a striking contrast against the house's exterior, adding a touch of sophistication to the overall look. The Victoria's Exterior captures the essence of timeless farmhouse aesthetics, making it a beautiful and inviting sight for all who approach.

Heady Lake Hartwell Addition & Renovation

Chapman Design Group, Inc.

Originally built in 1990 the Heady Lakehouse began as a 2,800SF family retreat and now encompasses over 5,635SF. It is located on a steep yet welcoming lot overlooking a cove on Lake Hartwell that pulls you in through retaining walls wrapped with White Brick into a courtyard laid with concrete pavers in an Ashlar Pattern. This whole home renovation allowed us the opportunity to completely enhance the exterior of the home with all new LP Smartside painted with Amherst Gray with trim to match the Quaker new bone white windows for a subtle contrast. You enter the home under a vaulted tongue and groove white washed ceiling facing an entry door surrounded by White brick. Once inside you’re encompassed by an abundance of natural light flooding in from across the living area from the 9’ triple door with transom windows above. As you make your way into the living area the ceiling opens up to a coffered ceiling which plays off of the 42” fireplace that is situated perpendicular to the dining area. The open layout provides a view into the kitchen as well as the sunroom with floor to ceiling windows boasting panoramic views of the lake. Looking back you see the elegant touches to the kitchen with Quartzite tops, all brass hardware to match the lighting throughout, and a large 4’x8’ Santorini Blue painted island with turned legs to provide a note of color. The owner’s suite is situated separate to one side of the home allowing a quiet retreat for the homeowners. Details such as the nickel gap accented bed wall, brass wall mounted bed-side lamps, and a large triple window complete the bedroom. Access to the study through the master bedroom further enhances the idea of a private space for the owners to work. It’s bathroom features clean white vanities with Quartz counter tops, brass hardware and fixtures, an obscure glass enclosed shower with natural light, and a separate toilet room. The left side of the home received the largest addition which included a new over-sized 3 bay garage with a dog washing shower, a new side entry with stair to the upper and a new laundry room. Over these areas, the stair will lead you to two new guest suites featuring a Jack & Jill Bathroom and their own Lounging and Play Area. The focal point for entertainment is the lower level which features a bar and seating area. Opposite the bar you walk out on the concrete pavers to a covered outdoor kitchen feature a 48” grill, Large Big Green Egg smoker, 30” Diameter Evo Flat-top Grill, and a sink all surrounded by granite countertops that sit atop a white brick base with stainless steel access doors. The kitchen overlooks a 60” gas fire pit that sits adjacent to a custom gunite eight sided hot tub with travertine coping that looks out to the lake. This elegant and timeless approach to this 5,000SF three level addition and renovation allowed the owner to add multiple sleeping and entertainment areas while rejuvenating a beautiful lake front lot with subtle contrasting colors.

Southern Transitional Home in Greenville, SC

Tindall Architecture Workshop

Photo of a large transitional two-storey beige house exterior in Other with mixed siding, a gable roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Reclaimed and Painted Brick Creole Style

Wyrick Residential Design

Photo of a large two-storey brick white house exterior in Houston with a hip roof, a mixed roof and a grey roof.

Belle Isle Lake House with Guest House

Artisan Custom Homes

Inspiration for an expansive country two-storey grey house exterior in Charlotte with stone veneer, a gable roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Dover Shores

Casa Arte Group

Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style one-storey stucco white house exterior in Orange County with a flat roof, a mixed roof and a grey roof.

Contemporary Larch Timber Clad Extension

Beckmann Architecture

Individual larch timber battens with a discrete shadow gap between to provide a contemporary uniform appearance.
Small contemporary one-storey house exterior in Hampshire with wood siding, a flat roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Across the Pond - Front and Side Elevation

Homes by Design

A long driveway leads you to this amazing home. It features a covered and arched entry, two front turrets and a mix of stucco and stone covers the exterior. A circular drive makes access to front entry easy for your guests. The side of the home borders a beautiful and relaxing pond.

Split-Level Addition & Reno

12/12 Architects & Planners

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional one-storey beige house exterior in Chicago with concrete fiberboard siding, a hip roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

Front Exterior View

Arch Studio, Inc.

Brand new 2-Story 3,100 square foot Custom Home completed in 2022. Designed by Arch Studio, Inc. and built by Brooke Shaw Builders.
Design ideas for a large country two-storey white house exterior in San Francisco with wood siding, a gable roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

St. Georges Modern

Synthesis Design Inc.

Inspiration for a large modern two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Vancouver with mixed siding, a flat roof, a mixed roof and a grey roof.

Exterior Design Ideas with a Mixed Roof and a Grey 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.