Hood House is a playful protector that respects the heritage character of Carlton North whilst celebrating purposeful change. It is a luxurious yet compact and hyper-functional home defined by an exploration of contrast: it is ornamental and restrained, subdued and lively, stately and casual, compartmental and open. For us, it is also a project with an unusual history. This dual-natured renovation evolved through the ownership of two separate clients. Originally intended to accommodate the needs of a young family of four, we shifted gears at the eleventh hour and adapted a thoroughly resolved design solution to the needs of only two. From a young, nuclear family to a blended adult one, our design solution was put to a test of flexibility. The result is a subtle renovation almost invisible from the street yet dramatic in its expressive qualities. An oblique view from the northwest reveals the playful zigzag of the new roof, the rippling metal hood. This is a form-making exercise that connects old to new as well as establishing spatial drama in what might otherwise have been utilitarian rooms upstairs. A simple palette of Australian hardwood timbers and white surfaces are complimented by tactile splashes of brass and rich moments of colour that reveal themselves from behind closed doors. Our internal joke is that Hood House is like Lazarus, risen from the ashes. We’re grateful that almost six years of hard work have culminated in this beautiful, protective and playful house, and so pleased that Glenda and Alistair get to call it home.

Calder Street House

Charles Maccora Design

Design ideas for a large tropical one-storey white house exterior in Geelong with concrete fiberboard siding, a gable roof, a metal roof and a white roof.

Palm Springs Vibes in New Mexico

GO Designs Inc.

Coming home has never felt better...This complete exterior home renovation & curb appeal has vibes of Palm Springs written all over it!!! Views of the Organ Mountains surrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert creates an outdoor space like no other. Modifications were made to the courtyard walls, new entrance door, sunset balcony included removing an over designed standard staircase access with a new custom spiral staircase, a new T&G ceiling, minimized obstructing columns, replaced w/substantial cedar support beams. Stucco patch, repair & new paint, new down spouts & underground drainage were all key to making a better home. Now our client can come home with feel good vibes!!! Our next focus was the access driveway, taking boring to sophisticated. With nearly 9' of elevation change from the street to the home we wanted to create a fun and easy way to come home. 8" bed drystack limestone walls & planters were key to making the transition of elevation smooth, also being completely permeable, but with the strength to retain, these walls will be here for a lifetime. Accented with oversized Mossrock boulders and mossrock slabs used for steps, naturalized the environment, serving as break points and easy access. Native plants surrounded by natural vegetation compliments the flow with an outstanding lighting show when the sun goes down. Welcome to your home!!!

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury home with modern architectural design

Whipple Russell Architects

Bighorn Palm Desert luxury home with modern architectural design. Photo by William MacCollum.
Design ideas for a large modern one-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Los Angeles with mixed siding, a flat roof and a white roof.

Ashdale

John Merrill Homes, LLC

Low Country Style home with sprawling porches. The home consists of the main house with a detached car garage with living space above with bedroom, bathroom, and living area. The high level of finish will make North Florida's discerning buyer feel right at home.

Wolf-Huang House on Lake Orange

Arielle C. Schechter, AIA

The house glows like a lantern at night.
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern one-storey brown house exterior in Raleigh with mixed siding, a flat roof, a green roof and a white roof.

Holland Hills

Lindon Homes Pty Ltd

Modern three level home with large timber look window screes an random stone cladding.
Large contemporary three-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Brisbane with stone veneer, a flat roof and a white roof.

Dramatic Vue

April Balliette

Large contemporary two-storey stucco white house exterior in Tampa with a flat roof and a white roof.

Beverly Hills Modern

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

Backyard view of a 3 story modern home exterior. From the pool to the outdoor Living space, into the Living Room, Dining Room and Kitchen. The upper Patios have both wood ceiling and skylights and a glass panel railing.

niguel west mid-century modern

Moss Yaw Design studio

aerial perspective at hillside site
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury split-level multi-coloured house exterior in Orange County with wood siding, a flat roof, a mixed roof and a white roof.

Paradise Key South Beach

Glenn Layton Homes

Photo of a beach style two-storey green house exterior in Jacksonville with mixed siding, a hip roof, a metal roof and a white roof.

Holly Hill House

Robert M. Cain, Architect

Holly Hill, a retirement home, whose owner's hobbies are gardening and restoration of classic cars, is nestled into the site contours to maximize views of the lake and minimize impact on the site. Holly Hill is comprised of three wings joined by bridges: A wing facing a master garden to the east, another wing with workshop and a central activity, living, dining wing. Similar to a radiator the design increases the amount of exterior wall maximizing opportunities for natural ventilation during temperate months. Other passive solar design features will include extensive eaves, sheltering porches and high-albedo roofs, as strategies for considerably reducing solar heat gain. Daylighting with clerestories and solar tubes reduce daytime lighting requirements. Ground source geothermal heat pumps and superior to code insulation ensure minimal space conditioning costs. Corten steel siding and concrete foundation walls satisfy client requirements for low maintenance and durability. All light fixtures are LEDs. Open and screened porches are strategically located to allow pleasant outdoor use at any time of day, particular season or, if necessary, insect challenge. Dramatic cantilevers allow the porches to project into the site’s beautiful mixed hardwood tree canopy without damaging root systems. Guest arrive by vehicle with glimpses of the house and grounds through penetrations in the concrete wall enclosing the garden. One parked they are led through a garden composed of pavers, a fountain, benches, sculpture and plants. Views of the lake can be seen through and below the bridges. Primary client goals were a sustainable low-maintenance house, primarily single floor living, orientation to views, natural light to interiors, maximization of individual privacy, creation of a formal outdoor space for gardening, incorporation of a full workshop for cars, generous indoor and outdoor social space for guests and parties.

Bayshore Renovation

Adi Choquette

90's renovation project in the Bayshore Road Revitalization area
Photo of a mid-sized beach style one-storey stucco white house exterior in Tampa with a hip roof, a tile roof and a white roof.

Zen House

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

View from the top of the hill.
Photo of a mid-sized modern two-storey white house exterior in Seattle with concrete fiberboard siding, a flat roof and a white roof.

Yandina Sunrise

Atelier Chen Hung

Yandina Sunrise is conceived as a small scale two-bedroom home for a Pilates practitioner in the woods of the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Photography by James Hung

chou chou house

株式会社アトリエプラス

Photo of a contemporary two-storey white house exterior in Other with wood siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, a white roof and shingle siding.

Mid-Century Fusion kitchen remodel and living space addition in Monrovia

Metropolis Drafting and Construction Inc

A Modern home that wished for more warmth... An addition and reconstruction of approx. 750sq. area. That included new kitchen, office, family room and back patio cover area. The floors are polished concrete in a dark brown finish to inject additional warmth vs. the standard concrete gray most of us familiar with. A huge 16' multi sliding door by La Cantina was installed, this door is aluminum clad (wood finish on the interior of the door). The vaulted ceiling allowed us to incorporate an additional 3 picture windows above the sliding door for more afternoon light to penetrate the space. Notice the hidden door to the office on the left, the SASS hardware (hidden interior hinges) and the lack of molding around the door makes it almost invisible.

外観

株式会社AC15

Nice and clean modern cube house, white Japanese stucco exterior finish.
This is an example of a large modern three-storey stucco white house exterior in Other with a flat roof and a white roof.

Palm Beach Pink

Joy R. Dabill Interior Design

Classic Bermuda style architecture, fun vintage Palm Beach interiors.
Inspiration for a large tropical two-storey stucco pink house exterior in Other with a tile roof and a white roof.

Traditional New Build, Dallas

Le Belle Maison Interiors Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional two-storey brick white exterior in Dallas with a shingle roof and a white roof.

All Siding Materials Exterior Design Ideas with a White 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.