Large beach style multi-coloured house exterior in Boston with four or more storeys, wood siding, a hip roof, a shingle roof, a black roof and shingle siding.

Cottage Escape

Wright-Ryan Homes

Inspiration for a large beach style blue house exterior in Portland Maine with four or more storeys, wood siding and shingle siding.

Serenity

Odin Industrial Design

Large modern white house exterior in Houston with four or more storeys, wood siding, a flat roof, a white roof and board and batten siding.

Rénovation d'un chalet au Frasserands avec création d'un sous sol

LHC 74

Inspiration for a mid-sized country brown house exterior in Lyon with four or more storeys, wood siding and a gable roof.

MAHUIKA

Daniel Marshall Architect

Large modern black exterior in Auckland with four or more storeys and wood siding.

Indian Shores Custom Beach House

J. S. Perry & Co., Inc.

This is a small beach cottage constructed in Indian shores. Because of site limitations, we build the home tall and maximized the ocean views. It's a great example of a well built moderately priced beach home where value and durability was a priority to the client. Cary John

Classic Home in Historical District - 41 Westminster

Showcase Home Builders, Inc.

Classic home in historic district surrounded by nature. Wood windows, cedar siding, copper gutters, mahogany deck & trim with two car garage under,
Design ideas for a traditional exterior in Boston with four or more storeys and wood siding.

Fort Châtillon

Léa Aubine

Rénovation complète d'une maison individuelle Isolation par l'extérieur et réaménagement intérieur Création d'une terrasse sur pilotis et ouverture en façade

Another view of the roof deck and the view

Mark Brand Architecture

For our client, who had previous experience working with architects, we enlarged, completely gutted and remodeled this Twin Peaks diamond in the rough. The top floor had a rear-sloping ceiling that cut off the amazing view, so our first task was to raise the roof so the great room had a uniformly high ceiling. Clerestory windows bring in light from all directions. In addition, we removed walls, combined rooms, and installed floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall sliding doors in sleek black aluminum at each floor to create generous rooms with expansive views. At the basement, we created a full-floor art studio flooded with light and with an en-suite bathroom for the artist-owner. New exterior decks, stairs and glass railings create outdoor living opportunities at three of the four levels. We designed modern open-riser stairs with glass railings to replace the existing cramped interior stairs. The kitchen features a 16 foot long island which also functions as a dining table. We designed a custom wall-to-wall bookcase in the family room as well as three sleek tiled fireplaces with integrated bookcases. The bathrooms are entirely new and feature floating vanities and a modern freestanding tub in the master. Clean detailing and luxurious, contemporary finishes complete the look.

Leon Townhomes | Bankers Hill

SD Design Studio

Photo of a midcentury black townhouse exterior in San Diego with four or more storeys, wood siding, a flat roof, a mixed roof and a white roof.

Leonhard Residence

Geoff Chick & Associates

Large beach style grey house exterior in Other with four or more storeys, wood siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Treasure Rock Estate

Keene Architecture, Inc.

Rear corner of the coastal estate overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. George Gary Photography; See website for complete list of team members /credits.
Design ideas for a large beach style grey house exterior in Providence with four or more storeys, wood siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a brown roof and shingle siding.

Updated Historic Classic

Lakewest Renovations

Inspiration for a transitional white house exterior in Chicago with four or more storeys, wood siding, a clipped gable roof and a shingle roof.

Quality Cedar accents add authenticity

Exterior Crew

Superior craftsmanship and installation include cedar soffits using 1x6 tight knot tongue and groove v-joints with complimentary colors and siding finishes.

Jamestown Waterfront 4

Tuck and Tuck Architects

New Shingle Style home on the Jamestown, RI waterfront.
Photo of an expansive beach style beige house exterior in Providence with four or more storeys, wood siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Lake Michigan Beach Home Street View

Jody Snider Homes, Inc.

This 4 story beach home on Lake Michigan has a spectacular view of the lake and beach front. Although it is a 2 car garage, the driveway can hold 6 more cars.

Thimble Island Victorian Home

Joseph Sepot Architects

The lower level of the home, which is clad in stone, is dedicated to storage of watercraft. Jim Fiora Photography LLC
Inspiration for an expansive traditional grey house exterior in New York with wood siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, four or more storeys, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Engineered oak boards with osmo ebony oil | N19 Whitehall Park

Fin Wood Ltd

Large Victorian family home undergoes a bold stylish redecoration with well crafted oak floors throughout, Whitehall Park N19 Ebony oiled engineered oak Our customers wanted to refresh their large Victorian family home in the Whitehall Park Conservation Area with stylish redecoration and a brand new oak floor. They explained how after researching online they selected Fin Wood because of our attention to detail and the high quality service we provide. This whole house project involved installing a new oak floor in a large bay fronted living room, a bright open plan kitchen diner, a large master bedroom suite, three further bedrooms, a study and all the landings. We fitted engineered oak boards oiled with Osmo ebony oil. The customer preferred a slightly darker colour throughout the property and chose bold print wallpaper and colours to differentiate rooms.

George B. and Susan Elkins House

nC2 architecture llc

Winner of a NYC Landmarks Conservancy Award for historic preservation, the George B. and Susan Elkins house, dating to approximately 1852, was painstakingly restored, enlarged and modernized in 2019. This building, the oldest remaining house in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, has been recognized by the NYC Landmarks Commission as an Individual Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was essentially a ruin prior to the renovation. Interiors had been gutted, there were gaping holes in the roof and the exterior was badly damaged and covered with layers of non-historic siding. The exterior was completely restored to historically-accurate condition and the extensions at the sides were designed to be distinctly modern but deferential to the historic facade. The new interiors are thoroughly modern and many of the finishes utilize materials reclaimed during demolition.

Manomet Bluffs Home Addition/Remodel

Thorson Restoration & Construction

This is an example of a large beach style multi-coloured house exterior in Boston with four or more storeys, wood siding, a hip roof, a shingle roof, a black roof and shingle siding.

Exterior Design Ideas with Four or More Storeys and Wood Siding

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.