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.

The Bluffton

Cottage Home Company

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional two-storey blue house exterior in Jacksonville with vinyl siding.

City Modern Farmhouse Town & Country Charlotte

Linnane Homes

Inspiration for a large country two-storey white house exterior in Charlotte with painted brick siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a black roof and board and batten siding.

Newport Beach Ocean Front

William Guidero Planning and Design

Traditional/ beach contempoary exterior photo chris darnall
This is an example of a small beach style two-storey white exterior in Orange County with a gable roof and vinyl siding.

Driftwood Retreat

Erica Keast Heroy, Architect

Casey Woods
Photo of a mid-sized country one-storey grey exterior in Austin with vinyl siding and a gable roof.

Vinyl Siding, Wilmette, IL Cape Cod Style House

Siding & Windows Group Ltd

Wilmette, IL Siding Remodel by Siding & Windows Group Ltd. This Cape Cod Style Home in Wimette, IL had the Exterior updated, where we installed Royal Residential CertainTeed Cedar Impressions Vinyl Siding in Lap on the first elevation and Shake on the second elevation. Exterior Remodel was complete with restoration of window trim, top, middle & bottom frieze boards with drip edge, soffit & fascia, restoration of corner posts, and window crossheads with crown moldings

Sudbury Colonial

Brookwood Landscape and Stonework Inc.

This is an example of a large traditional two-storey grey exterior in Boston with vinyl siding and a gable roof.

Rambler Homes

The Design Team

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional two-storey blue exterior in Minneapolis with vinyl siding.

New Porch, & Shed Dormer Addition In Huntington, NY

ROBERT J. CHERNACK, ARCHITECT P.C.

New Porch, & Dormer addition to a standard existing cape, in Huntington, New York. Photo By: Robert J. Chernack Architect, P.C.
Photo of a small traditional two-storey exterior in New York with vinyl siding.

Bi-level converted to a colonial style home

IMPROVE or MOVE

Room added over garage, new two-story entry foyer with portico overhang, and stone siding accents.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional two-storey beige exterior in New York with vinyl siding and a gable roof.

Front Porch Facelift

RIC design build

Our client loved their home, but didn't love the exterior, which was dated and didn't reflect their aesthetic. A fresh farmhouse design fit the architecture and their plant-loving vibe. A widened, modern approach to the porch, a fresh coat of paint, a new front door, raised pollinator garden beds and rain chains make this a sustainable and beautiful place to welcome you home.

Farmhouse Elevations

Jagoe Homes Inc.

This is an example of a mid-sized country two-storey grey house exterior in Louisville with vinyl siding, a hip roof, a shingle roof, a black roof and board and batten siding.

Southport Cottage Home

Southern Comfort Homes, Inc.

Custom cottage in coastal village of Southport NC. Easy single floor living with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open living spaces, outdoor breezeway and screened porch.

The Cottonwood

Kessler Construction LLC

Custom home with a screened porch and single hung windows.
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional one-storey blue house exterior with vinyl siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a black roof and clapboard siding.

Mastic Vinyl Siding, Harvey Windows, & Therma-Tru Door, Lakeville, MA

Care Free Homes, Inc.

Mastic Vinyl Siding, Harvey Windows, and a Therma-Tru Entry Door look beautiful on this Lakeville, MA colonial! The homeowner chose a combination of Mastic Cedar Discovery and Carvedwood 44 Vinyl Siding in the historic color, Russet Red. Cedar Discovery mimics the look of painted cedar shingles and Carvedwood 44 replicates the look of painted cedar clapboard siding. With realistic wood textures and shadow lines, these homeowners have a durable and affordable siding option that looks beautiful without the worry that comes along with wood siding. With a 230 mph wind rating and an lovely collection of colors, textures, and styles, our customers enjoy both the durability and beauty of professional grade siding. We also installed Harvey Classic Double Hung Vinyl Replacement windows. The Harvey Classic is our top-selling, energy efficient replacement window. Homeowners enjoy tilt-in sashes for easy cleaning, customizable colors, hardware, and grid patterns. As one of the area’s select Harvey Elite Window Dealers, Care Free customers can also choose from exclusive package upgrades and warranties that can’t be offered by ordinary contractors. A Therm-Tru Fiberglass Entry system is factory-finished in the color, onyx. This Smooth Star door welcomes guests with a pair of coordinating sidelites featuring decorative glass and grids. Care Free Homes is the preferred contractor of thousands of homeowners. Past customers and referrals are responsible for over half of our business each year! Once you become a Care Free customer – chances are you’ll stay a Care Free customer and invite your friends and family to become one, too! We ask for absolutely no money until the project is complete and have financing options for qualified homeowners. Get started on your project with a FREE Quote by calling (508) 997-1111 or contact us online and we’ll follow up with you! Make your house a Care Free home!

Shediac River Cottage

Kent Homes Bouctouche

This prow front and low 12' deep deck face the Shediac River. Flooding the spaces with light and creating an impressive balance. Upstairs the dormers feature built in window seats in the bunk and family rooms. An impressive cottage design.

Ranch Transformation with Screened Porch & Deck

Degnan Design-Build-Remodel

The front of the home presents and entirely new character. accommodation of both dark and light colored siding, punctuated by vertical siding and shakes, transforms the once bland book of the home.

Exterior

New View Designs by Laurie Cole Inc.

Black vinyl board and batten style siding was installed around the entire exterior, accented with cedar wood tones on the garage door, dormer window, and the posts on the front porch. The dark, modern look was continued with the use of black soffit, fascia, windows, and stone.

Crestwood Renovation

Alair Homes Clemson

This gorgeous home renovation features an expansive kitchen with large, seated island, open living room with vaulted ceilings with exposed wood beams, and plenty of finished outdoor living space to enjoy the gorgeous outdoor views.

CertainTeed Vinyl Siding & Farmers Porch, Taunton, MA

Care Free Homes, Inc.

CertainTeed MainStreet vinyl siding in Autumn Yellow along with CertainTeed Cedar Impressions 1/2 round shingles in Colonial White bring durable beauty to this home. With realistic wood textures, shadow lines and a beautiful collection of fade-resistant colors, you can give your home classic curb appeal without the maintenance! This farmer’s porch was finished using Timbertech AZEK Harvest Collection decking in Kona and a Timbertech rail system in White. AZEK decking captures the look of natural wood without having to worry about resealing, splinters, and rot! Made to also handle different weather conditions this composite decking will not fade or split when under pressure. It is the perfect place to read a book, visit with guests, or enjoy a morning cup of coffee! With a gorgeous collection of colors and realistic wood textures, there is something to suit everyone’s style. We also installed Harvey Classic Double Hung Replacement Windows in the color, White. Our most popular selling window for good reason Harvey Classic Windows has a timeless look that will never go out of style. They are customized to order so homeowners can get their dream perfect windows! Lastly, we installed two Therma-Tru doors in the color, Mahogany. Made out of fiberglass Therma-Tru doors require less maintenance, stay painted longer, and regulate your home’s temperature. These doors come in a variety of styles and colors so you can really make your home stand out!

Exterior Design Ideas with Vinyl Siding and Painted Brick 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.