Large transitional two-storey white house exterior in Other with painted brick siding, a gable roof, a metal roof and a grey roof.

Walloon Lake Residence | Modern Waterfront

W. Pearsall Construction Inc.

This modern waterfront home was built for today’s contemporary lifestyle with the comfort of a family cottage. Walloon Lake Residence is a stunning three-story waterfront home with beautiful proportions and extreme attention to detail to give both timelessness and character. Horizontal wood siding wraps the perimeter and is broken up by floor-to-ceiling windows and moments of natural stone veneer. The exterior features graceful stone pillars and a glass door entrance that lead into a large living room, dining room, home bar, and kitchen perfect for entertaining. With walls of large windows throughout, the design makes the most of the lakefront views. A large screened porch and expansive platform patio provide space for lounging and grilling. Inside, the wooden slat decorative ceiling in the living room draws your eye upwards. The linear fireplace surround and hearth are the focal point on the main level. The home bar serves as a gathering place between the living room and kitchen. A large island with seating for five anchors the open concept kitchen and dining room. The strikingly modern range hood and custom slab kitchen cabinets elevate the design. The floating staircase in the foyer acts as an accent element. A spacious master suite is situated on the upper level. Featuring large windows, a tray ceiling, double vanity, and a walk-in closet. The large walkout basement hosts another wet bar for entertaining with modern island pendant lighting. Walloon Lake is located within the Little Traverse Bay Watershed and empties into Lake Michigan. It is considered an outstanding ecological, aesthetic, and recreational resource. The lake itself is unique in its shape, with three “arms” and two “shores” as well as a “foot” where the downtown village exists. Walloon Lake is a thriving northern Michigan small town with tons of character and energy, from snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter to morel hunting and hiking in the spring, boating and golfing in the summer, and wine tasting and color touring in the fall.

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.

Modern & Contemporary Rustic House in Hartford Austin Texas Project By Darash

By Darash - Kitchen Cabinets, Vanities & Closets

Beautiful landscaping design path to this modern rustic home in Hartford, Austin, Texas, 2022 project By Darash
Photo of a large contemporary two-storey white house exterior in Austin with wood siding, a shed roof, a shingle roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

AIA GOLD MEDAL Winner for Design Excellence Family Room with Primary Suite Above

Clawson Architects, LLC

Rear exterior- every building has multiple sides. with the number of back yard bar-b-ques, and the rear entrance into the mud room being the entry of choice for the owners, the rear façade of this home was equally as important as the front of the house. large overhangs, brackets, exposed rafter tails and a pergola all add interest to the design and providing a nice backdrop for entertaining and hanging out in the yard.

Tumbleweed Custom Home

Alair Homes Plano

This new home was built on an old lot in Dallas, TX in the Preston Hollow neighborhood. The new home is a little over 5,600 sq.ft. and features an expansive great room and a professional chef’s kitchen. This 100% brick exterior home was built with full-foam encapsulation for maximum energy performance. There is an immaculate courtyard enclosed by a 9' brick wall keeping their spool (spa/pool) private. Electric infrared radiant patio heaters and patio fans and of course a fireplace keep the courtyard comfortable no matter what time of year. A custom king and a half bed was built with steps at the end of the bed, making it easy for their dog Roxy, to get up on the bed. There are electrical outlets in the back of the bathroom drawers and a TV mounted on the wall behind the tub for convenience. The bathroom also has a steam shower with a digital thermostatic valve. The kitchen has two of everything, as it should, being a commercial chef's kitchen! The stainless vent hood, flanked by floating wooden shelves, draws your eyes to the center of this immaculate kitchen full of Bluestar Commercial appliances. There is also a wall oven with a warming drawer, a brick pizza oven, and an indoor churrasco grill. There are two refrigerators, one on either end of the expansive kitchen wall, making everything convenient. There are two islands; one with casual dining bar stools, as well as a built-in dining table and another for prepping food. At the top of the stairs is a good size landing for storage and family photos. There are two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, as well as a movie room. What makes this home so special is the Casita! It has its own entrance off the common breezeway to the main house and courtyard. There is a full kitchen, a living area, an ADA compliant full bath, and a comfortable king bedroom. It’s perfect for friends staying the weekend or in-laws staying for a month.

BARNUM MOOSEHORN BUILD

NORDIC BUILDERS - MODERN TIMBERFRAME DESIGN BUILD

Screens not in yet on rear porch. Still need window bracket supports under window overhang. Finished siding.
Small country two-storey white exterior in Minneapolis with metal siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Einfamilienhaus

RK Next Architekten

Inspiration for a large contemporary two-storey exterior in Nuremberg.

Detached House in West Hampstead

VORBILD Architecture

Photo of a large contemporary three-storey brick red house exterior in London with a gable roof, a shingle roof and a brown roof.

Hartington Road

Pike & Partners

This is an example of a large contemporary three-storey brown duplex exterior in London with a shed roof and a brown roof.

ROCKY VIEW | MODERN FARMHOUSE

Andison Residential Design

Modern Farmhouse architecture is all about putting a contemporary twist on a warm, welcoming traditional style. This spacious two-story custom design is a fresh, modern take on a traditional-style home. Clean, simple lines repeat throughout the design with classic gabled roofs, vertical cladding, and contrasting windows. Rustic details like the wrap around porch and timber supports make this home fit in perfectly to its Rocky Mountain setting. While the black and white color scheme keeps things simple, a variety of materials bring visual depth for a cozy feel.

Porte Cochere

Forte Building Group, LLC

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

瓦屋根の家

Ju Design 建築設計室

Small two-storey white house exterior in Other with a gable roof, a tile roof and a grey roof.

Mobius

Sterling Custom Construction

Photo of a large modern split-level brown house exterior in Other with wood siding, a flat roof and shingle siding.

Exterior Front Entry/Portico - Patio & Pool Makeover

Hierarchy Architecture + Design, PLLC

Beautifully updated front entry with striking 10 panel glass French door underneath a white portico with double columns. Great sightlines from the front through to the backyard of the home.

Beach Life

Eurodale Developments Inc

Small country one-storey blue house exterior in Toronto with concrete fiberboard siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Purdue II

Haynsworth Custom Homes

Stunning traditional home in the Devonshire neighborhood of Dallas.
Design ideas for a large transitional two-storey white house exterior in Dallas with painted brick siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof and a brown roof.

Eastover HG1 - Black and White Modern Farmhouse

Linnane Homes

Large country two-storey white house exterior in Charlotte with wood siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Mayview

Visbeen Architects

Inspiration for a large one-storey beige house exterior in Grand Rapids with mixed siding, a gambrel roof, a shingle roof and a grey roof.

The Lookout

Lisa Carlisle Architect

Design ideas for a large beach style two-storey grey house exterior in Providence with wood siding, a gable roof, a grey roof and shingle siding.

Large and Small Exterior Design Ideas

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.