Greg Hadley Photography
Large traditional two-storey green house exterior in DC Metro with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Камин

Архитектурная студия Chado

В архитектуре загородного дома обыграны контрасты: монументальность и легкость, традиции и современность. Стены облицованы кирпичом ручной формовки, который эффектно сочетается с огромными витражами. Балки оставлены обнаженными, крыша подшита тонированной доской. Несмотря на визуальную «прозрачность» архитектуры, дом оснащен продуманной системой отопления и способен достойно выдерживать настоящие русские зимы: обогрев обеспечивают конвекторы под окнами, настенные радиаторы, теплые полы. Еще одно интересное решение, функциональное и декоративное одновременно, — интегрированный в стену двусторонний камин: он обогревает и гостиную, и террасу. Так подчеркивается идея взаимопроникновения внутреннего и внешнего. Эту концепцию поддерживают и полностью раздвижные витражи по бокам от камина, и отделка внутренних стен тем же фактурным кирпичом, что использован для фасада.

Aspen Projects

Christie Jensen, landscape architect

Large country brown exterior with stone veneer.

Portanimicut House

Joseph B Lanza Design + Building

My clients for this house love Cape Cod and its traditional architecture, but they did not want a traditional house. Our solution was a 90 degree twist on the “half house” idea. We took the traditional gable roofed Cape and split it the long way, creating two shed roofs, then pulled the two buildings apart and rotated them slightly to create an inviting entry courtyard. A shed roofed porch connects the house and garage, and a deck wraps around the back of the porch. The angled entry reaches out on to the porch to welcome the visitor. Inside, this small architectural gesture blurs the distinction between the house and the porch and deck, making the living space feel much larger than its compact footprint. Across from the entry, two banks of windows meet at an outside corner to define the sitting area. A vaulted ceiling, skylights, and the open rail of the loft above expand the space upward. The rugged industrial stair and cable rail, exposed Parallam beam and cable ties, birch flooring, doors and cabinets, and clean white walls fulfill the client’s wish for a house that is “bold, simple, geometric and minimal”, yet also inviting and comfortably scaled.

Bottor Cottage, Hennock, Dartmoor

VESP Architects

Richard Downer
This is an example of a large country two-storey beige house exterior in Devon with stone veneer and a gable roof.

Success Crescent

Mountford Architects

An inspiring, yet humble entrance to a beautiful large family home. The fire pit adds an element of warmth and comfort, its radiance and glow echoed throughout the house through hardwood flooring and features. Photographed by Stephen Nicholls

Graythwaite

CALDERPEEL ARCHITECTS

Photo of a large contemporary three-storey beige exterior in Cheshire with stone veneer and a gable roof.

Randall Mars

Randall Mars Architects

The pool house introduced a vaulted metal roof, which was repeated in the stone wall capturing the pool and the roof of the dining pavilion. The curves tied the new elements of the landscape together as well as softened the lines of the structure.

Large 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.