Inspiration for a large midcentury one-storey beige house exterior in Austin with mixed siding, a flat roof, a metal roof, a black roof and board and batten siding.

Outdoor Space

Peninsula Building Materials

Ammirato Construction's use of K2's Pacific Ashlar thin veneer, is beautifully displayed on many of the walls of this property.
Photo of a large midcentury two-storey grey house exterior in San Francisco with mixed siding and a gable roof.

Somerset Renovation

Balodemas Architects

Anice Hoachlander, Hoachlander Davis Photography
Design ideas for a large midcentury split-level grey exterior in DC Metro with mixed siding and a gable roof.

Modern Home in Menlo Park

kds design group

Design ideas for a large midcentury one-storey brown house exterior in San Francisco with a shed roof and a black roof.

Mid-Century Modern Beach House Renovation

GARC Design

The previously modest entry is now highlighted by an enlarged entry door with exterior lights and a wide stepping stone path. New window openings were delicately created to provide a dynamic composition.

Mid-Century Modern

Tongue & Groove Design + Build

The home’s design grew organically by the crossing of water, influenced by a nearby bridge linking the tree-lined property to the surrounding golf course. The design was also inspired by the Mid-Century architecture of Florida’s Golden Beach and the revival of the idioms associated with that movement. Exploring the intersection of architecture and place and context and creativity, the project’s sensitivity to the surrounding environment is expressed with a proliferate use of natural elements — like stacked white stone facades and support columns — further smudging the edges between exterior and interior. Water surrounds the home; a koi pond and trickling fountains create a soothing entry. Inside, expansive plate glass walls and windows welcome the outdoors. Full-length windows double as folding partition doors and when peeled back, open the living room to the lanai, and pool deck while simultaneously providing a bridge between indoor and outdoor living. An open stair floats to a second floor catwalk that links north and south bedroom wings, and both contribute to the soaring volume of the interior spaces.

Holloway | Mid-Century Modern Farmhouse

Vision Interiors

The Holloway blends the recent revival of mid-century aesthetics with the timelessness of a country farmhouse. Each façade features playfully arranged windows tucked under steeply pitched gables. Natural wood lapped siding emphasizes this homes more modern elements, while classic white board & batten covers the core of this house. A rustic stone water table wraps around the base and contours down into the rear view-out terrace. Inside, a wide hallway connects the foyer to the den and living spaces through smooth case-less openings. Featuring a grey stone fireplace, tall windows, and vaulted wood ceiling, the living room bridges between the kitchen and den. The kitchen picks up some mid-century through the use of flat-faced upper and lower cabinets with chrome pulls. Richly toned wood chairs and table cap off the dining room, which is surrounded by windows on three sides. The grand staircase, to the left, is viewable from the outside through a set of giant casement windows on the upper landing. A spacious master suite is situated off of this upper landing. Featuring separate closets, a tiled bath with tub and shower, this suite has a perfect view out to the rear yard through the bedroom's rear windows. All the way upstairs, and to the right of the staircase, is four separate bedrooms. Downstairs, under the master suite, is a gymnasium. This gymnasium is connected to the outdoors through an overhead door and is perfect for athletic activities or storing a boat during cold months. The lower level also features a living room with a view out windows and a private guest suite. Architect: Visbeen Architects Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography Builder: AVB Inc.

Charcoal and Gold Paint Scheme, Exterior Project, Newton, MA

ProTEK Painters

In this close up view of the side of the house, you get an even better idea of the previously mentioned paint scheme. The fence shows the home’s former color, a light brown. The new exterior paint colors dramatically show how the right color change can add a wonderful fresh feel to a house.

Greater Avenues Mid-Century Modern

Kyle Aiken

Utah Mid-Century Modern Sunset Facade Photo - https://www.kaikenphotography.com/

Mid-Century Post and Beam

Joel Reis Architecture and Real Estate Photography

Large midcentury one-storey white house exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding.

Sunny Hills Residence

Hsu McCullough

Outdoor dining area with pergola. Bedroom at right with recreation at rear with landscape. Photo by Clark Dugger
This is an example of a large midcentury one-storey white house exterior in Orange County with a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Long Trail custom home

Distinctive Design Homes LLC

4100 square foot custom home. Very open plan, 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, plus office, plus movie room. This home has it all
Inspiration for a large midcentury two-storey beige house exterior in Dallas with stone veneer.

Valley Club Mid-Century

DD Ford Construction

Jim Bartsch Photography
Photo of a large midcentury one-storey white exterior in Santa Barbara.

Midcentury Prairie Expansion

12/12 Architects & Planners

The homeowner had previously updated their mid-century home to match their Prairie-style preferences - completing the Kitchen, Living and DIning Rooms. This project included a complete redesign of the Bedroom wing, including Master Bedroom Suite, guest Bedrooms, and 3 Baths; as well as the Office/Den and Dining Room, all to meld the mid-century exterior with expansive windows and a new Prairie-influenced interior. Large windows (existing and new to match ) let in ample daylight and views to their expansive gardens. Photography by homeowner.

Sculpted to the Land

Flavin Architects

This house west of Boston was originally designed in 1958 by the great New England modernist, Henry Hoover. He built his own modern home in Lincoln in 1937, the year before the German émigré Walter Gropius built his own world famous house only a few miles away. By the time this 1958 house was built, Hoover had matured as an architect; sensitively adapting the house to the land and incorporating the clients wish to recreate the indoor-outdoor vibe of their previous home in Hawaii. The house is beautifully nestled into its site. The slope of the roof perfectly matches the natural slope of the land. The levels of the house delicately step down the hill avoiding the granite ledge below. The entry stairs also follow the natural grade to an entry hall that is on a mid level between the upper main public rooms and bedrooms below. The living spaces feature a south- facing shed roof that brings the sun deep in to the home. Collaborating closely with the homeowner and general contractor, we freshened up the house by adding radiant heat under the new purple/green natural cleft slate floor. The original interior and exterior Douglas fir walls were stripped and refinished. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Mid-Century Remodel

David Henig, Architect

Eric Rorer
Design ideas for a large midcentury two-storey grey exterior in San Francisco with mixed siding and a gable roof.

Coronet Circle

Mãkena Interiors

original Palm Springs Mid-century Butterfly home designed by William Krisel. Remodeled by House & Homes Palm Springs.
Large midcentury one-storey brick white exterior in Other.

Cedar Point: Modern Home

Timberlake Custom Homes

mid-century design with organic feel for the lake and surrounding mountains
Photo of a large midcentury one-storey green house exterior in Atlanta with mixed siding, a gable roof, a shingle roof, a brown roof and board and batten siding.

The Prairie House

Sakora Design

Inspiration for a large midcentury two-storey black house exterior in Toronto with stone veneer, a hip roof, a shingle roof, a brown roof and clapboard siding.

Lake Sawyer Remodel

Malone's Landscape Design | Build

Upper IPE deck with cable railing and covered space below with bluestone clad fireplace, outdoor kitchen, and infratec heaters. Belgard Melville Tandem block wall with 2x2 porcelain pavers, a putting green, hot tub and metal fire pit. Sherwin Williams Iron Ore paint color

Large Midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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 midcentury 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.