Oceanfront home designed by Burdge and Associates Architects in Malibu, CA.
Mid-sized country one-storey white house exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Suncadia Mountain Retreat

Ben Trogdon Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized country two-storey brown house exterior in Seattle with wood siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Rustic Exterior

Photo of a mid-sized country one-storey house exterior in Other with a hip roof and a metal roof.

Troon Residence

Jay Baker Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized mediterranean two-storey stucco beige house exterior with a hip roof and a tile roof.

Craftsman Revived

CG&S Design-Build

One of the most important things for the homeowners was to maintain the look and feel of the home. The architect felt that the addition should be about continuity, riffing on the idea of symmetry rather than asymmetry. This approach shows off exceptional craftsmanship in the framing of the hip and gable roofs. And while most of the home was going to be touched or manipulated in some way, the front porch, walls and part of the roof remained the same. The homeowners continued with the craftsman style inside, but added their own east coast flare and stylish furnishings. The mix of materials, pops of color and retro touches bring youth to the spaces. Photography by Tre Dunham

Waban Hill Rd

RBL Architects

The owners were downsizing from a large ornate property down the street and were seeking a number of goals. Single story living, modern and open floor plan, comfortable working kitchen, spaces to house their collection of artwork, low maintenance and a strong connection between the interior and the landscape. Working with a long narrow lot adjacent to conservation land, the main living space (16 foot ceiling height at its peak) opens with folding glass doors to a large screen porch that looks out on a courtyard and the adjacent wooded landscape. This gives the home the perception that it is on a much larger lot and provides a great deal of privacy. The transition from the entry to the core of the home provides a natural gallery in which to display artwork and sculpture. Artificial light almost never needs to be turned on during daytime hours and the substantial peaked roof over the main living space is oriented to allow for solar panels not visible from the street or yard.

Georgian Bay Cottage

DeCola Windows & Doors Inc.

Window & Door Dealers Contact: Angelo & Paul DeCola Location: 41-D Commerce Park Drive Unit D Barrie, Ontario L4N 8X1 Canada
This is an example of a mid-sized country two-storey brown house exterior in Toronto with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Bungalow House Plan 23503JD

Architectural Designs

House Plan 23503JD is one of our favorite Craftsman/Bungalow-esque house plans. We're thrilled with our client's final product built in Michigan. This 3 Bedroom, 2 bath home has beautiful decorative trusses, a great combination of stone, siding, and shingles, a standing seam metal roof over the front bedroom, and a lovely front porch. Ready when you are! Where do YOU want to build? Specs-at-a-glance 3 Bedrooms 2 Baths 1,900+ Sq. Ft. Plans: http://bit.ly/23503jd #readywhenyouare #bungalow #houseplan

Northfield Farm

McCotter Architecture and Design, PLLC

This is an example of a mid-sized traditional two-storey grey house exterior in Detroit with vinyl siding, a hip roof and a shingle roof.

Craftsman Exterior Paint Color Consultation

Masterworks Window Fashions & Design, LLC

This house is adjacent to the first house, and was under construction when I began working with the clients. They had already selected red window frames, and the siding was unfinished, needing to be painted. Sherwin Williams colors were requested by the builder. They wanted it to work with the neighboring house, but have its own character, and to use a darker green in combination with other colors. The light trim is Sherwin Williams, Netsuke, the tan is Basket Beige. The color on the risers on the steps is slightly deeper. Basket Beige is used for the garage door, the indentation on the front columns, the accent in the front peak of the roof, the siding on the front porch, and the back of the house. It also is used for the fascia board above the two columns under the front curving roofline. The fascia and columns are outlined in Netsuke, which is also used for the details on the garage door, and the trim around the red windows. The Hardie shingle is in green, as is the siding on the side of the garage. Linda H. Bassert, Masterworks Window Fashions & Design, LLC

Container Residence

nana

Custom Shipping Container house, designed by Collective Office & Jeff Klymson.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern one-storey black exterior in Milwaukee with mixed siding and a flat roof.

Snake River Canyon Residence

Dynia Architects

This residence, sited above a river canyon, is comprised of two intersecting building forms. The primary building form contains main living spaces on the upper floor and a guest bedroom, workroom, and garage at ground level. The roof rises from the intimacy of the master bedroom to provide a greater volume for the living room, while opening up to capture mountain views to the west and sun to the south. The secondary building form, with an opposing roof slope contains the kitchen, the entry, and the stair leading up to the main living space. A.I.A. Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Merit 2008 Project Year: 2008

Farmhouse

Crystal Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized country two-storey white exterior in Other with concrete fiberboard siding and a gable roof.

New England Colonial

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

Over the years, we have created hundreds of dream homes for our clients. We make it our job to get inside the hearts and minds of our clients so we can fully understand their aesthetic preferences, project constraints, and – most importantly – lifestyles. Our portfolio includes a wide range of architectural styles including Neo-Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, and the ever-popular New England Cape (just to name a few). Our creativity and breadth of experience open up a world of design and layout possibilities to our clientele. From single-story living to grand scale homes, historical preservation to modern interpretations, the big design concepts to the smallest details, everything we do is driven by one desire: to create a home that is even more perfect that you thought possible. Photo Credit: Cynthia August

Soaring Plains

Kelly Ann Photography

Gorgeous modern single family home with magnificent views.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Cincinnati with mixed siding, a butterfly roof and board and batten siding.

Gorgeous Open Floor Plan Cottage in Los Gatos

Spaces By Juliana Linssen, Inc.

Mid-sized transitional one-storey white house exterior in San Francisco with wood siding, a gable roof, a mixed roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

High Desert Modern

DeForest Architects

John Granen
Mid-sized modern one-storey house exterior in Other with wood siding and a flat roof.

Victorian Exterior Painting

CertaPro Painters - East Tennessee

Mid-sized traditional three-storey pink exterior in Other with vinyl siding and a gable roof.

Modern Ranch

JKA Design LLC

The south facade of the Johnson Residence was a new approach to passive solar design. The generous employment of glazed areas on this elevation are shaded by projecting modernist pergolas. In addition, the greenhouse seen to the left in this picture has a shading device and is separated from the main space of the home while bringing superheated air inside by natural and mechanical means. Intentional design "tricks" keep the flat roofed single story plan from looking boring with changes in roof elevation, the various shading "beams", and low walls which imply outdoor rooms projected into the landscape. arch@jkadesign.net

Strait Lane

LaRue Architects

Located on prestigious Strait Lane in Dallas, Texas, this regional contemporary residence nestles and wraps its roots throughout the mature oak trees, appearing as if it has been merged to this site for quite some time in this beautiful, unpredictable park-like setting. Photo Credit: Dror Baldinger

Mid-sized 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.