Klopf Architecture and Outer space Landscape Architects designed a new warm, modern, open, indoor-outdoor home in Los Altos, California. Inspired by mid-century modern homes but looking for something completely new and custom, the owners, a couple with two children, bought an older ranch style home with the intention of replacing it. Created on a grid, the house is designed to be at rest with differentiated spaces for activities; living, playing, cooking, dining and a piano space. The low-sloping gable roof over the great room brings a grand feeling to the space. The clerestory windows at the high sloping roof make the grand space light and airy. Upon entering the house, an open atrium entry in the middle of the house provides light and nature to the great room. The Heath tile wall at the back of the atrium blocks direct view of the rear yard from the entry door for privacy. The bedrooms, bathrooms, play room and the sitting room are under flat wing-like roofs that balance on either side of the low sloping gable roof of the main space. Large sliding glass panels and pocketing glass doors foster openness to the front and back yards. In the front there is a fenced-in play space connected to the play room, creating an indoor-outdoor play space that could change in use over the years. The play room can also be closed off from the great room with a large pocketing door. In the rear, everything opens up to a deck overlooking a pool where the family can come together outdoors. Wood siding travels from exterior to interior, accentuating the indoor-outdoor nature of the house. Where the exterior siding doesn’t come inside, a palette of white oak floors, white walls, walnut cabinetry, and dark window frames ties all the spaces together to create a uniform feeling and flow throughout the house. The custom cabinetry matches the minimal joinery of the rest of the house, a trim-less, minimal appearance. Wood siding was mitered in the corners, including where siding meets the interior drywall. Wall materials were held up off the floor with a minimal reveal. This tight detailing gives a sense of cleanliness to the house. The garage door of the house is completely flush and of the same material as the garage wall, de-emphasizing the garage door and making the street presentation of the house kinder to the neighborhood. The house is akin to a custom, modern-day Eichler home in many ways. Inspired by mid-century modern homes with today’s materials, approaches, standards, and technologies. The goals were to create an indoor-outdoor home that was energy-efficient, light and flexible for young children to grow. This 3,000 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom new house is located in Los Altos in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, and Chuang-Ming Liu  Landscape Architect: Outer space Landscape Architects  Structural Engineer: ZFA Structural Engineers  Staging: Da Lusso Design  Photography ©2018 Mariko Reed  Location: Los Altos, CA  Year completed: 2017

Mid-Century Lake House

Kate @ The-Hall-Way

www.KatieLynnHall.com
This is an example of a large midcentury two-storey brick beige exterior in Other with a hip roof.

Greenway Parks Mid Century Modern

Maribeth Peters Team of Allie Beth Allman - Dallas

Mid Century Modern 1952 home in Greenway Parks. 9 month long complete renovation. I sold my clients the original untouched house. After the renovation, I listed at $1,075,000 and we had multiple offers and it sold over list price. Stunning house!

Riverside

Eric Meglasson, Architect

Midcentury exterior in Other.

Mid Century Modern Landscape

Carson Douglas Landscape Architecture

Michael Brennan
Mid-sized midcentury one-storey stucco beige house exterior in San Diego with a flat roof.

New Project 2

Konstructo, Inc.

Midcentury blue house exterior in San Francisco with a flat roof.

Westfield

Lecasa Homes & Renovations

Photo of a midcentury one-storey white exterior in Austin with wood siding and a shed roof.

Promenade

Parkes Architects

A minor addition which added maximum impact!
Small midcentury one-storey brick white exterior in Other with a grey roof.

Walling Lane Renovation

Tanner Homes

This is an example of a large midcentury one-storey brick grey exterior in Dallas.

Whole house remodel, Washington DC

CARNEMARK design + build

COOL & DRY. A standing seam metal roof offers another long lasting, low-maintenance option while securing a tight building envelope. A stainless railing and slate flagstone stoop continues the cool-tone material palette. A new aluminum-frame glass door and oversized transom reveal a stunning view straight through to the back yard. Updated fixtures highlight the home’s contemporary, clean lines. Photography by Maxwell MacKenzie.

Mid century Outdoor Living Remodel

M Prevost Design

Pool view of whole house exterior remodel
Design ideas for a large midcentury two-storey black exterior in San Diego.

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.

Wonderland Park Residence

Assembledge

Image by Laure JoliImage by Laure Jolietet
Midcentury exterior in Los Angeles.

Mid-Century Charm in Vintage Las Vegas

Margaret Wright Photography

Photo: Margaret Wright © 2017 Houzz
Inspiration for a midcentury exterior in Las Vegas.

Barton Hills Residence

Brett Grinkmeyer

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury two-storey white house exterior in Austin with stone veneer, a flat roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

Ain House

Modal Design

Inspiration for a small midcentury one-storey stucco white exterior in Los Angeles.

"Privacy House" - Currently Under Construction

Arielle C. Schechter, AIA

The south facing view of the Privacy House has a 13' high window wall. Primary colors inspired by flags were used to organize the exterior spaces. To the right of the deck is a floating cypress screen which affords privacy for the owners when viewed from the street. Photo by Keith Isaacs.

Modern Frontier- Texas Ranch House

Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Danny Piassick
Inspiration for an expansive midcentury one-storey beige exterior in Austin with stone veneer and a gable roof.

Midcentury Exterior

Photo of a midcentury exterior in San Francisco.

Mid-Century Modern Revived

Austin Patterson Disston Architects

Tria Giovan Photo
Midcentury two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in New York with mixed siding.

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.