This is an example of a large traditional two-storey grey house exterior in Cedar Rapids with vinyl siding, a hip roof and a shingle roof.

Wayzata Custom Home (2015)

Knight Construction Design Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional two-storey grey exterior in Minneapolis with vinyl siding.

Exteriors

Bannister Custom Homes

Mid-sized traditional two-storey brick white exterior in Dallas with a clipped gable roof.

Richmond Craftsman Home

Ellington Homes

This craftsman home with 3200 sqft of living space and a two car detached garage. The interior of this 4 bedroom and 3 ½ bath home is loaded with custom features including a gourmet kitchen with wolf and subzero appliances, granite countertops, two fireplaces, four custom built-ins and hardwood throughout. The exterior of the home has an inviting covered front porch and two covered porches in the rear including a second story porch off of the Master Bedroom

Lakeside Terraced Backyard

Mirror Lake Designs

Daniel Kelly Photography
Large traditional two-storey yellow exterior in Houston with mixed siding.

Driveway

A-K Design Professionals LLC

This is an example of a large mediterranean two-storey beige exterior in Other with stone veneer and a flat roof.

R. Residence

Aric Gitomer Architect LLC

Mid-sized contemporary two-storey brick beige exterior in New York with a hip roof.

The Beacon

Colega Architects

Weldon Brewster
Inspiration for a large contemporary two-storey blue exterior in Los Angeles with metal siding and a flat roof.

Mangrove House

Boutique Architectural Design Studio

This is an example of an expansive modern two-storey concrete white house exterior in Miami with a flat roof and a mixed roof.

Pollard Hodgson Architects

This is an example of a large traditional two-storey beige exterior in New Orleans with mixed siding and a hip roof.

South Knoxville Remodel Late Spring/Summer 2015 #2

Infinity Construction, llc.

Repaint, Repair, Reroof
Large country two-storey beige house exterior in Other with concrete fiberboard siding, a clipped gable roof and a shingle roof.

Ebell-Bierema Residence

Architectural Collaborative

Situated on a sloping site with a shared driveway and prescribed parking on the lower level, the home was designed to maximize daylight into the walk-out basement. In placing the parking in the center and wrapping the basement spaces around it, all rooms are afforded exterior views. By locating much of the home’s program below street level, the 3244 s.f. house is able to maintain a scale in keeping with the surrounding residences. The grade along the front of the site was pulled back from the home with stepped retaining walls revealing a sunken garden and above-ground basement walls. An entry bridge allows access to the front door above the sunken garden. UV-responsive, color-changing metal siding and cedar rainscreen clad the flat roof volumes of the home while fiber cement boards encase the shed roof volume. The shed was created to provide passive solar daylighting and conditioning in the vaulted living and dining rooms as well as an ideal surface for future solar panels. The home possesses a myriad of outdoor living spaces including a front balcony and sunken courtyard, side balcony terrace, and rear screened porch and deck above a covered patio. The south side balcony is wrapped with a metal and cedar clad bamboo planter which acts as a privacy screen and shading device. Accessibility was a strong consideration in the design as the homeowners were forward-thinking about aging in place. ADA-sized doorways and thresholds are provided as well as a shelled elevator shaft from the basement level.

YRA Design Inc.

YRA Design Inc

This is an example of an expansive mediterranean two-storey stucco white exterior in Miami with a hip roof.

Warsaw Ohio

Shrock Premier Custom Construction

This amazing Shrock Premier timber frame home was recently featured in Timber Home Living magazine. Perched high upon a hill, this red barn style exterior, complete with silo certainly evokes a "wow" reaction! The 5,000 square foot home provides the perfect respite for the hectic lifestyle. The basement walkout custom cabinetry was made by Shrock experts from timbers cut and milled from the scenic land surrounding the home. Make your dream home a reality with Shrock Premier Custom Construction.

Toro Canyon - Westlake, Austin Texas

Blue Horse Building & Design

Blue Horse Building + Design // Tre Dunham Fine Focus Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized eclectic two-storey blue exterior in Austin with a metal roof.

TruCedar Steel Siding: 10" Board & Batten Bennington Beige

Quality Edge

TruCedar Steel Siding shown in 10" Board & Batten and Bennington Beige.
This is an example of a two-storey beige exterior in Grand Rapids with metal siding.

Mill Creek Residence

Acanthus Architecture, PA

Greg Loflin
Design ideas for a mid-sized country two-storey beige exterior in Other with wood siding.

Newport Beach - Balboa Peninsula

David A. Kaech & Associates, Inc.

Aidin Foster
Photo of a large asian two-storey beige exterior in Orange County with mixed siding and a gable roof.

House of Trace

Tsuruta Architects

The demolition of the original extension and its replacement, called for an intervention that can be a part of the original main building without replicating classical vocabulary or gesture. Our intent was to keep a sense of memory, while simultaneously allowing the new intervention to have its own identity. The original extension had no distinct historical or architectural value, and was structurally unsound, but it had a sloop roof profile typical of those found in terrace house back gardens. We chose to incorporate this banality in the new face of the rear garden – in a way fossilising and persevering its charm to carry some sense of associated memory to those who know it or those who see it new. As we uncovered the original building fabric, we discovered the history of the house. One of the existing walls had been leaning at a displacement of about one brick thick towards an adjacent building. These significant old movements were registered as cracks on the leaning wall, and have now been revealed and retained within the corridor.The structures of the new envelope have been exposed internally wherever practically possible, so that these surfaces will register the future stories of the house. They also narrate a story of local domestic construction methods by repeating some redundant details that recall the previous state of the house. The bare plaster finish is left exposed in the children's and second bedrooms. Hand marks of workmen trace the process of the work and are now recorded on the internal faces of the building’s fabric. The slow patination of bespoke copper and brass fittings shows the passage of time as they change from their original colour. By registering these notions of memories, the inconsistencies of daily life could fully inhabit the space. The building materials are all ordinary materials available at a local builder’s merchant – the full potential of which were tested through our detailing and different methods of site executions. The entire building and components were all modeled three dimensionally, with some components and furnishings further broken down to be processed in CNC, so they could be brought to the site as flatpack components. This process cut fabrication time and costs significantly, and reduced the distance between the drawing board and execution on site. Many designs could be executed within a few days notice and at no increase in cost – such as the cheese hole ventilation grill in the kitchen and the children’s height ruler on the column casing.The record of this CNC flatpack process can be traced to the numbering system visible on the faces of each piece. The executed flatpack elements include dining table, chairs and beds, as well as the internal stairs.

Ames Ave

Urban Pacific Homes and Development

Photo of a contemporary two-storey exterior in San Francisco with mixed siding and a shed roof.

Two-storey 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.