This is an example of a contemporary two-storey house exterior in Sunshine Coast with a flat roof.

Inspiration for a mid-sized arts and crafts two-storey green house exterior in Other with mixed siding and a gable roof.

Comfortable and Collected

Ann Lowengart Interiors

The family living in this shingled roofed home on the Peninsula loves color and pattern. At the heart of the two-story house, we created a library with high gloss lapis blue walls. The tête-à-tête provides an inviting place for the couple to read while their children play games at the antique card table. As a counterpoint, the open planned family, dining room, and kitchen have white walls. We selected a deep aubergine for the kitchen cabinetry. In the tranquil master suite, we layered celadon and sky blue while the daughters' room features pink, purple, and citrine.

My Own House

Hoffman Grayson Architects LLP

Originally, the front of the house was on the left (eave) side, facing the primary street. Since the Garage was on the narrower, quieter side street, we decided that when we would renovate, we would reorient the front to the quieter side street, and enter through the front Porch. So initially we built the fencing and Pergola entering from the side street into the existing Front Porch. Then in 2003, we pulled off the roof, which enclosed just one large room and a bathroom, and added a full second story. Then we added the gable overhangs to create the effect of a cottage with dormers, so as not to overwhelm the scale of the site. The shingles are stained Cabots Semi-Solid Deck and Siding Oil Stain, 7406, color: Burnt Hickory, and the trim is painted with Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior Low Luster Narraganset Green HC-157, (which is actually a dark blue). Photo by Glen Grayson, AIA

Porter Street Bungalow

Moore Architects, PC

The Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C boasts some of the most beautiful and well maintained bungalows of the late 19th century. Residential streets are distinguished by the most significant craftsman icon, the front porch. Porter Street Bungalow was different. The stucco walls on the right and left side elevations were the first indication of an original bungalow form. Yet the swooping roof, so characteristic of the period, was terminated at the front by a first floor enclosure that had almost no penetrations and presented an unwelcoming face. Original timber beams buried within the enclosed mass provided the only fenestration where they nudged through. The house, known affectionately as ‘the bunker’, was in serious need of a significant renovation and restoration. A young couple purchased the house over 10 years ago as a first home. As their family grew and professional lives matured the inadequacies of the small rooms and out of date systems had to be addressed. The program called to significantly enlarge the house with a major new rear addition. The completed house had to fulfill all of the requirements of a modern house: a reconfigured larger living room, new shared kitchen and breakfast room and large family room on the first floor and three modified bedrooms and master suite on the second floor. Front photo by Hoachlander Davis Photography. All other photos by Prakash Patel.

EIGTH.

KLH Custom Homes

Contemporary two-storey black house exterior in Grand Rapids with wood siding, a gable roof, a metal roof, a grey roof and board and batten siding.

Saunders Village 3.0

Jordan Iverson Signature Homes

This is our take on a modern farmhouse. With mixed exterior textures and materials, we accomplished both the modern feel with the attraction of farmhouse style.

Brewer Hollow House

Elizabeth Eason Architecture LLC

Bruce Cole Photography
Photo of a mid-sized country two-storey white house exterior in Other with mixed siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Portfolio

Color Touch Painting

Colorful exterior by Color Touch Painting
Small beach style two-storey yellow house exterior in San Francisco with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Edina Modern

Quartersawn Design Build

Inspiration for a contemporary two-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Minneapolis with mixed siding and a gable roof.

Casa

Built Green Custom Homes

Design ideas for a mid-sized country two-storey brick beige exterior in Houston with a hip roof.

Lake Minnetonka Castle

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Design: Sharratt Design | Interior Design: Bruce Kading Interior Design | Landscaping: Keenan & Sveiven | Photography: Landmark Photography

Tuscan Inspired Home

Lunada Consulting & Design, Inc.

This two story Mediterranean-style home features a gorgeous clay tile roof, stacked stone, and a decorative carved wood door that gives a hint of an old-world feel.

Hampton Lake, Lakewood Court

Boshaw Residential, LLC

This is an example of a large arts and crafts two-storey yellow exterior in Atlanta with stone veneer and a gable roof.

Lake O'Brien 1 - Exterior Lakeside

Lands End Development - Designers & Builders

This is an example of a country two-storey green exterior in Minneapolis with wood siding.

Marin Modern

THREE SIXTY ONE Architecture, AIA

Large modern two-storey grey exterior in San Francisco with vinyl siding and a gable roof.

Recycled 50's Rancher

BuilderFish

The original house, built in 1953, was a red brick, rectangular box. All that remains of the original structure are three walls and part of the original basement. We added everything you see including a bump-out and addition for a gourmet, eat-in kitchen, family room, expanded master bedroom and bath. And the home blends nicely into the neighborhood without looking bigger (wider) from the street. Every city and town in America has similar houses which can be recycled. Photo courtesy Andrea Hubbell

Exterior Painting Tacoma

Grit City Painters

This is an example of an arts and crafts two-storey grey exterior in Seattle with a shingle roof, a grey roof and clapboard siding.

Crowe's Nest Addition and Renovation

Chapman Design Group, Inc.

Originally Built in 1903, this century old farmhouse located in Powdersville, SC fortunately retained most of its original materials and details when the client purchased the home. Original features such as the Bead Board Walls and Ceilings, Horizontal Panel Doors and Brick Fireplaces were meticulously restored to the former glory allowing the owner’s goal to be achieved of having the original areas coordinate seamlessly into the new construction.

Tangletown Remodel

grouparchitect

Remodel and addition by Grouparchitect & Eakman Construction. Photographer: AMF Photography.
Mid-sized arts and crafts two-storey blue house exterior in Seattle with concrete fiberboard siding, a gable roof and a shingle 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.