Photo of a mid-sized traditional two-storey grey exterior in Los Angeles with wood siding and a gable roof.

Rear view of the house at Broad Street in Suffolk by Nash Baker Architects, showing the local handmade red bricks used on the ground floor, and the oak cladding wrapping around the first floor.

Front Break- Shift Vacation Rentals - Mississippi District

Encircle Design and Build

22 Pages
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary two-storey green exterior in Portland with wood siding.

Lake of the Isles Craftsman

Hage Homes

This is an example of a large transitional two-storey black exterior in Minneapolis with wood siding and a hip roof.

Burtt Residence

Architecture Studio

Photo of a large arts and crafts two-storey brown house exterior in San Francisco with wood siding, a shingle roof and a gable roof.

Matthews Drive

Marielle Lamy Quaid, Austin REALTOR®

The view from the backyard looking up at the Master Suite and main level bedroom. The house was carefully designed around the large Heritage Oaks and enjoys the canopy views from every room in the house. Photos by Casey Dunn

Modern Oasis

David Small Designs

Jason Hartog Photography
Photo of a large contemporary two-storey brown exterior in Toronto with wood siding.

121 Tower Road, Lincoln, MA

Amy Mizner, Benoit Mizner Simon & Co.

Design ideas for a transitional two-storey green exterior in Boston with wood siding.

Ballard Home Remodel

Potter Construction Inc

NW Architectural Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts two-storey yellow house exterior in Seattle with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Mill Creek Residence

Acanthus Architecture, PA

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

Fassade und Garten eines Einfamilienhauses

ONE!CONTACT-Planungsbüro GmbH

Altes Wohnhaus von 1947 neu interpretiert ©Jannis Wiebusch
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary two-storey white exterior in Essen with a gable roof and wood siding.

Modern Haus & Fassade

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary two-storey brown exterior in Other with wood siding and a gable roof.

Brewster Custom Cape

REEF Cape Cod's Home Builder

Mid-sized traditional two-storey exterior in Boston with wood siding and a gable roof.

Westport Beach House

Bensonwood

Stacy Bass Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style two-storey white house exterior in New York with wood siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Lucy Sayre: Greek Revival

Connor Mill-Built Homes

Traditional Architecture
Design ideas for a mid-sized country two-storey white exterior in Boston with wood siding and a gable roof.

Mazama House

FINNE Architects

The Mazama house is located in the Methow Valley of Washington State, a secluded mountain valley on the eastern edge of the North Cascades, about 200 miles northeast of Seattle. The house has been carefully placed in a copse of trees at the easterly end of a large meadow. Two major building volumes indicate the house organization. A grounded 2-story bedroom wing anchors a raised living pavilion that is lifted off the ground by a series of exposed steel columns. Seen from the access road, the large meadow in front of the house continues right under the main living space, making the living pavilion into a kind of bridge structure spanning over the meadow grass, with the house touching the ground lightly on six steel columns. The raised floor level provides enhanced views as well as keeping the main living level well above the 3-4 feet of winter snow accumulation that is typical for the upper Methow Valley. To further emphasize the idea of lightness, the exposed wood structure of the living pavilion roof changes pitch along its length, so the roof warps upward at each end. The interior exposed wood beams appear like an unfolding fan as the roof pitch changes. The main interior bearing columns are steel with a tapered “V”-shape, recalling the lightness of a dancer. The house reflects the continuing FINNE investigation into the idea of crafted modernism, with cast bronze inserts at the front door, variegated laser-cut steel railing panels, a curvilinear cast-glass kitchen counter, waterjet-cut aluminum light fixtures, and many custom furniture pieces. The house interior has been designed to be completely integral with the exterior. The living pavilion contains more than twelve pieces of custom furniture and lighting, creating a totality of the designed environment that recalls the idea of Gesamtkunstverk, as seen in the work of Josef Hoffman and the Viennese Secessionist movement in the early 20th century. The house has been designed from the start as a sustainable structure, with 40% higher insulation values than required by code, radiant concrete slab heating, efficient natural ventilation, large amounts of natural lighting, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, and locally sourced materials. Windows have high-performance LowE insulated glazing and are equipped with concealed shades. A radiant hydronic heat system with exposed concrete floors allows lower operating temperatures and higher occupant comfort levels. The concrete slabs conserve heat and provide great warmth and comfort for the feet. Deep roof overhangs, built-in shades and high operating clerestory windows are used to reduce heat gain in summer months. During the winter, the lower sun angle is able to penetrate into living spaces and passively warm the exposed concrete floor. Low VOC paints and stains have been used throughout the house. The high level of craft evident in the house reflects another key principle of sustainable design: build it well and make it last for many years! Photo by Benjamin Benschneider

Homes

HUNTINGTON HOMES INC

This is an example of a large traditional two-storey white exterior in Burlington with wood siding.

Martis Cabin

NSM Construction

Infill Houses

McIntosh Poris Associates

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts two-storey brown exterior in Detroit with wood siding and a hip roof.

Churchill

Touchstone Custom Homes

Photo of a large arts and crafts two-storey green house exterior in DC Metro with wood siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Two-storey Exterior Design Ideas with Wood Siding

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.