Reminiscent of a 1910 Shingle Style, this new stone and cedar shake home welcomes guests through a classic doorway framing a view of the Long Island Sound beyond. Paired Tuscan columns add formality to the graceful front porch.

Exterior - Classic American Dutch Colonial

Ron Brenner Architects

Stately American Home - Classic Dutch Colonial Photography: Phillip Mueller Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional three-storey exterior in Minneapolis with wood siding.

Shingle style home drive court to entry elevation

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

Rob Karosis Photography www.robkarosis.com
Design ideas for a traditional three-storey exterior in Burlington with wood siding and a gable roof.

Tudor Restoration - Winnetka, IL

Scott Simpson Design + Build

Precise matching of each exterior Tudor detail – after additions in three separate directions - from stonework to slate to stucco. Photographer: Michael Robinson Architect: GTH Architects

Hinckley House 3rd Floor Mansard Roof Historic Restoration

Killeen Studio Architects

Photo of a large traditional three-storey brick red exterior in St Louis with a flat roof.

Exteriors

A&J Romano Construction

Design ideas for a traditional three-storey exterior in New York with mixed siding.

Westchester Whimsy

Daniel Contelmo Architects

The front elevation shows the formal entry to the house. A stone path the the side leads to an informal entry. Set into a slope, the front of the house faces a hill covered in wildflowers. The pool house is set farther down the hill and can be seem behind the house. Photo by: Daniel Contelmo Jr.

Warren Avenue

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC

North Elevation photography by Sam Oberter
This is an example of a large traditional three-storey grey house exterior in New York with vinyl siding, a gable roof and a metal roof.

Elevations

Jay Greene Photography

Jay Greene Photography
Large traditional three-storey brick exterior in Philadelphia.

Lake Front Home, Lake Sunapee NH

Bonin Architects & Associates

At night, this lake front cottage is a beautiful sight from the water. Architectural design by Bonin Architects & Associates. Photography by William N. Fish. Landscape design by Peter Schiess

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Calais Custom Homes

Photo of an expansive traditional three-storey beige house exterior in Dallas with stone veneer, a hip roof and a tile roof.

Cannon House - South Main, Colorado

Kenny Craft, CNU LEED AP

Mid-sized traditional three-storey exterior in Charlotte with wood siding and a metal roof.

The Modern Victorian

Hierarchy Architecture + Design, PLLC

This Second Empire Victorian, was built with a unique, modern, open floor plan for an active young family. The challenge was to design a Transitional Victorian home, honoring the past and creating its own future story. A variety of windows, such as lancet arched, basket arched, round, and the twin half round infused whimsy and authenticity as a nod to the period. Dark blue shingles on the Mansard roof, characteristic of Second Empire Victorians, contrast the white exterior, while the quarter wrap around porch pays homage to the former home. Architect: T.J. Costello - Hierarchy Architecture + Design Photographer: Amanda Kirkpatrick

Newhall Classical

Geoffrey Mouen Architect, LLC

Photo of an expansive traditional three-storey white house exterior in Orlando with wood siding.

OCEANFRONT COTTAGE

Marvin

Architect: Russ Tyson, Whitten Architects Photography By: Trent Bell Photography “Excellent expression of shingle style as found in southern Maine. Exciting without being at all overwrought or bombastic.” This shingle-style cottage in a small coastal village provides its owners a cherished spot on Maine’s rocky coastline. This home adapts to its immediate surroundings and responds to views, while keeping solar orientation in mind. Sited one block east of a home the owners had summered in for years, the new house conveys a commanding 180-degree view of the ocean and surrounding natural beauty, while providing the sense that the home had always been there. Marvin Ultimate Double Hung Windows stayed in line with the traditional character of the home, while also complementing the custom French doors in the rear. The specification of Marvin Window products provided confidence in the prevalent use of traditional double-hung windows on this highly exposed site. The ultimate clad double-hung windows were a perfect fit for the shingle-style character of the home. Marvin also built custom French doors that were a great fit with adjacent double-hung units. MARVIN PRODUCTS USED: Integrity Awning Window Integrity Casement Window Marvin Special Shape Window Marvin Ultimate Awning Window Marvin Ultimate Casement Window Marvin Ultimate Double Hung Window Marvin Ultimate Swinging French Door

Mansard Roof Georgian Colonial

RCCM, INC.

Design ideas for a large traditional three-storey brick exterior in New York.

SHINGLE STYLE

JMKA | architects

JEFF KAUFMAN
Expansive traditional three-storey grey exterior in New York with wood siding and a hip roof.

Willow Oak Residence

Moore Architects, PC

Originally built in 1889 a short walk from the old East Falls Church rail station, the vaguely reminiscent gothic Victorian was a landmark in a neighborhood of late 19th century wood frame homes. The two story house had been changed many times over its 116 year life with most of the changes diminishing the style and integrity of the original home. Beginning during the mid-twentieth century, few of the changes could be seen as improvements. The wonderfully dominate front tower was obscured by a bathroom shed roof addition. The exterior skin was covered with asbestos siding, requiring the removal of any wood detailing projecting from its surface. Poorly designed diminutive additions were added to the rear creating small, awkward, low ceiling spaces that became irrelevant to the modern user. The house was in serious need of a significant renovation and restoration. A young family purchased the house and immediately realized the inadequacies; sub-par spaces, kitchen, bathrooms and systems. The program for this project was closely linked to aesthetics, function and budget. The program called for significantly enlarging the house with a major new rear addition taking the place of the former small additions. Critically important to the program was to not only protect the integrity of the original house, but to restore and expand the house in such a way that the addition would be seamless. The completed house had to fulfill all of the requirements of a modern house with significant living spaces, including reconfigured foyer, living room and dining room on the first floor and three modified bedrooms on the second floor. On the rear of the house a new addition created a new kitchen, family room, mud room, powder room and back stair hall. This new stair hall connected the new and existing first floor to a new basement recreation room below and a new master bedroom suite with laundry and second bathroom on the second floor. The entire exterior of the house was stripped to the original sheathing. New wood windows, wood lap siding, wall trim including roof eave and rake trim were installed. Each of the details on the exterior of the house matched the original details. This fact was confirmed by researching the house and studying turn-of-the-century photographs. The second floor addition was removed, facilitating the restoration of the four sided mansard roof tower. The final design for the house is strong but not overpowering. As a renovated house, the finished product fits the neighborhood, restoring its standing as a landmark, satisfying the owner’s needs for house and home. Hoachlander Davis Photography

New Orleans Estate

McDugald-Steele

Large traditional three-storey exterior in New Orleans with wood siding.

The Modern Victorian

Hierarchy Architecture + Design, PLLC

Victorian Three-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 Victorian 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 Victorian 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 Victorian 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.