Complete exterior renovation of this 1970's home in Cardiff by the Sea. Re-configured the roof design and added new windows and doors. Our team of craftsman installed the Kayu wood soffits and used the wood for custom Dutch entry door and Garage. New accent lighting highlights the Bokara cobblestone walkway, smooth stucco finish and black metal details.

West Elevation (during construction)

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC

Annapolis Waterfront Home

Melissa McLay Interiors

Clinton - "Pool House"

Tiezzi Construction, LLC

Entertaining, relaxing and enjoying life…this spectacular pool house sits on the water’s edge, built on piers and takes full advantage of Long Island Sound views. An infinity pool with hot tub and trellis with a built in misting system to keep everyone cool and relaxed all summer long!

Petoskey - Beach House Retreat

Visbeen Architects

This beautiful, three-story, updated shingle-style cottage is perched atop a bluff on the shores of Lake Michigan, and was designed to make the most of its towering vistas. The proportions of the home are made even more pleasing by the combination of stone, shingles and metal roofing. Deep balconies and wrap-around porches emphasize outdoor living, white tapered columns, an arched dormer, and stone porticos give the cottage nautical quaintness, tastefully balancing the grandeur of the design. The interior space is dominated by vast panoramas of the water below. High ceilings are found throughout, giving the home an airy ambiance, while enabling large windows to display the natural beauty of the lakeshore. The open floor plan allows living areas to act as one sizeable space, convenient for entertaining. The diagonally situated kitchen is adjacent to a sunroom, dining area and sitting room. Dining and lounging areas can be found on the spacious deck, along with an outdoor fireplace. The main floor master suite includes a sitting area, vaulted ceiling, a private bath, balcony access, and a walk-through closet with a back entrance to the home’s laundry. A private study area at the front of the house is lined with built-in bookshelves and entertainment cabinets, creating a small haven for homeowners. The upper level boasts four guest or children’s bedrooms, two with their own private bathrooms. Also upstairs is a built-in office space, loft sitting area, ample storage space, and access to a third floor deck. The walkout lower level was designed for entertainment. Billiards, a bar, sitting areas, screened-in and covered porches make large groups easy to handle. Also downstairs is an exercise room, a large full bath, and access to an outdoor shower for beach-goers. Photographer: Bill Hebert Builder: David C. Bos Homes

Brandon-Patterson Beachview, Dana Point

Jeri Koegel Photography

Jeri Koegel

Custom Shore Homes

Ted Fluehr Jr. Inc

New construction home with Savannah wicker siding and bronze standing seam roof.

BeachHaus

Josh Wynne Construction

BeachHaus is built on a previously developed site on Siesta Key. It sits directly on the bay but has Gulf views from the upper floor and roof deck. The client loved the old Florida cracker beach houses that are harder and harder to find these days. They loved the exposed roof joists, ship lap ceilings, light colored surfaces and inviting and durable materials. Given the risk of hurricanes, building those homes in these areas is not only disingenuous it is impossible. Instead, we focused on building the new era of beach houses; fully elevated to comfy with FEMA requirements, exposed concrete beams, long eaves to shade windows, coralina stone cladding, ship lap ceilings, and white oak and terrazzo flooring. The home is Net Zero Energy with a HERS index of -25 making it one of the most energy efficient homes in the US. It is also certified NGBS Emerald. Photos by Ryan Gamma Photography

Becker Morgan Group, Inc.

Lake House

Studio R Architecture

House on the Lake- Shorewood

Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Inc.

Classic lake home architecture that's open and inviting. Beautiful views up the driveway with all the rooms getting lake views on the southern side (lake).

Vancouver Island - Modern Shingle Style

Andison Residential Design

This modern, shingle-style masterpiece has an effortless and luxurious coastal vibe. The black, two-story wood shingle home has the clean lines of a modern home with a heavy dose of traditional charm. Natural materials, including a stunning stone chimney, allow the home to blend peacefully into the surrounding landscape. Large windows provide contrast from the black shingle exterior and provide a beautiful view of the surrounding area. Detached from the main house, there’s a spacious garage with a guest house on the second story.

The Cabin-Studio

BENNEFIELD Construction Ltd.

This custom cabin was a series of cabins all custom built over several years for a wonderful family. The attention to detail can be shown throughout.

Beach Mansion

Florida Design Studio

Complexity of the interior space provided an opportunity to create visually interesting exterior spaces. Of course, the details are always important. Material, color, hardscape and landscape were carefully coordinated.

Sag Harbor Waterfront Modern 2

Kevin O'Sullivan + Associates

Detail view of African teak rain screen siding, cedar shou sugi ban wood siding and limestone retaining wall.

Backlit Agate

HELMAN SECHRIST Architecture

Architectural Design by Helman Sechrist Architecture Photography by Marie Kinney Construction by Martin Brothers Contracting, Inc.

Modern Farmhouse

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

The side entry opens up into a bathroom/laundry room so wet towels and sandy feet stay out of the main part of the house. The outdoor shower and adjacent bathroom serve as a pool house/summer mudroom.

Coastal residence in conservation area overlooking Chichester Harbour, West Suss

Des Ewing Residential Architects

Entrance Elevation

Beach Style Exterior Design Ideas with a Mixed Roof

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 beach style 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 beach style 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 beach style 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.