Diamond Kote:The New Era of Pre-finished Siding

LP SmartSide 8" lap siding pre-finished with Diamond-Kote Chestnut. Photo Courtesy of Diamond Kote

Mountain Peek is a custom residence located within the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana. The layout of the home was heavily influenced by the site. Instead of building up vertically the floor plan reaches out horizontally with slight elevations between different spaces. This allowed for beautiful views from every space and also gave us the ability to play with roof heights for each individual space. Natural stone and rustic wood are accented by steal beams and metal work throughout the home. (photos by Whitney Kamman)

Latigo Remodel

Innovative Custom Homes

Norhbrook, IL James Hardie Siding Split Level Style

Siding & Windows Group Ltd

This Northbrook, IL Home was remodeled by Siding & Windows Group in James HardiePanel Vertical Sierra8 Siding in ColorPlus Technology Color Khaki Brown on Front and Monterey Taupe on Side, HardieTrim Smooth Boards in ColorPlus Technology Color Arctic White.

Tetherow - Hawk Court

Pacwest Builders LLC

Contemporary Exterior

Curved House

Duncan Pascoe Builders

Northgate Exterior

CarsonSpeer Builders

This mid-century modern was a full restoration back to this home's former glory. New cypress siding was installed to match the home's original appearance. New windows with period correct mulling and details were installed throughout the home. Photo credit - Inspiro 8 Studios

[Bracketed Space] House

Matt Fajkus Architecture

The site descends from the street and is privileged with dynamic natural views toward a creek below and beyond. To incorporate the existing landscape into the daily life of the residents, the house steps down to the natural topography. A continuous and jogging retaining wall from outside to inside embeds the structure below natural grade at the front with flush transitions at its rear facade. All indoor spaces open up to a central courtyard which terraces down to the tree canopy, creating a readily visible and occupiable transitional space between man-made and nature. The courtyard scheme is simplified by two wings representing common and private zones - connected by a glass dining “bridge." This transparent volume also visually connects the front yard to the courtyard, clearing for the prospect view, while maintaining a subdued street presence. The staircase acts as a vertical “knuckle,” mediating shifting wing angles while contrasting the predominant horizontality of the house. Crips materiality and detailing, deep roof overhangs, and the one-and-half story wall at the rear further enhance the connection between outdoors and indoors, providing nuanced natural lighting throughout and a meaningful framed procession through the property. Photography Spaces and Faces Photography

S&PB Renovation/Addition

Studio Durham Architects

Renovation of a mid-century modern house originally built by Buford Pickens, Dean of the School of Architecture at Washington Universtiy, as his his own residence. to the left is a Master Bedroom addition connected to the house by a bridge. Photographer: Paul Bussman

Northern Exposure // Stair to Entry

Drewett Works

This homage to prairie style architecture located at The Rim Golf Club in Payson, Arizona was designed for owner/builder/landscaper Tom Beck. This home appears literally fastened to the site by way of both careful design as well as a lichen-loving organic material palatte. Forged from a weathering steel roof (aka Cor-Ten), hand-formed cedar beams, laser cut steel fasteners, and a rugged stacked stone veneer base, this home is the ideal northern Arizona getaway. Expansive covered terraces offer views of the Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish designed golf course, the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines in the US, as well as the majestic Mogollon Rim and Stewart Mountains, making this an ideal place to beat the heat of the Valley of the Sun. Designing a personal dwelling for a builder is always an honor for us. Thanks, Tom, for the opportunity to share your vision. Project Details | Northern Exposure, The Rim – Payson, AZ Architect: C.P. Drewett, AIA, NCARB, Drewett Works, Scottsdale, AZ Builder: Thomas Beck, LTD, Scottsdale, AZ Photographer: Dino Tonn, Scottsdale, AZ

Mountain Peek

Centre Sky Architecture Ltd

Western Red Cedar Ranch Style Log Home

Mountain Log Homes of CO, Inc.

Large diameter Western Red Cedar logs from Pioneer Log Homes of B.C. built by Brian L. Wray in the Colorado Rockies. 4500 square feet of living space with 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths and large common areas, decks, and outdoor living space make it perfect to enjoy the outdoors then get cozy next to the fireplace and the warmth of the logs.

Deal Residence

Crome Architecture

This new 1,700 sf two-story single family residence for a young couple required a minimum of three bedrooms, two bathrooms, packaged to fit unobtrusively in an older low-key residential neighborhood. The house is located on a small non-conforming lot. In order to get the maximum out of this small footprint, we virtually eliminated areas such as hallways to capture as much living space. We made the house feel larger by giving the ground floor higher ceilings, provided ample natural lighting, captured elongated sight lines out of view windows, and used outdoor areas as extended living spaces. To help the building be a “good neighbor,” we set back the house on the lot to minimize visual volume, creating a friendly, social semi-public front porch. We designed with multiple step-back levels to create an intimacy in scale. The garage is on one level, the main house is on another higher level. The upper floor is set back even further to reduce visual impact. By designing a single car garage with exterior tandem parking, we minimized the amount of yard space taken up with parking. The landscaping and permeable cobblestone walkway up to the house serves double duty as part of the city required parking space. The final building solution incorporated a variety of significant cost saving features, including a floor plan that made the most of the natural topography of the site and allowed access to utilities’ crawl spaces. We avoided expensive excavation by using slab on grade at the ground floor. Retaining walls also doubled as building walls.

Casa Ampurdan

b720 Fermin Vazquez Arquitectos

Adriá Goula

Santos Rd SW18 - kitchen extension

Plus Rooms

Vina's Tiny House

Sol Haus Design

The outdoor deck expands the living space from inside to outside for the dining area. Phot: Eileen Descallar Ringwald

Transitional Rustic Family Retreat Home

B.L. Rieke Custom Home Builders

This comfortable, yet gorgeous, family home combines top quality building and technological features with all of the elements a growing family needs. Between the plentiful, made-for-them custom features, and a spacious, open floorplan, this family can relax and enjoy living in their beautiful dream home for years to come. Photos by Thompson Photography

Arlington Heights, IL Remodel Split Level Integrity from Marvin Windows & Siding

Siding & Windows Group Ltd

Arlington Heights, IL Exterior Remodel of Integrity from Marvin Fiberglass Windows & James Hardie Siding by Siding & Windows Group. We installed Wood-Ultrex Integrity from Marvin Fiberglass Windows throughout the house, James HardiePlank Select Cedarmill Lap Siding in alternating sizes in ColorPlus Technology Color Timber Bark and HardieTrim Smooth Boards in ColorPlus Technology Color Khaki Brown.

Exterior Painting in Clarendon Hills, IL

Blue Door Painting

Vertical and horizontal wood paneled ranch style home ----- Crystal Arvigo

Brown Split-level 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.