This 2-car garage, 6,000 sqft custom home features bright colored walls, high-end finishes, an open-concept space, and hardwood floors.

Front Exterior at Dusk

Pike Properties

Modern Craftsman

Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.

Front elevation of one-of-a-kind, modern, custom built craftsman style home. Home exterior features HardiePanel Smooth vertical siding in Monterey Taupe and Buechel Midnight Castle Rock. Marvin windows in Ebony. Pinnacle Pristine Weathered Wood asphalt roofing shingles and metal roofing with Kynar paint. General contracting by Martin Bros. Contracting, Inc.; Architecture by Helman Sechrist Architecture; design by Phelps Design Associates; photos by Marie Martin Kinney.

E Builders - The Snow Crest Estate

E Builders Homes

Zach Molino

Picturesque Lake Estate

Knight Architects LLC

Beautiful example of Nantucket style home with gambrel roof, pergola over french doors which open to lower level walkout to the lake. Tom Grimes Photography

Partial Siding Replacement and Full Repaint in Cypress, TX

Deskins Group LLC

This home was a large estate has had several large additions over the years with one of the largest addition's vinyl siding buckling and coming off. We replaced it with new Hardie lap siding and board and batten to tie the addition design back to the house while maintaining interest in the siding. We finished off the whole house in Sherwin Williams Rain Refresh paint.

Breezeway w/ Barrel Vault Ceiling

Green River Design

A Classic Shingle Style

Arch Studio, Inc.

This 4,680 square foot, 5 bedroom, 5 bath home combines the sophistication of a Hamptons estate with CA outdoor living! Our team worked closely with our clients who are a family of five to create a custom and one-of-kind home. They love to entertain and enjoy the views of the lush backyard and expansive lawn through the floor-to-counter windows. The first floor enjoys expansive, soaring ceilings and large gallery walls for art installations, as well as a separate au-pair suite and a sophisticated den/office and a temperature-controlled wine cellar for 700+/- bottles. Upstairs offers 4 huge bedrooms, including a large master suite with a balcony, huge closet and an adjacent laundry room. The gigantic master bathroom is streaming with natural light and offers dual digital shower heads, a steam shower, huge soaking tub, and loads of storage space. A home office and yoga studio offer views of the backyard.

Killingworth Architectural Asphalt

Connecticut Roofcrafters Llc

Side view of this traditional Killingworth residence roofed with GAF Camelot II Architectural Asphalt shingles in Weathered Timber to nicely emulate a slate roof. The main residence is connected to the Three-dormer Gabel garage by a lead-coated copper roof. Connecticut Roofcrafters also installed the Hardie Plank concrete fiberboard siding on this magnificent home.

Mayo waterfront

Fichtner Services Central, Inc.

James Hardie cement Board siding, GAF Architectural shingles

City Bungalow

Fortis Enterprises, LLC

4 Season Sunroom - Groton, MA

Morgan Exteriors

Country Comfort

Gordon James Construction

Horsham Exterior

Harth Builders

Severn Drive - Annapolis, MD

KB Lueck Building Consultants, LLC.

The existing split foyer had vinyl siding and a tremendous amount of horizontal lines - a new flagstone walk way and steps were being added with a complete exterior makeover in the beginning stages... After meeting with the client and the landscaper - we realized we needed to develop a covered entry that would really invite you into the home and unify the all work that had been started. The new stone entrance helped you locate the front door but, the exterior finishes did not mesh well; they needed updated. The focal point should be the entry. The split foyer entrance and all the gables definitely created a challenge. The solution: We incorporated exposed cedar beams and exposed cedar roof rafters with a mahogany tongue and groove ceiling to give the entry a warm and different feel. A flag stone walk way anchors the entrance, so we chose to use stone piers to match and large square tapered columns that would support the new entry roof, the covered entry takes shape. Many details are needed to create a proper entry, copper half round gutters with square link copper rain chains are the finishing touches to the grand entry for this home. The exterior siding was changed to a wide exposure cement board siding by the James Hardie company. We used cement shake panels to accent the built out gable areas. The transitions between the siding materials were simplified to achieve a cleaner finished look. New window and door trim, 5/4 x 4 and 5/4 x 6 pvc, complete an almost maintenance free exterior.

70 Blackpool Road

Broadpoint Custom Homes

Somerset Residence

KYLE CHAN ARCHITECT

Highlands Creek

Cornelius Homes, Inc.

Another late afternoon photo of the backyard and pool area from a little further out. Off to the right is a large pergola with bluestone counters, built-in sink and grill area with a refrigerator, a linear firepit, a large T-shaped pool with a reef entry, and the pool decking is travertine which is cool on the feet. This is an infinity edge pool with a twist...the waterfall created by the infinity edge faces the house and falls into a large pool at the bottom, so the waterfall can be viewed from the lower level windows and the main floor as well. The exterior of the house is Hardi-shingle siding painted gray with white trim, and the roof is concrete tile. Photo by Paul Bonnichsen.

A Timeless Style Mustard Exterior Design

United Signature Tacoma

Balancing coziness with this impressive fiber cement exterior design in mustard color.

Highlands Creek

Cornelius Homes, Inc.

Late afternoon photo of the backyard and pool area. Off to the right is a large pergola with built-in sink and grill area with a refrigerator, a linear firepit, a large T-shaped pool with a reef entry, and the pool decking is travertine which is cool on the feet. This is an infinity edge pool with a twist...the waterfall created by the infinity edge faces the house and falls into a large pool at the bottom, so the waterfall can be viewed from the lower level windows and the main floor as well. The exterior of the house is Hardi-shingle siding painted gray with white trim, and the roof is concrete tile. Photo by Paul Bonnichsen.

Expansive Exterior Design Ideas with Concrete Fiberboard 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.