Peregian Beach House - Osprey

Aboda Design Group

Hauraki House

Jessica Chloe Photography

Light plays well across the building all day

Scandinavian Modern Exterior

10K Architecture

10K designed this new construction home for a family of four who relocated to a serene, tranquil, and heavily wooded lot in Shorewood. Careful siting of the home preserves existing trees, is sympathetic to existing topography and drainage of the site, and maximizes views from gathering spaces and bedrooms to the lake. Simple forms with a bold black exterior finish contrast the light and airy interior spaces and finishes. Sublime moments and connections to nature are created through the use of floor to ceiling windows, long axial sight lines through the house, skylights, a breezeway between buildings, and a variety of spaces for work, play, and relaxation.

GUEMES ISLAND MODERN CABIN

H2D Architecture + Design

The Guemes Island cabin is designed with a SIPS roof and foundation built with ICF. The exterior walls are highly insulated to bring the home to a new passive house level of construction. The highly efficient exterior envelope of the home helps to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool the home, thus creating a very comfortable environment in the home. Design by: H2D Architecture + Design www.h2darchitects.com Photos: Chad Coleman Photography

Hathaway Point Lake Cottage

Bickford Construction Corporation

Lake Cottage Porch, standing seam metal roofing and cedar shakes blend into the Vermont fall foliage. Simple and elegant. Photos by Susan Teare

Modern Farmhouse

Strata Landscape Architecture

Liberty 01 - Exterior

Gold Leaf Ventures/Construction

Two story craftsman

Fremont High-Performing Home

Board & Vellum

Photo by Andrew Giammarco.

Historical Craftsman Renovation

Balboa Design Group

Alameda Residence

AT6 Design Build

Updated Boho Colonial

RTH Building Company

Kyle Caldwell

Shoreview Teardown/Custom Home

Zawadski Homes Inc.

Rear elevation of custom home built on a teardown site. Sliding glass patio doors give way to wide-plank wood decking.

Custom Brookhaven Home

Vincent Longo Custom Builders

Willet Photography

[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

Siding, Windows, Door and Masonry in Allentown, NJ

Lawrenceville Home Improvement Center, Inc.

Rustic Beach Cottage Second Dwelling Unit in Santa Cruz, CA

Golden Visions Design

Exterior front entry of the second dwelling beach house in Santa Cruz, California, showing the main front entry. The covered front entry provides weather protection and making the front entry more inviting. Golden Visions Design Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Mountain Modern Music | Evening Exterior

Dovetail Construction

PostMaster® - Easily conceals

Master Halco, Inc.

PostMaster's® in-line design can be easily covered or concealed with matching wood, retaining the esthetics of a wood fence. It can be finished with both sides identical - a true good neighbor fence.

Exterior Paint Gallery

Steven Sampson's Painters & Decorators

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.