A traditional house that meanders around courtyards built as though it where built in stages over time. Well proportioned and timeless. Presenting its modest humble face this large home is filled with surprises as it demands that you take your time to experience it.

Painted Brick Exterior (After)

Color Revival By Rebecca Dumas

Painted Brick Exterior Using Romabio Biodomus Masonry Paint and Benjamin Moore Regal Exterior for Trim/Doors/Shutters

The Savannah: Best of Ohio Custom Home Over 5,000 SF

Justin Doyle Homes

This gorgeous modern farmhouse features hardie board board and batten siding with stunning black framed Pella windows. The soffit lighting accents each gable perfectly and creates the perfect farmhouse.

Craftsman Greenville Home

Evergreen Custom Construction

Windswept South

Dakota Wall Systems

The clean lines of this natural stone add to the warmth of the home. With neutral undertones, you can pair this stone with any interior or exterior project.

Brickyard Plantation Residence

Spivey Architects, Inc.

Newport653

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

Boulder Contemporary

186 Lighting Design Group - Gregg Mackell

In order to meld with the clean lines of this contemporary Boulder residence, lights were detailed such that they float each step at night. This hidden lighting detail was the perfect complement to the cascading hardscape. Architect: Mosaic Architects, Boulder Colorado Landscape Architect: R Design, Denver Colorado Photographer: Jim Bartsch Photography Key Words: Lights under stairs, step lights, lights under treads, stair lighting, exterior stair lighting, exterior stairs, outdoor stairs outdoor stair lighting, landscape stair lighting, landscape step lighting, outdoor step lighting, LED step lighting, LED stair Lighting, hardscape lighting, outdoor lighting, exterior lighting, lighting designer, lighting design, contemporary exterior, modern exterior, contemporary exterior lighting, exterior modern, modern exterior lighting, modern exteriors, contemporary exteriors, modern lighting, modern lighting, modern lighting design, modern lighting, modern design, modern lighting design, modern design

Bay Street Townhomes on the Waterfront

Allison Ramsey Architects

Glovers Barn

IQ Glass UK

A south facing extension has been built to convert a derelict Grade II listed barn into a sustainable, contemporary and comfortable home that invites natural light into the living spaces with glass extension to barn. Glovers Barn was a derelict 15th Century Grade II listed barn on the ‘Historic Buildings at Risk’ register in need of a complete barn renovation to transform it from a dark, constrained dwelling to an open, inviting and functional abode. Stamos Yeoh Architects thoughtfully designed a rear south west glass extension to barn with 20mm minimal sightline slim framed sliding glass doors to maximise the natural light ingress into the home. The flush thresholds enable easy access between the kitchen and external living spaces connecting to the mature gardens.

Front View of the Gabriel Home, a modern ranch. Photo Credit - Matthew Wagner

Barndominium House Plans

Buildmax House Plans

This gorgeous barndominium boasts 10′ first floor ceilings and 9′ second floor. You will enter the house from the covered porch which opens to an expansive vaulted living space. The standard plan is a one story full vaulted ceiling throughout but the optional plan has a private master suite on the second floor with a balcony open to below. A unique Home Internet Cafe’ is just inside the front door and opens onto the front lounging porch. This 3 bedroom 2 1/2- 3 bath barndominium can fit nicely in any surrounding. It can be classy, elegant or country. Choose your style from any of our three barndo choices. (This plan is on the board and under design now)

Contemporary Gem

Distinguished Kitchens & Bath

Modern Home Facade with Streamlined Design

MAK Design + Build Inc.

Portland Contemporary Home

User

The original small 2 bedroom dwelling was deconstructed piece by piece, with every element recycled/re-used. The larger, newly built home + studio uses much less energy than the original. In fact, the home and office combined are net zero (the home’s blower door test came in at Passive House levels, though certification was not procured). The transformed home boasts a better functioning layout, increased square footage, and bold accent colors to boot. The multiple level patios book-end the home’s front and rear facades. The added outdoor living with the nearly 13’ sliding doors allows ample natural light into the home. The transom windows create an increased openness with the floor to ceiling glazing. The larger tilt-turn windows throughout the home provide ventilation and open views for the 3-level contemporary home. In addition, the larger overhangs provide increased passive thermal protection from the scattered sunny days. The conglomeration of exterior materials is diverse and playful with dark stained wood, concrete, natural wood finish, and teal horizontal siding. A fearless selection of a bright orange window brings a bold accent to the street-side composition. These elements combined create a dynamic modern design to the inclusive Portland backdrop.

26th Street - Beach Front Residence

Beach House Design & Development

Brookhaven Model Home

AR Homes | Nashville

One of our most poplar exteriors! This modern take on the farmhouse brings life to the black and white aesthetic.

Farmhouse style - Whitestone, NY

JLS Designs Architecture & Planning, PC

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.