Rodwin Architecture & Skycastle Homes Location: Boulder, CO, United States The homeowner wanted something bold and unique for his home. He asked that it be warm in its material palette, strongly connected to its site and deep green in its performance. This 3,000 sf. modern home’s design reflects a carefully crafted balance between capturing mountain views and passive solar design. On the ground floor, interior Travertine tile radiant heated floors flow out through broad sliding doors to the white concrete patio and then dissolves into the landscape. A built-in BBQ and gas fire pit create an outdoor room. The ground floor has a sunny, simple open concept floor plan that joins all the public social spaces and creates a gracious indoor/outdoor flow. The sleek kitchen has an urban cultivator (for fresh veggies) and a quick connection to the raised bed garden and small fruit tree orchard outside. Follow the floating staircase up the board-formed concrete tile wall. At the landing your view continues out over a “live roof”. The second floor’s 14ft tall ceilings open to giant views of the Flatirons and towering trees. Clerestory windows allow in high light, and create a floating roof effect as the Doug Fir ceiling continues out to form the large eaves; we protected the house’s large windows from overheating by creating an enormous cantilevered hat. The upper floor has a bedroom on each end and is centered around the spacious family room, where music is the main activity. The family room has a nook for a mini-home office featuring a floating wood desk. Forming one wall of the family room, a custom-designed pair of laser-cut barn doors inspired by a forest of trees opens to an 18th century Chinese day-bed. The bathrooms sport hand-made glass mosaic tiles; the daughter’s shower is designed to resemble a waterfall. This near-Net-Zero Energy home achieved LEED Gold certification. It has 10kWh of solar panels discretely tucked onto the roof, a ground source heat pump & boiler, foam insulation, an ERV, Energy Star windows and appliances, all LED lights and water conserving plumbing fixtures. Built by Skycastle Construction.

Salvo. Luxury Oceanfront. Deep DevOcean

SAGA Realty & Construction

Front Porch

Porth Architects, Ltd.

The entry is protected by a shed roofed porch. Roger Wade photo.

Bay House

JB Robbie Builders Inc.

The gambrel on the garage is supported by large brackets between the carriage style garage doors

Rustic Exterior

Galisteo Basin Contemporary

Paul Rau Interiors

daniel nadelbach

Shagbark Residence

Highland Builders LLC

The large angled garage, double entry door, bay window and arches are the welcoming visuals to this exposed ranch. Exterior thin veneer stone, the James Hardie Timberbark siding and the Weather Wood shingles accented by the medium bronze metal roof and white trim windows are an eye appealing color combination. (Ryan Hainey)

Tudor 1924 remodel

Monique Varsames Design, LLC

modern beach cottage / lantern village, dana point

Moss Yaw Design studio

at the front exterior entry, board and batten and painted brick, contrast with black windows, fencing and hint at the contemporary renovation at the interior

Modern Farmhouse Exterior Facade With Stone and Wood

Cultured Stone®

Stone: Country Ledgestone - Echo Ridge Country Ledgestone is easy to install and offers an extensive color palette that helps differentiate one ledgestone from another. Explore Country Ledgestone: https://www.culturedstone.com/products/country-ledgestone

Camelback Mountain Residence

True North Builders, Inc.

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.

Photographie de la maison d'hôtes "Le Mas-Notre Dame" à Éygalières

OP-PHOTOS

Pascal Otlinghaus

Bungalow remodel in North Somerset

DHV Architects

Federica Vasetti

Modern Kirkland New Build

Seattle Staged to Sell and Design LLC

Front exterior of contemporary new build home in Kirkland, WA.

Contemporary Exterior

Von Levity

Structerra, Inc.

Tahoe Real Estate Photography

ECKERKAMP

Hamburger Hütten

Fotos: Piet Niemann

Refurbishment and extension of Grade II listed East London Victorian Townhouse

Golden Design

Tom Carter

Backyard Cottages

Fivedot

Conversion of existing structure into a DADU (Detached accessory dwelling unit). Done in collaboration with Microhouse.

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.