This Craftsman lake view home is a perfectly peaceful retreat. It features a two story deck, board and batten accents inside and out, and rustic stone details.

Modern Farmhouse

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

Board and batten are combined with natural cedar shingles and a metal roof to create a simply elegant and easy to maintain exterior on this Guilford, CT modern farmhouse.

5406 Duval - Mid-Century Modern

Carty Custom Builders, LLC

Two covered parking spaces accessible from the alley

Peninsula Point Residence

Eric Aust Architect

Coastal Living Residence

Tweak Your Space

This four bedroom, three and a half bath, new construction home is located in a beach community in Florida.

Madrone Ridge

Ann Lowengart Interiors

Ann Lowengart Interiors collaborated with Field Architecture and Dowbuilt on this dramatic Sonoma residence featuring three copper-clad pavilions connected by glass breezeways. The copper and red cedar siding echo the red bark of the Madrone trees, blending the built world with the natural world of the ridge-top compound. Retractable walls and limestone floors that extend outside to limestone pavers merge the interiors with the landscape. To complement the modernist architecture and the client's contemporary art collection, we selected and installed modern and artisanal furnishings in organic textures and an earthy color palette.

Renovation Bungalow Home

CRUSH Architecture

Simple Stature

Ashley Campbell Interior Design

White limestone, slatted teak siding and black metal accents make this modern Denver home stand out!

The main body of the house, running east / west with a 40 degree roof pitch, roof windows and dormers makes up the primary accommodation with a 1 & 3/4 storey massing. The garage and rear lounge create an additional wrap around form on the north east corner while the living room forms a gabled extrusion on the south face of the main body. The living area takes advantage of sunlight throughout the day thanks to a large glazed gable. This gable, along with other windows, allow light to penetrate deep into the plan throughout the year, particularly in the winter months when natural daylight is limited. Materials are used to purposely break up the elevations and emphasise changes in use or projections from the main, white house facade. The large projections accommodating the garage and open plan living area are wrapped in Quartz Grey Zinc Standing Seam roofing and cladding which continues to wrap around the rear corner extrusion off the main building. Vertical larch cladding with mid grey vacuum coating is used to differentiate smaller projections from the main form. The principal entrance, dormers and the external wall to the rear lounge provide a contrasting break in materials between the extruded forms and the different purpose of the spaces within.

Front View - Rustic Contemporary Cabin-like House

TOV Siding and Roofing

For the siding scope of work at this project we proposed the following labor and materials: Tyvek House Wrap WRB James Hardie Cement fiber siding and soffit Metal flashing at head of windows/doors Metal Z,H,X trim Flashing tape Caulking/spackle/sealant Galvanized fasteners Primed white wood trim All labor, tools, and equipment to complete this scope of work.

Sand Hill Cove Cottage

Lisa Carlisle Architect

Malibu

Patal Construction

Malibu Estate

Sherman Oaks Home

LRWoehler & Associates

Modern Front Entrance

Meyer Design

Photos: Jody Kmetz

Lawless Rereat

Searl Lamaster Howe Architects

Positioned on the west, this porch, deck, and plunge pool apture the best of the afternoon light. A generous roof overhang provides shade to the master bedroom above.

Mason-Grabell Residence

Arielle C. Schechter, AIA

The entry has a generous wood ramp to allow the owners' parents to visit with no encumbrance from steps or tripping hazards. The orange front door has a long sidelight of glass to allow the owners to see who is at the front door. The wood accent is on the outside of the home office or study.

White Modern Farmhouse

Corson Construction

Through our Design + Build approach we worked on this custom home, spec house from initial concept to completion. Owner, Travis Corson and his wife and interior designer, Carrie Corson, from Carrie Corson Design worked together to come up with the floor plan, exterior details and finishing interior details to create this family friendly modern farmhouse home in their hometown Le Claire, Iowa.

Arizona Desert Earth-Contact Home Office

SPACELINEDESIGN ARCHITECTS

Curvaceous geometry shapes this super insulated modern earth-contact home-office set within the desert xeriscape landscape on the outskirts of Phoenix Arizona, USA. This detached Desert Office or Guest House is actually set below the xeriscape desert garden by 30", creating eye level garden views when seated at your desk. Hidden below, completely underground and naturally cooled by the masonry walls in full earth contact, sits a six car garage and storage space. There is a spiral stair connecting the two levels creating the sensation of climbing up and out through the landscaping as you rise up the spiral, passing by the curved glass windows set right at ground level. This property falls withing the City Of Scottsdale Natural Area Open Space (NAOS) area so special attention was required for this sensitive desert land project.

Exterior Design Ideas with a Mixed Roof and a Green Roof

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.