Contractor: Craig Williams Photography: Scott Amundson

Mill Valley Cottage to Home Transformation

This property was transformed from an 1870s YMCA summer camp into an eclectic family home, built to last for generations. Space was made for a growing family by excavating the slope beneath and raising the ceilings above. Every new detail was made to look vintage, retaining the core essence of the site, while state of the art whole house systems ensure that it functions like 21st century home. This home was featured on the cover of ELLE Décor Magazine in April 2016. G.P. Schafer, Architect Rita Konig, Interior Designer Chambers & Chambers, Local Architect Frederika Moller, Landscape Architect Eric Piasecki, Photographer

Vinyl Cedar Shake Shingles, Shiplap Vinyl Insulated Siding, Soffit & Fascia

Ameriside

A two story house located in Alta Loma after the installation of Vinyl Cedar Shake Shingles and Shiplap Vinyl Insulated Siding in "Cypress," as well as Soffit & Fascia.

Moving On Up

Uccello Development, LLC

This coastal farmhouse design is destined to be an instant classic. This classic and cozy design has all of the right exterior details, including gray shingle siding, crisp white windows and trim, metal roofing stone accents and a custom cupola atop the three car garage. It also features a modern and up to date interior as well, with everything you'd expect in a true coastal farmhouse. With a beautiful nearly flat back yard, looking out to a golf course this property also includes abundant outdoor living spaces, a beautiful barn and an oversized koi pond for the owners to enjoy.

A Captivating Cape Cod Transformation

Meadowlark Design+Build

Design and Build by Meadowlark Design+Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photography by Sean Carter, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

White Bear - Lakeside Luxury New Home

Michels Homes

Builder: Michels Homes Interior Design: Talla Skogmo Interior Design Cabinetry Design: Megan at Michels Homes Photography: Scott Amundson Photography

Southold Exterior

G.B. Construction and Development, Inc.

This charming ranch on the north fork of Long Island received a long overdo update. All the windows were replaced with more modern looking black framed Andersen casement windows. The front entry door and garage door compliment each other with the a column of horizontal windows. The Maibec siding really makes this house stand out while complimenting the natural surrounding. Finished with black gutters and leaders that compliment that offer function without taking away from the clean look of the new makeover. The front entry was given a streamlined entry with Timbertech decking and Viewrail railing. The rear deck, also Timbertech and Viewrail, include black lattice that finishes the rear deck with out detracting from the clean lines of this deck that spans the back of the house. The Viewrail provides the safety barrier needed without interfering with the amazing view of the water.

Ryders Cove

Bilek Builders

Beautiful Cape Cod Style home with bow roof situated on a bluff on Ryders Cove, Chatham, MA. Cape Cod. Perpetual Vacation.

Old Yacht Club

Elliott Architects

Maine Coast House

Marcus Gleysteen Architects

Sand Hill Cove Cottage

Lisa Carlisle Architect

Courtyard House, Bellevue

5ft2 Studio Architects

Red Cedar Shingle Siding, Fairhaven, MA

Care Free Homes, Inc.

Red cedar shingle siding looks beautiful on this historic home located in the heart of the village in Fairhaven, MA. Many homeowners choose this timeless wood siding for their homes. Here are several reasons why cedar shingles are popular: Curb Appeal: Homeowners who prefer classic New England style will often opt for the elegance of cedar shingle siding. It’s timeless beauty can be showcased naturally with a weathered patina or be treated with clear, semi-transparant, or solid finishes. Natural Insulator: Low-density softwoods, like cedar, are more cellular in composition in comparison to other siding materials. This makes cedar shingle siding a natural insulator which helps regulate temperatures and reduce noise. Rot and Insect Resistant: Red cedar shingles have oils and acids that naturally repel insects and resist rot. With regular cleaning and/or treatment, this long-lasting siding will provide homeowners with a lifetime of protection and curb appeal. Environmentally Friendly: As one of the most popular siding choices, homeowners who are conscience of their planetary footprint love red cedar because it’s a renewable resource. According to the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association, North American forests have grown by 20% since 1970 thanks to the replacement of harvested trees by lumber production companies.

New Gambrel on the Block

CHRISTOPHER STROM ARCHITECTS

This new, custom home is designed to blend into the existing “Cottage City” neighborhood in Linden Hills. To accomplish this, we incorporated the “Gambrel” roof form, which is a barn-shaped roof that reduces the scale of a 2-story home to appear as a story-and-a-half. With a Gambrel home existing on either side, this is the New Gambrel on the Block. This home has a traditional--yet fresh--design. The columns, located on the front porch, are of the Ionic Classical Order, with authentic proportions incorporated. Next to the columns is a light, modern, metal railing that stands in counterpoint to the home’s classic frame. This balance of traditional and fresh design is found throughout the home.

Modernized Classic Home

Method Architecture Studio, PLLC

One of a kind architectural elements give this a grand courtyard style feel. Inspired by the coastal architecture of Nantucket, the light and bright finishes are welcoming in the grey days of Rochester NY.

Hamptons Modern Traditional

Alexim Builders

Banks Place

Surfside Home Co.

Black and White Coastal Beach Box Home, Wood Balcony, Black Doors, Market Lights on Balcony, Home on Stilts

Tequesta: Coastal Transitional

PB Built

Craigville Beach Home in Centerville, MA

Schmidt Painting

Cape Cod home with Cape Cod gray shingles, white trim and a 2 car garage under a 2 floor partial covered deck. This home has a Gambrel roof line with asphalt shingle, and 2 dormers. The driveway is made pavers and lined with a 6 ft pine fence. The granite stairway leading up to the front Mahogany door has 2 aged bronze railings attached to 2 fiberglass colonial columns that hold up the front deck entry porch roof with Hydrangeas on either side of the railings.

Cheerful Composition - AIA Silver Medal Winner

Clawson Architects, LLC

The term “forever home” is often used to describe a house that portends to meet all of one’s current and future needs. Attaining such a residence often entails moving from one’s current home, leaving behind years of memories. We had the satisfaction of collaborating with a client to make their existing home into their forever home with smart adaptations that will allow them to age in place…in the house and neighborhood they love. The site is challenging in that the front of the home is perched atop a steep incline, and the home is primarily entered via a more accessible alley in the back. Thus, the home has two “fronts.” The existing low-slung ranch/bungalow had suited this couple for many years. However, newly retired with more free time, the couple sought to create a more gracious home to enjoy entertaining indoors and out, hosting guests for extended stays, and exploring their artistic sides in a proper studio space. A successful project would be a home filled with natural light that allowed them to age in place. A “happy house.” Inspiration for the design was found in the owners’ love of 1920s Arts & Crafts bungalows and bright colors. The existing home provided design cues, such as a porch with stucco columns and shallow arches that had been concealed by a previous renovation. Building upon that, we proposed to reconfigure the roof into a cross-gable to maximize interior space on the second floor while increasing the home’s contextuality with neighboring ones. A new primary bedroom suite with bathroom, his and hers closets, and a dressing room for the lady of the house were created. To maximizing versatility, the dressing room can also be utilized as a guest room. The balance of the second floor includes a hall bathroom and large office, gallery walls to display artwork, storage areas, and even some private meditation spaces with doors hidden behind bookcases. A first-floor addition expanded the casual dining room into the rear garden and created a new art studio. To imbue the middle of the house with light, skylights were introduced over the existing stair; new screened stairwells, inspired by the work of Louis Sullivan, filter the natural light. Acknowledging practical issues of aging in place, all openings were designed to allow easy passage by a wheelchair, and bathroom accommodations include grab bars and roll-in showers. Additionally, a small first floor bathroom was expanded and, along with an adjacent bedroom, will allow for single floor living if necessary. Exterior detailing was again influenced by the Arts & Crafts tradition: deep overhangs, brackets, and tapered columns. New cedar shingles were installed, the original porch restored, and the low arch motif was re-introduced into the design. A new garden of native plantings with an outdoor room anchors the house in the landscape. While one never truly know what the future holds, creating their “forever home” gives the inhabitants peace of mind that they can live in this place that brings them joy and gives them comfort now and, in the days, to come.

Exterior Design Ideas with Shingle 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.