Side view of the home with lavish porch off the master bedroom. White trim sets off darker siding with shingle accents. Rock posts anchor the home blending into landscaping. Photo by Brice Ferre

On the Bluff

BPC Architecture + Interior Design

A Second Story Addition in East Greenwich, RI

Red House Design Build

Red House transformed a single-story ranch into a two-story Gothic Revival home. Photography by Aaron Usher III. Instagram: @redhousedesignbuild

Wesley Avenue Beach Home

Halliday Architects

Classic coastal three story beach house. Featuring architectural shutters, windows, square detailed columns, cedar shingles, and two balconies with covered front porch entrance. Distinct railings and trim details.

True Blue

Uccello Development, LLC

HBAGK Foundation House

Noble Knights Construction Services, Inc.

1010 Wagner

Tag & Associates, LLC

Shoreline Cottage, Pine Orchard, CT

Joseph Sepot Architects

This alternate view of the north elevation of the exterior of the home reveals the built-in outdoor grill, food preparation station, and dining table located beneath the pergola. Dennis M. Carbo Photography

Historic Naglee Park Preservation

Brad Cox, Architect, Inc.

This Transitional Craftsman was originally built in 1904, and recently remodeled to replace unpermitted additions that were not to code. The playful blue exterior with white trim evokes the charm and character of this home.

Georgian Colonial Classical Addition

12/12 Architects & Planners

Southern Transitional Home in Greenville, SC

Tindall Architecture Workshop

Simply Shingle Style

Tindall Architecture Workshop

Porche de entrada

Escaire Arquitectura

Acabados exteriores con materiales y criterios de bio-sostenibilidad. Persiana Mallorquina corredera.

Maine Coast House

Marcus Gleysteen Architects

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.

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

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.

Shingle Style / Harrison Design

BEVOLO GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHTS

Shingle Style Home featuring Bevolo Lighting. Perfect for a family, this shingle-style home offers ample play zones complemented by tucked-away areas. With the residence’s full scale only apparent from the back, Harrison Design’s concept optimizes water views. The living room connects with the open kitchen via the dining area, distinguished by its vaulted ceiling and expansive windows. An octagonal-shaped tower with a domed ceiling serves as an office and lounge. Much of the upstairs design is oriented toward the children, with a two-level recreation area, including an indoor climbing wall. A side wing offers a live-in suite for a nanny or grandparents.

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.