ghostdance

John Van Rooy Architecture

Architect: John Van Rooy Architecture General Contractor: Moore Designs Photo: edmunds studios

Storybook Home in Elm Grove, WI

Moore Designs Inc

With an expansive backyard for the client's children, this house will be a timeless residence for the family for generations to come.

Detached Garage

ODS Architecture

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by John Sutton Photography.

Kilkoy Castle

Maxwell & Company Architects

Peter Landers Photography

Texas Hill Country Home

RJS Custom Homes LLC

Ranch Style Home at Canyon Lake, Texas Built by RJS Custom Homes LLC

2008 Parade of Homes

Erdkamp Construction

2006 Luxury Home Tour

Kootenia Homes and Remodeling

Landmark Photography

Mahogany Exterior

Ecostone Products

Architectural Stone Veneer

Master Stone Design, LLC

North Oaks - French Country Cottage Remodel

Michels Homes

Interior Design: Bruce Kading | Photography: Landmark Photography

Renovation

Tage London

Our wealth of experience means we can manage all aspects of a renovation project, from initial concept to final handover. The skill and experience of our tradesman ensures that each project – whether it is a small dwelling or a large listed property – is finished to an exacting standard. Client satisfaction is our top priority, which is why our project management team is always on hand to make sure that the transition from concept to completion is a smooth one. If required, we can also advise on property acquisition before a commitment to purchase or renovate is made.

Lake Front Country Estate

Markalunas Architecture Group

Lake Front Country Estate, designed by Tom Markalunas and built by Resort Custom Homes. Photogrpahy by Rachael Boling

Private Residence Santa Barbara Ca

Epik Masonry & Concrete Inc.

Custom home in Santa Barbara. The home has a blend od sandstone and limestone. The grout is antiqued. The project has a swimming pool with snap cut sandstone coping. The pool deck is random flagstone. The main patio and side patios are cut pattern flagstone

French Cottage with Limestone Entry

DeSantana Natural Stone Company, LLC

This beautiful cottage is a part of french country inspired village designed by Leo Dowell and built by David Simonini. With Leo's designs, we fabricated the hand carved limestone entry for this home. Our team of design professionals is available to answer any questions you may have at: (828) 681-5111.

Trueblood Custom Home Exteriors

Trueblood Design-Build

Custom home in Bucks County designed and built by Trueblood. [photo: Tom Grimes]

Romantic Hill Country Dream

Schmidt Custom Homes

Photo by Casey Fry A blend of charcoal gray limestone from a quarry in Leuders, TX, and Oklahoma sandstone on the exterior and interior of this home.

Exterior Stone

Master Stone Design, LLC

This classic combination of stone, stucco and cedar makes for a dramatic look of craftsman style. I love the ledge stone look on this application, the paint colors match up perfectly with the color of stone. Just a tip, it's always a good idea to wait until the stone is applied until you finalize your color selections for stucco, stain and paint, for the best possible outcome. You just never know how the light will accentuate the stone. this will provide you with more control over the final product.

Exterior Design Ideas with Stone Veneer and Painted Brick 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.