Green Exterior Design Ideas

The Armstrong - MAS0918
The Armstrong - MAS0918
Legacy Post & BeamLegacy Post & Beam
Timber frame home with sliding doors leading to wraparound porch
Ravenna Second Story Addition- Repeat Client
Ravenna Second Story Addition- Repeat Client
Blue Sound Construction, Inc.Blue Sound Construction, Inc.
With this home remodel, we removed the roof and added a full story with dormers above the existing two story home we had previously remodeled (kitchen, backyard extension, basement rework and all new windows.) All previously remodeled surfaces (and existing trees!) were carefully preserved despite the extensive work; original historic cedar shingling was extended, keeping the original craftsman feel of the home. Neighbors frequently swing by to thank the homeowners for so graciously expanding their home without altering its character. Photo: Miranda Estes
Charming Cape Cod
Charming Cape Cod
Meadowlark Design+BuildMeadowlark Design+Build
A two-story addition accommodates a large kitchen/dining/great room space with a large exterior deck on the main floor and a beautiful master bedroom on the second. The great room and deck look out onto a serene yard that is lovingly maintained by clients who love to garden. This whole-home remodel and addition was designed and built by Meadowlark Design + Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Photos by Sean Carter.
Lake Oconee Residence
Lake Oconee Residence
Architectural CollaborativeArchitectural Collaborative
We designed this 3,162 square foot home for empty-nesters who love lake life. Functionally, the home accommodates multiple generations. Elderly in-laws stay for prolonged periods, and the homeowners are thinking ahead to their own aging in place. This required two master suites on the first floor. Accommodations were made for visiting children upstairs. Aside from the functional needs of the occupants, our clients desired a home which maximizes indoor connection to the lake, provides covered outdoor living, and is conducive to entertaining. Our concept celebrates the natural surroundings through materials, views, daylighting, and building massing. We placed all main public living areas along the rear of the house to capitalize on the lake views while efficiently stacking the bedrooms and bathrooms in a two-story side wing. Secondary support spaces are integrated across the front of the house with the dramatic foyer. The front elevation, with painted green and natural wood siding and soffits, blends harmoniously with wooded surroundings. The lines and contrasting colors of the light granite wall and silver roofline draws attention toward the entry and through the house to the real focus: the water. The one-story roof over the garage and support spaces takes flight at the entry, wraps the two-story wing, turns, and soars again toward the lake as it approaches the rear patio. The granite wall extending from the entry through the interior living space is mirrored along the opposite end of the rear covered patio. These granite bookends direct focus to the lake. Passive systems contribute to the efficiency. Southeastern exposure of the glassy rear façade is modulated while views are celebrated. Low, northeastern sun angles are largely blocked by the patio’s stone wall and roofline. As the sun rises southward, the exposed façade becomes glassier, but is protected by deep roof overhangs and a trellised awning. These cut out the higher late morning sun angles. In winter, when sun angles are lower, the morning light floods the living spaces, warming the thermal mass of the exposed concrete floor.
Marbella Summit Residence
Marbella Summit Residence
Sullivan ConstructionSullivan Construction
Timber truss entry with knotty alder walls and soffit.
Ipswich Hill
Ipswich Hill
Kaplan Thompson ArchitectsKaplan Thompson Architects
A young family with a wooded, triangular lot in Ipswich, Massachusetts wanted to take on a highly creative, organic, and unrushed process in designing their new home. The parents of three boys had contemporary ideas for living, including phasing the construction of different structures over time as the kids grew so they could maximize the options for use on their land. They hoped to build a net zero energy home that would be cozy on the very coldest days of winter, using cost-efficient methods of home building. The house needed to be sited to minimize impact on the land and trees, and it was critical to respect a conservation easement on the south border of the lot. Finally, the design would be contemporary in form and feel, but it would also need to fit into a classic New England context, both in terms of materials used and durability. We were asked to honor the notions of “surprise and delight,” and that inspired everything we designed for the family. The highly unique home consists of a three-story form, composed mostly of bedrooms and baths on the top two floors and a cross axis of shared living spaces on the first level. This axis extends out to an oversized covered porch, open to the south and west. The porch connects to a two-story garage with flex space above, used as a guest house, play room, and yoga studio depending on the day. A floor-to-ceiling ribbon of glass wraps the south and west walls of the lower level, bringing in an abundance of natural light and linking the entire open plan to the yard beyond. The master suite takes up the entire top floor, and includes an outdoor deck with a shower. The middle floor has extra height to accommodate a variety of multi-level play scenarios in the kids’ rooms. Many of the materials used in this house are made from recycled or environmentally friendly content, or they come from local sources. The high performance home has triple glazed windows and all materials, adhesives, and sealants are low toxicity and safe for growing kids. Photographer credit: Irvin Serrano
Hillside Custom Home
Hillside Custom Home
Larson Home BuildersLarson Home Builders
Custom home on a hillside surrounded by Junipers and sagebrush. This home features gorgeous stone counter tops with two-tone cabinets. Bathrooms are all tiled with modern porcelain and glass tiles featuring niches and in-wall cabinetry for candles and other bathroom accessories. The vaulted great room features an overlooking balcony with wrought iron railing and a large fireplace wrapped in stone quarried nearby.
Hillside Custom Home
Hillside Custom Home
Larson Home BuildersLarson Home Builders
Custom home on a hillside surrounded by Junipers and sagebrush. This home features gorgeous stone counter tops with two-tone cabinets. Bathrooms are all tiled with modern porcelain and glass tiles featuring niches and in-wall cabinetry for candles and other bathroom accessories. The vaulted great room features an overlooking balcony with wrought iron railing and a large fireplace wrapped in stone quarried nearby.

Green Exterior Design Ideas

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