Contrast charred black timber battens with heritage brick and concealed roof deck!

Cedar Siding by Siding & Window's Group

Siding & Windows Group Ltd

Lake Oconee Residence

Architectural 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.

The Acacia

Biringer Builders, Inc.

West River Beach Cottage

Brickhouse Kitchens and Baths

Wood and Composite Carriage Garage Doors

Crisway Garage Doors, LLC

Crisway Garage Doors provides premium overhead garage doors, service, and automatic gates for clients throughout the Washginton DC metro area. With a central location in Bethesda, MD we have the ability to provide prompt garage door sales and service for clients in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia. Whether you are a homeowner, builder, realtor, architect, or developer, we can supply and install the perfect overhead garage door to complete your project.

Greenwich Georgian

VanderHorn Architects

The Stilts ADU

Propel Studio Architecture

Water's Edge, Lake Chatuge - Lakeview

Timberlake Custom Homes

Kurtis Miller - KM Pics

E 13th Street

AHS Group

Mark Adam

Craftsman Greenville Home

Evergreen Custom Construction

Paradise Key South Beach

Glenn Layton Homes

Westside Station

Brock Built

Jackson's Grant Model Home

Old Town Design Group

The finials give this gorgeous craftmanstyle home a distinctive feature. Photo by: Thomas Graham Interior Design by: Everything Home Designs

Shaughnessy Traditional

Feature Projects Ltd.

Lake O'Brien 1 - Exterior Lakeside

Lands End Development - Designers & Builders

Kitchen addition with roof terrace

Tim Andersen Architect

Backyard view shows our seven foot deep addition for expanded kitchen with roof deck above. To access deck we replaced center window with a door similiar to front terrace. Paints are BM "Mountain Lane" for siding and "Barely Yellow" for trim. David Whelan photo

Sycamore

Cairn

Contemporary Craftsman house

AA Design Firm

We create the front to be more open with wide steps and step lights and a custom built in mailbox

Mid-Century Fusion kitchen remodel and living space addition in Monrovia

Metropolis Drafting and Construction Inc

A Modern home that wished for more warmth... An addition and reconstruction of approx. 750sq. area. That included new kitchen, office, family room and back patio cover area. The floors are polished concrete in a dark brown finish to inject additional warmth vs. the standard concrete gray most of us familiar with. A huge 16' multi sliding door by La Cantina was installed, this door is aluminum clad (wood finish on the interior of the door). The vaulted ceiling allowed us to incorporate an additional 3 picture windows above the sliding door for more afternoon light to penetrate the space. Notice the hidden door to the office on the left, the SASS hardware (hidden interior hinges) and the lack of molding around the door makes it almost invisible.

Green, Red Exterior Design Ideas

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.