The cabin typology redux came out of the owner’s desire to have a house that is warm and familiar, but also “feels like you are on vacation.” The basis of the “Hewn House” design starts with a cabin’s simple form and materiality: a gable roof, a wood-clad body, a prominent fireplace that acts as the hearth, and integrated indoor-outdoor spaces. However, rather than a rustic style, the scheme proposes a clean-lined and “hewned” form, sculpted, to best fit on its urban infill lot. The plan and elevation geometries are responsive to the unique site conditions. Existing prominent trees determined the faceted shape of the main house, while providing shade that projecting eaves of a traditional log cabin would otherwise offer. Deferring to the trees also allows the house to more readily tuck into its leafy East Austin neighborhood, and is therefore more quiet and secluded. Natural light and coziness are key inside the home. Both the common zone and the private quarters extend to sheltered outdoor spaces of varying scales: the front porch, the private patios, and the back porch which acts as a transition to the backyard. Similar to the front of the house, a large cedar elm was preserved in the center of the yard. Sliding glass doors open up the interior living zone to the backyard life while clerestory windows bring in additional ambient light and tree canopy views. The wood ceiling adds warmth and connection to the exterior knotted cedar tongue & groove. The iron spot bricks with an earthy, reddish tone around the fireplace cast a new material interest both inside and outside. The gable roof is clad with standing seam to reinforced the clean-lined and faceted form. Furthermore, a dark gray shade of stucco contrasts and complements the warmth of the cedar with its coolness. A freestanding guest house both separates from and connects to the main house through a small, private patio with a tall steel planter bed. Photo by Charles Davis Smith

Southampton Bungalow

Paintzen, Inc.

Design by Grisoro Designs https://www.grisorodesigns.com/ Photo by Allyson Lubow https://alubow.com/

Tiger Tail-Contemporary Mountain Home In Squaw Valley

GHG Builders

Exterior

THINK Architecture, Inc.

Photography by Shayna Fontana

Martis Camp Lot 203

Lamperti Construction, Inc.

Mora, Minnesota Hunting Cabin

EverLog™ Systems: Worry Free Concrete Logs

Located on the Knife River just outside Mora, MN this family hunting cabin has year round functionality. In the winter, this home benefits from our insulated 16″ Hand Hewn EverLogs for an energy efficient performance that can outlast the long harsh Midwest winters. Energy efficiency is a key benefit in all of our projects. For this fishing and hunting cabin, the owner is guaranteed a warm and dry cabin to return to after a day of duck hunting or snowmobiling. Saddle notch corners with wide chink lines also add a rustic look and feel. Howard Homes Inc. designed and built this cabin.

Marvin Ultimate Sliding French Patio Doors

AVI Windows & Doors

The Marvin Ultimate Sliding French Door enables you to enjoy the elegance of a traditional swinging French door but with a space-saving sliding design. What statement is your door making? The right door can say a lot about a home. That’s why AVI offers a wide selection of door options from Marvin. Choose from sliding and swinging patio doors, scenic doors and more. All complemented by a full variety of hardware finishes and styles, interior wood and endless exterior door choices.

Modern Exterior

Gateway Residence

Constructive Solutions, Inc.

Photo of the roof chimneys used for all roof penetrations and skylight tubes. Photo: Mike Wiseman

Schaffer's Mill Custom 5

Tanamera Construction / TC Homes

Vance Fox

Brasada Ranch Resort The Vista 2 Story Cabin

Western Design International

Brasada Ranch Resort - Vista 2 story Cabin by Western Design International

Theresa Drive

User

Front View / Twilight

Grant & Grant Design Group

Grantown Cottage / Front View Dusk / Call (828) 696-0777 to order building plans / WAL Photorraphy - William Leonard

338 Worsleys

Young Architects

Jamie Armstrong

Dutch Colonial Paint Colors

Old House Guy LLC

This is a graphic representation of new house colors. After seeing their house with many different color combinations this is what the homeowner chose. Know what to expect before you do it. This house has real wood shingles, clapboard, wood windows and balustrade. Nothing fake about this house and you can tell!

House For An Architect

Peter McDonald Architect

All-green Intown Modern Home

Pinnacle Custom Builders, Inc.

Mid-sized Brown 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.