Cottage Style Lake house

Family Home

Narratif

Inger Mackenzie

Old Style with Contemporary Living - Old East Hill Residence

Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture

Greg Reigler

Limewashing

Coastal Cottage Painting

NATURAL and HEALTHY--STEEPED in HISTORY Whitewashed brick, stone and stucco exteriors are gorgeous with a charming Old-World look and feel. The natural appearance of authentic slaked lime has no equal and is particularly well suited to brick, stone masonry and stucco exterior and interior surfaces. The beauty of lime is in the aging process, as witnessed over countless centuries among the castles and important structures of the Mediterranean regions of Europe. There, countless layers of lime wash provide patina and texture that we can replicate, literally in a single application. Lime occurs naturally and this lime has been aged for 3 years. Slaked lime is unlike any modern acrylic paint finish. It absorbs and calcifies onto the brick making it a mineral-like part of the surface. It naturally breathes and will never peel, blister or flake and requires very little maintenance. Limewash can be applied in a variety of applications giving a one of-a-kind look to your walls and exteriors. And Limewash delivers a unique color and patina that gracefully ages over time developing variations in color and tone. This variable aging process adds to the Old-World drama, becoming more beautiful with time.

Cliffside Farmhouse

Danze & Davis Architects, Inc.

While cleaning out the attic of this recently purchased Arlington farmhouse, an amazing view was discovered: the Washington Monument was visible on the horizon. The architect and owner agreed that this was a serendipitous opportunity. A badly needed renovation and addition of this residence was organized around a grand gesture reinforcing this view shed. A glassy “look out room” caps a new tower element added to the left side of the house and reveals distant views east over the Rosslyn business district and beyond to the National Mall. A two-story addition, containing a new kitchen and master suite, was placed in the rear yard, where a crumbling former porch and oddly shaped closet addition was removed. The new work defers to the original structure, stepping back to maintain a reading of the historic house. The dwelling was completely restored and repaired, maintaining existing room proportions as much as possible, while opening up views and adding larger windows. A small mudroom appendage engages the landscape and helps to create an outdoor room at the rear of the property. It also provides a secondary entrance to the house from the detached garage. Internally, there is a seamless transition between old and new. Photos: Hoachlander Davis Photography

Entertainer's Dream - Front

Bohannon Design Team

The home features high clerestory windows and a welcoming front porch, nestled between beautiful live oaks.

Wimberley Cabin

Sierra Building Group, LLC

Contemporary Spec Home

Gibson Gimpel Interior Design

Rear Exterior with View of Pool [Photography by Dan Piassick]

Manhattan Beach Residence

SUBU Design Architecture

Manolo Langis Photographer

Mediterranean Exterior

Water's Edge, Lake Chatuge - Lakeview

Timberlake Custom Homes

Kurtis Miller - KM Pics

Mark Adam

Glenn Layton Homes, LLC, "Building Your Coastal Lifestyle"

Moonstone Street, Manhattan Beach

Schneider Custom Homes

Schneider Custom Homes, www.BuildSCH.com

The Owens Model at Old Davidson

James Wentling/Architect

The Owens Model has a distinctive wrap-around and deep porch. Design by James Wentling, Built by Cunnane Group

TCD Dobby Modern Farmhouse

TCD Homes

Rénovation d'une maison et de son extension

Emilie Melin architecte DPLG

façade brique et bois, plaquette de parement

Chetek

Lampert Lumber

Mid-sized 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.