Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this cottage blends old world authenticity with contemporary design elements.

Barton Hills Residence 2

Mente Sowell Architects, Inc.

Our Client decided to renovate and expand her home after living in it for close to 35 years. She had previously worked with John Crawley AIA to remodel her kitchen and dining areas and was ready to undertake the rest of the house. We loved John Crawley's approach of selectively lifting the ceilings and flooding the common areas with light and let this inform our design approach throughout. The addition of the new library and library bath was intended to open up the house to both the interior and the exterior, while maintaining a seamless connection to previous work. The original 1970's house had an outdated master suite with a vanity area outside the tiny bathroom and adjacent tiny closet. Our Client was ready to overhaul the space annexing an adjacent underutilized bedroom for a generous master bath and open it to the beautiful backyard hillside with a private patio. The remainder of the house was given a variety of touches and updates including new windows, bathroom countertops and millwork and new colors throughout. Finally, a brise soleil was added to the front of the house.

Hesperus

SV Design

Built on the former site of a casino, this residence reflects the client's desire to have a home that is welcoming to family members and friends while complementing the historic site on which it is located. This home is formal and stately, with classic American detailing outside and in. Photo Credit: Brian Vanden Brink

The Club at Ravenna- Dante Project, Littleton, CO

Haven Design and Construction

This lovely Mountain Modern Home in Littleton, Colorado is perched at the top of a hill, allowing for beautiful views of Chatfield Reservoir and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The pink and orange sunsets viewed from the front of this home are breathtaking. Our team custom designed the large pivoting front door and sized it at an impressive 5' x 9' to fit properly with the scale of this expansive home. We thoughtfully selected the streamlined rustic exterior materials and the sleek black framed windows to complement the home's modern exterior architecture. Wild grasses and native plantings, selected by the landscape architect, complete the exterior. Our team worked closely with the builder and the landscape architect to create a cohesive mix of stunning native materials and finishes. Stone retaining walls allow for a charming walk-out basement patio on the side of the home. The lower-level patio area connects to the upper backyard pool area with a custom iron spiral staircase. The lower-level patio features an inviting seating area that looks as if it was plucked directly from the Italian countryside. A round stone firepit in the middle of this seating area provides warmth and ambiance on chilly nights.

The Club at Ravenna- Dante Project, Littleton, CO

Haven Design and Construction

Front View - Dusk

The House Designers

Front view of The Durham Modern Farmhouse. View THD-1053: https://www.thehousedesigners.com/plan/1053/

Front Yard Daytime View

Eaton Custom Homes

The goal in building this home was to create an exterior esthetic that elicits memories of a Tuscan Villa on a hillside and also incorporates a modern feel to the interior. Modern aspects were achieved using an open staircase along with a 25' wide rear folding door. The addition of the folding door allows us to achieve a seamless feel between the interior and exterior of the house. Such creates a versatile entertaining area that increases the capacity to comfortably entertain guests. The outdoor living space with covered porch is another unique feature of the house. The porch has a fireplace plus heaters in the ceiling which allow one to entertain guests regardless of the temperature. The zero edge pool provides an absolutely beautiful backdrop—currently, it is the only one made in Indiana. Lastly, the master bathroom shower has a 2' x 3' shower head for the ultimate waterfall effect. This house is unique both outside and in.

Certified Luxury Builders - Deffenbaugh Homes - Sioux Falls, SD - Custom Home A

Dream Coast Builders

Stucco Remediation and a New Cupola in Berywn

Rudloff Custom Builders

When a repeat client contacted us about stucco remediation on their home, we were happy to help! We dramatically transformed the exterior of this 5,000 sq. ft. home by using a combination of stone and HardiePlank siding. The cupola was a unique and fun project. As a tribute to where our clients first met, we matched the design of the cupola to that of Bucknell University’s Library. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY.

Minaki Road

New Age Design

Westlake Steed Luxury Homes

Le Belle Maison Interiors Inc.

Homes

J&B Custom Built Homes, Inc.

Kent Downs

McLean Quinlan

224 Golden Bear

Travis Peak Construction & Ann Temple Interiors

224 Golden Bear is a Country French home designed and built as a spec in Flintrock Falls in Lakeway. The 4,800 sq. ft. home featured a dramatic two-story entry, five bedrooms and a two-story porch & deck overlooking the golf course.

St. Paul French Country

John Kraemer & Sons

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons | Architecture: Charlie & Co. Design | Interior Design: Martha O'Hara Interiors | Landscaping: TOPO | Photography: Gaffer Photography

Energy Efficient in Queenstown

Donna Weir Design

This home rests softly on its site due to the selection of exterior materials and the levels of the landscaping. Sarah Rowlands Photography

London Street Gooseneck Lanterns Warm This Holiday Entry

BEVOLO GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHTS

The London Street lantern on gooseneck brackets flank this arched stone entry adding a warm welcome to this holiday home. The London Street Gooseneck pairs the London Street Light with a more decorative wrought iron bracket. This combination serves as a complement to architecture with arched doors or windows as well as iron rails and balconies. Standard Lantern Sizes Height Width Depth 25.0" 12.5" 12.5" 28.0" 14.5" 14.5" 35.0" 18.0" 18.0"

Villa A

SJL Architekten

Aspen Oaks

Andrea Lawrence Wood Interior Design

Pelletstown House

McKevitt King Architects

Richard Hatch Photography

Multi-Coloured Exterior Design Ideas with Stone Veneer

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.