Patrick Brickman
Transitional white two-story brick exterior home photo in Charleston with a metal roof

Example of a huge beach style white three-story mixed siding and clapboard house exterior design in Charleston with a hip roof, a mixed material roof and a gray roof

Coastal Cottage Entry and Front Porch

MHK Architecture & Planning

Tropical white one-story wood gable roof idea in Miami

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Orinda Farm House

Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design

Inspiration for a cottage brown one-story mixed siding exterior home remodel in San Francisco with a metal roof

Boxed Bay Window with Standing Seam Copper Roof

Orren Pickell Building Group

The dining room boxed bay window with standing seam copper roof.
Example of a large arts and crafts brown two-story wood house exterior design in Milwaukee with a clipped gable roof and a shingle roof

Modern Entryway to Black and White Home Exterior

Cultured Stone®

Our Pro-Fit® products offer a practical way to achieve a tailored ledgestone look with smallscale, low relief stones. It’s quick and easy to install because it isn’t applied one stone at a time. Instead, the primary building blocks are groups of small stones meticulously bundled together to form modular components of equal height. Stone: Pro-Fit Modera - Vellum https://www.culturedstone.com/products/pro-fit-modera-ledgestone/cs-pm-vellum

Arlington Bungalow

Moore Architects, PC

Originally built as a modest two-bedroom post-World War II brick and block rambler in 1951, this house has assumed an entirely new identity, assimilating the turn-of-the-century farmhouse and early century Craftsman bungalow aesthetic. The program for this project was tightly linked to aesthetics, function and budget. The owner had lived in this plain brick box for eight years, making modest changes, which included new windows, a new kitchen addition on the rear, and a new coat of paint. While this helped to lessen the stark contrast between his house and the wonderful Craftsman style houses in the neighborhood, the changes weren’t enough to satisfy the owner’s love of the great American bungalow. The architect was called back to create a house that truly fit the neighborhood. The renovated house had to: 1) fit the bungalow style both outside and inside; 2) double the square footage of the existing house, creating new bedrooms on the second floor, and reorganizing the first floor spaces; and 3) fit a budget that forced the total reuse of the existing structure, including the new replacement windows and new kitchen wing from the previous project. The existing front wall of the house was pulled forward three feet to maximize the existing front yard building setback. A six-foot deep porch that stretched across most of the new front elevation was added, pulling the house closer to the street to match the front yard setbacks of other local early twentieth century houses. This cozier relationship to the street and the public made for a more comfortable and less imposing siting. The front rooms of the house became new public spaces, with the old living room becoming the Inglenook and entry foyer, while the old front bedroom became the new living room. A new stairway was positioned on axis with the new front door, but set deep into the house adjacent to the reconfigured dining room. The kitchen at the rear that had been opened up during the 1996 modifications was closed down again, creating clearly defined spaces, but spaces that are connected visually from room to room. At the top of the new stair to the second floor is a short efficient hall with a twin window view to the rear yard. From this hall are entrances to the master bedroom, second bedroom and master bathroom. The new master bedroom located on the centerline of the front of the house, fills the entire front dormer with three exposures of windows facing predominately east to catch the morning light. Off of this private space is a study and walk-in closet tucked under the roof eaves of the new second floor. The new master bathroom, adjacent to the master bedroom with an exit to the hall, has matching pedestal sinks with custom wood medicine cabinets, a soaking tub, a large shower with a round-river-stone floor with a high window facing into the rear yard, and wood paneling similar to the new wood paneling on the first floor spaces. Hoachlander Davis Photography

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Zanesville, OH

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Jc's and Sons Affordable Home Improvements

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Modern Rock Star Retreat

John McClain Design

The front entrance to this custom modern home. Stephen Allen Photography
Example of a large minimalist gray one-story concrete flat roof design in Orlando

Lake Burton Custom Homes

Envision Web

Stuart Wade, Envision Web Lake Burton is a 2,775 acre man-made lake with 62 miles of shoreline located in the northeastern corner of Georgia in Rabun County. It is the first lake in a five-lake series called the Tallulah River Watershed that follows the original course of the Tallulah River. The series of lakes starts with Lake Burton as the northernmost lake followed by Lake Seed, Lake Rabun, Lake Tallulah Falls and the eastern arm of Lake Tugalo (the western arm is formed by the Chattooga River. The lakes are owned and operated by the Georgia Power Company to generate hydroelectric energy for Georgia's largest city, Atlanta. At one time these lakes were the largest producers of electricity in the state of Georgia. Now, they only provide peak power supply. The lake was built in a deep valley located along a 10 mile section of the Tallulah River. The Lake Burton Dam was closed on December 22, 1919 and the lake started to fill. The dam is a gravity concrete dam, with a height of 128 feet and a span of 1,100 feet. The spillway is equipped with eight gates 22 feet wide by 6.6 feet high. The total capacity at an elevation of 1,866.6 feet is 108,000 acre-ft, of which 106,000 acre-ft is usable storage. The generating capacity of the dam is 6,120 kilowatts (two units).Lake Burton is the highest Georgia Power lake in Georgia. Lake Burton gets its named from the town of Burton, which was the second largest town in Rabun County with a population of approximately 200 but now lies below the lake's surface. The town (and the lake) was named after local prominent citizen Jeremiah Burton and was situated along the road from Clayton, Georgia to the Nacoochee Valley. Andrew Jackson Ritchie served as the postmaster for the area for several years. Gold was first discovered in Rabun County where Dicks Creek and the Tallulah River come together and was the reason for the town's founding in the early 1800s. The Lake Burton Fish Hatchery and Moccasin Creek State Park are located on the western side of the lake. Lake Burton is home to several species of fish, including Spotted Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, White Catfish, Walleye, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Perch. The residents of Lake Burton are a mix of permanent residents and seasonal vacationers who together make-up the Lake Burton Civic Association, a local organization who goal is to maintain the lake through volunteer clean-ups and other such events. Let a Lake Burton resident and expert show you the way home to Lake Burton real estate.

Oxbridge - Lakefront Craftsman

Visbeen Architects

Inspired by the surrounding landscape, the Craftsman/Prairie style is one of the few truly American architectural styles. It was developed around the turn of the century by a group of Midwestern architects and continues to be among the most comfortable of all American-designed architecture more than a century later, one of the main reasons it continues to attract architects and homeowners today. Oxbridge builds on that solid reputation, drawing from Craftsman/Prairie and classic Farmhouse styles. Its handsome Shingle-clad exterior includes interesting pitched rooflines, alternating rows of cedar shake siding, stone accents in the foundation and chimney and distinctive decorative brackets. Repeating triple windows add interest to the exterior while keeping interior spaces open and bright. Inside, the floor plan is equally impressive. Columns on the porch and a custom entry door with sidelights and decorative glass leads into a spacious 2,900-square-foot main floor, including a 19 by 24-foot living room with a period-inspired built-ins and a natural fireplace. While inspired by the past, the home lives for the present, with open rooms and plenty of storage throughout. Also included is a 27-foot-wide family-style kitchen with a large island and eat-in dining and a nearby dining room with a beadboard ceiling that leads out onto a relaxing 240-square-foot screen porch that takes full advantage of the nearby outdoors and a private 16 by 20-foot master suite with a sloped ceiling and relaxing personal sitting area. The first floor also includes a large walk-in closet, a home management area and pantry to help you stay organized and a first-floor laundry area. Upstairs, another 1,500 square feet awaits, with a built-ins and a window seat at the top of the stairs that nod to the home’s historic inspiration. Opt for three family bedrooms or use one of the three as a yoga room; the upper level also includes attic access, which offers another 500 square feet, perfect for crafts or a playroom. More space awaits in the lower level, where another 1,500 square feet (and an additional 1,000) include a recreation/family room with nine-foot ceilings, a wine cellar and home office. Photographer: Jeff Garland

Woodgrain Mid Century Modern

Anthony Wilder Design/Build, Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized 1950s gray one-story stucco exterior home remodel in DC Metro with a metal roof

Exterior Home Ideas

Never underestimate the importance of a first impression! Home exteriors are the very first thing neighbors, visitors and prospective buyers see, so you want your house front design to impress. Whether you are considering an exterior remodel to upgrade your front elevation and resale value, or simply want to enhance your home’s aesthetic with a fresh paint color, choosing the right exterior design for your home is an important undertaking. When exploring various exterior ideas, it is important to remember there are different phases with a home exterior makeover. Exterior remodeling is not much different than interior remodeling — both projects require careful consideration of all the components involved. If you're starting from scratch, browse exterior photos and determine what kind of home exterior design ideas you are drawn to, and which ones would be compatible with your current space. Once that's decided, consider materials and colors. Your overall home and neighborhood style will generally guide these selections, but your personal taste and resale ability should also be taken into consideration. When this phase is complete, you can then move on to researching exterior decorating ideas! Save your favorite exterior pictures to your Houzz ideabook and take notes on what kind of decorations you like and what would potentially work for your space. Adding some finishing touches to the facade, like exterior shutters, always guarantees a personalized, lived-in look, whereas something like exterior lighting is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Which home exterior design style will work for me?

There is a huge range of exterior designs to choose from — whether you're a traditionalist, minimalist or trendsetter, there is an architectural style that will work for you. If you like an old-fashioned look, consider a Victorian, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Tudor, Cape Cod or Craftsman home. For sleek, modern exteriors, think about a Prairie style, art deco, modern or midcentury design. Alternatively, if you want your home to have regional character, go with a mediterranean, Southwestern or tropical style. Ultimately, consider your location, style, budget and current home layout before finalizing your exterior remodeling ideas and plans.

What exterior house colors and materials should I use?

The materials you end up using for your exterior remodel are often determined by the overall style of the house. When perusing exterior ideas for more traditional homes, you’ll notice that exteriors are usually comprised of brick and wood shingles, while stone and metal siding are popular contemporary options for more modern homes. If you’re on a tight budget, vinyl siding is a more affordable option; if money is not an issue, stone is beautiful but will cost quite a bit more. Although there is some leeway in the materials you use, be sure they accurately reflect your home’s overall style. If you're not quite ready for a full-on remodel, there are still several exterior ideas you can put to work. Simple things like changing up the trim and paint colors will make a noticeable impact — try to pick a neutral primary color, like beige, brown or gray. If you want to stray from the norm with bright accents, try painting your front door or garage door something bright, such as red, green, blue or yellow.

How do I decorate my home exterior?

As you consider various exterior decorating ideas, you’ll notice that less is more; a few decorative elements spice up your home's architectural style but too many can make your exterior design look cluttered and chaotic. House numbers are a great way to add personality; you can try a unique font or brighter colors for a different look. Mailboxes, doormats and unique exterior lighting also help enhance your house's facade, and when the holiday season rolls around, don't forget about decorations! Landscaping is also key to a well designed exterior, so choose plants and hardscaping that will play nicely with the decor to provide a welcoming look.