- Exterior Photos
1,157,301 Exterior Design Photos
Use the photos on Houzz to inspire your home’s facade and exterior architecture. You’ll find home design ideas for every style, from contemporary to traditional, that cover all range of exterior features, including your front door, back patio, balcony, porch and garage.
How do I decide on the exterior style and facade 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 water, 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.
There are plenty of architectural decisions to make. Do you want a flat, gabled, hipped, mansard or perhaps even a curved roof? Do you want bay windows? Crittall windows? Perhaps external shutters? Do you want glass walls? Do you want timber cladding? Do you want a very symmetrical building design or something more contemporary? The decision is all yours but remember to consider the benefits of various materials over others and the effects that some architecture styles will have on everyday life. For example, glass walls will look attractive but will give you less privacy. Your architect or builder will be able to guide you through the best exterior architecture choices for your home design.
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 siding 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 cladding 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.
Whether you want inspiration for planning an exterior renovation or are building a designer exterior from scratch, Houzz has 1,157,301 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Glo European Windows & Doors and Visbeen Architects. Look through exterior photos in different colours and styles and when you find an exterior design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful exterior ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
Francesca Anichini
Francesca Anichini - skylightssolar20
View to entry at sunset. Dining area to the right. of the entry. Photography by Stephen Brousseau.
Builder: AVB Inc.
Interior Design: Vision Interiors by Visbeen
Photographer: Ashley Avila Photography
The Holloway blends the recent revival of mid-century aesthetics with the timelessness of a country farmhouse. Each façade features playfully arranged windows tucked under steeply pitched gables. Natural wood lapped siding emphasizes this homes more modern elements, while classic white board & batten covers the core of this house. A rustic stone water table wraps around the base and contours down into the rear view-out terrace.
Inside, a wide hallway connects the foyer to the den and living spaces through smooth case-less openings. Featuring a grey stone fireplace, tall windows, and vaulted wood ceiling, the living room bridges between the kitchen and den. The kitchen picks up some mid-century through the use of flat-faced upper and lower cabinets with chrome pulls. Richly toned wood chairs and table cap off the dining room, which is surrounded by windows on three sides. The grand staircase, to the left, is viewable from the outside through a set of giant casement windows on the upper landing. A spacious master suite is situated off of this upper landing. Featuring separate closets, a tiled bath with tub and shower, this suite has a perfect view out to the rear yard through the bedrooms rear windows. All the way upstairs, and to the right of the staircase, is four separate bedrooms. Downstairs, under the master suite, is a gymnasium. This gymnasium is connected to the outdoors through an overhead door and is perfect for athletic activities or storing a boat during cold months. The lower level also features a living room with view out windows and a private guest suite.
Entering the home through a floor-to-ceiling full light pivoting front door provides a sense of grandeur that continues through the home with immediate sightlines through the 16-foot wide sliding door at the opposite wall. The distinct black window frames provide a sleek modern aesthetic while providing European performance standards. The Glo A5h Series with double-pane glazing outperforms most North American triple pane windows due to high performance spacers, low iron glass, a larger continuous thermal break, and multiple air seals. By going double-pane the homeowners have been able to realize tremendous efficiency and cost effective durability while maintaining the clean architectural lines of the home design. The selection of our hidden sash option further cements the modern design by providing a seamless aesthetic on the exterior between fixed and operable windows.