- Exterior Photos
1,153,363 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 1,153,354 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including Old Town Design Group and Peter Eskuche, AIA. 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.
Amazing front porch of a modern farmhouse built by Steve Powell Homes (www.stevepowellhomes.com). Photo Credit: David Cannon Photography (www.davidcannonphotography.com)
Build: Graystone Custom Builders, Interior Design: Blackband Design, Photography: Ryan Garvin
The design of this home was driven by the owners’ desire for a three-bedroom waterfront home that showcased the spectacular views and park-like setting. As nature lovers, they wanted their home to be organic, minimize any environmental impact on the sensitive site and embrace nature.
This unique home is sited on a high ridge with a 45° slope to the water on the right and a deep ravine on the left. The five-acre site is completely wooded and tree preservation was a major emphasis. Very few trees were removed and special care was taken to protect the trees and environment throughout the project. To further minimize disturbance, grades were not changed and the home was designed to take full advantage of the site’s natural topography. Oak from the home site was re-purposed for the mantle, powder room counter and select furniture.
The visually powerful twin pavilions were born from the need for level ground and parking on an otherwise challenging site. Fill dirt excavated from the main home provided the foundation. All structures are anchored with a natural stone base and exterior materials include timber framing, fir ceilings, shingle siding, a partial metal roof and corten steel walls. Stone, wood, metal and glass transition the exterior to the interior and large wood windows flood the home with light and showcase the setting. Interior finishes include reclaimed heart pine floors, Douglas fir trim, dry-stacked stone, rustic cherry cabinets and soapstone counters.
Exterior spaces include a timber-framed porch, stone patio with fire pit and commanding views of the Occoquan reservoir. A second porch overlooks the ravine and a breezeway connects the garage to the home.
Numerous energy-saving features have been incorporated, including LED lighting, on-demand gas water heating and special insulation. Smart technology helps manage and control the entire house.
Greg Hadley Photography
Executive Country Home designed by Peter Eskuche, AIA
Photography by Peter Eskuche
Architect: Amanda Martocchio Architecture & Design
Photography: Michael Moran
Project Year:2016
This LEED-certified project was a substantial rebuild of a 1960's home, preserving the original foundation to the extent possible, with a small amount of new area, a reconfigured floor plan, and newly envisioned massing. The design is simple and modern, with floor to ceiling glazing along the rear, connecting the interior living spaces to the landscape. The design process was informed by building science best practices, including solar orientation, triple glazing, rain-screen exterior cladding, and a thermal envelope that far exceeds code requirements.
Photography by Morgan Howarth
House - webuser_149504603
This rear-facing conservatory lights the dining area and kitchen within.
Paul Jonason Photography
First floor balcony roof - sagaree_das
WHOLE HOUSE RENOVATION AND ADDITION
Built in the 1940s, this cottage had an incredible amount of character and personality but was not conducive to the way we live today. The rooms were small and did not flow well into one another. The renovation of this house required opening up several rooms and adding square footage to the back of the home, all the while, keeping the curb appeal of a small cottage.
Photographs by jeanallsopp.com