The Art of Exterior Home Design

Season Four, Episode One: Transcript

Designing from the Outside In

Every great exterior starts with the site and layout. Before design begins, the architect and builder should visit the lot to evaluate solar orientation, topography, and views. These elements influence everything from window placement to the shape of the roofline.

The conversation emphasizes how team collaboration early in design prevents costly adjustments later. Clients are encouraged to come prepared with inspirational images or as Jeff calls it, image data, that communicate preferred architectural styles, materials, and details.

Finding the Right Style

From modern farmhouse gables to private contemporary courtyards, today’s exteriors draw from multiple design traditions. Rather than following one strict style, most custom homes blend elements from several to creating a hybrid look that feel distinctly personal.

Homeowners are encouraged to focus less on replicating trends and more on achieving balance and proportion. The goal is to design a home that fits both the site and the lifestyle of the people who live there.

Popular Exterior Materials

Choosing exterior materials impacts both cost and maintenance.
Common selections include:

• Fiber Cement (Hardie board): Durable, low-maintenance, and available in multiple styles — lap siding, shingles, smooth panels, and new reveal systems.
• Brick and Stone: Offer warmth and texture; faux options can help manage cost.
• Stucco: Varies in price by region; common in the Southwest and mountain markets.
• Metal Accents: Add contrast to roofs, porches, or dormers for a modern touch.

Designers often combine these materials for a layered, sophisticated look while keeping regional trends and climate durability in mind.

Color, Detail & Curb Appeal

A home’s curb appeal is defined by how its colors, trim, windows, and rooflines work together. The current trend favors low-maintenance, high-contrast palettes, with black windows and gutters remaining a dominant choice.

Textures and tone-on-tone detailing such as black windows against light stucco or wood siding create a timeless yet modern effect. Designers recommend investing in architectural details that make the home feel personal: accent lighting, unique front doors, and thoughtful landscaping all help set your home apart.

Windows: The Exterior’s Defining Feature

Windows are more than functional, they are architectural features that shape the aesthetics of a home inside and out.

Key considerations when choosing a window package:

• Material: Vinyl offers affordability; fiberglass adds strength and slimmer frames; wood-clad provides timeless warmth.
• Color: Black or bronze frames remain highly popular for their clean, contemporary lines.
• Design: Large panes and minimal frames connect indoor and outdoor spaces.

Preston Fancher from Pella explains that planning window packages early in your build helps align aesthetics with budget, allowing for customization without costly revisions later.

Rooflines & Budget Balance

Roof complexity directly affects both cost and structure. Simple roof forms are more affordable and energy-efficient, while gables, hips, and dormers add both interest and expense. The team recommends starting with a simple primary roof shape and using smaller extensions and appendages for visual variety.

Popular roofing materials include asphalt shingles for affordability, standing-seam metal for modern design, and slate or clay for architectural statement homes.

Doors, Details & First Impressions

Front doors act as focal points and set the for your home's façade. Current trends in doors include:

• Pivot doors that make a bold statement but require careful weather planning.
• Fiberglass doors that mimic real wood with greater durability.
• Accent garage doors designed to complement modern exterior materials or bring timeless carriage style to the home.

Each element combines to create a general feel for your home and is an extension of the architecture’s story and the homeowner’s personality.

Modern vs. Contemporary Home Design

While often used interchangeably, “modern home design” focuses on clean lines, open forms, and simplicity, while “contemporary home design” design refers to current interpretations of style. Both are rooted in minimalism and functionality, and both are popular with Hibbs Homes clients in St. Louis and Park City.

Clients are gravitating toward exteriors with large glass expanses, natural materials, and simplified forms that bring a sense of connection with nature and a lot of natural light inside.

Collaboration Creates Consistency

A key Hibbs Homes principle to a good build is: put your home building team together early. When the architect, designer, builder, and vendors work together from day one, the process flows more efficiently, budgets stay realistic, and your final design balances beauty and performance.

3D renderings, online project management software, and other collaborative tools allow clients to communicate easily with their team and visualize their selections before construction to ensure their choices align with their vision.

The Art of Exterior Home Design shows how teamwork and thoughtful design choices transform ideas into lasting first impressions. Approaching your design and selections with creativity with practicality results in a home that’s beautiful but built for decades of enjoyment.