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  1. House Exterior
  2. Colour: Wood Tones

Coastal House Exterior Ideas and Designs

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Private Oceanfront Residence
Private Oceanfront Residence
TruDesign StudioTruDesign Studio
Inspiration for a nautical house exterior in Charleston.
Beach House
Beach House
Sarah SchmidtSarah Schmidt
Restored beach house with board and batten siding
This is an example of a small beach style bungalow house exterior in Hawaii with wood cladding.
Breakers Beach House
Breakers Beach House
Noel Cross+ArchitectsNoel Cross+Architects
Firmness . . . Santa Cruz’s historically eclectic Pleasure Point neighborhood has been evolving in its own quirky way for almost a century, and many of its inhabitants seem to have been around just as long. They cling to the relaxed and funky seaside character of their beach community with an almost indignant provinciality. For both client and architect, neighborhood context became the singular focus of the design; to become the “poster child” for compatibility and sustainability. Dozens of photos were taken of the surrounding area as inspiration, with the goal of honoring the idiosyncratic, fine-grained character and informal scale of a neighborhood built over time. A low, horizontal weathered ipe fence at the street keeps out surfer vans and neighborhood dogs, and a simple gate beckons visitors to stroll down the boardwalk which gently angles toward the front door. A rusted steel fire pit is the focus of this ground level courtyard, which is encircled by a curving cor-ten garden wall graced by a sweep of horse tail reeds and tufts of feather grass. Extensive day-lighting throughout the home is achieved with high windows placed in all directions in all major rooms, resulting in an abundance of natural light throughout. The clients report having only to turning on lights at nightfall. Notable are the numerous passive solar design elements: careful attention to overhangs and shading devices at South- and West-facing glass to control heat gain, and passive ventilation via high windows in the tower elements, all are significant contributors to the structure’s energy efficiency. Commodity . . . Beautiful views of Monterey Bay and the lively local beach scene became the main drivers in plan and section. The upper floor was intentionally set back to preserve ocean views of the neighbor to the north. The surf obsessed clients wished to be able to see the “break” from their upper floor breakfast table perch, able to take a moment’s notice advantage of some killer waves. A tiny 4,500 s.f. lot and a desire to create a ground level courtyard for entertaining dictated the small footprint. A graceful curving cor-ten and stainless steel stair descends from the upper floor living areas, connecting them to a ground level “sanctuary”. A small detached art studio/surfboard storage shack in the back yard fulfills functional requirements, and includes an outdoor shower for the post-surf hose down. Parking access off a back alley helps to preserve ground floor space, and allows in the southern sun on the view/courtyard side. A relaxed “bare foot beach house” feel is underscored by weathered oak floors, painted re-sawn wall finishes, and painted wood ceilings, which recall the cozy cabins that stood here at Breakers Beach for nearly a century. Delight . . . Commemorating the history of the property was a priority for the surfing couple. With that in mind, they created an artistic reproduction of the original sign that decorated the property for many decades as an homage to the “Cozy Cabins at Breakers Beach”, which now graces the foyer. This casual assemblage of local vernacular architecture has been informed by the consistent scale and simple materials of nearby cottages, shacks, and bungalows. These influences were distilled down to a palette of board and batt, clapboard, and cedar shiplap, and synthesized with bolder forms that evoke images of nearby Capitola Wharf, beach lifeguard towers, and the client’s “surf shack” program requirements. The landscape design takes its cues from boardwalks, rusted steel fire rings, and native grasses, all of which firmly tie the building to its local beach community. The locals have embraced it as one of their own. Architect - Noel Cross Architect Landscape Architect - Christopher Yates Interior Designer - Gina Viscusi-Elson Lighting Designer - Vita Pehar Design Contractor - The Conrado Company
Deluxe Shower Kit
Deluxe Shower Kit
Cape Cod Shower Kits Co.Cape Cod Shower Kits Co.
outdoor shower
Design ideas for a coastal house exterior in Boston.
Beach House
Beach House
JDB CarpentryJDB Carpentry
This is an example of a small beach style house exterior in Adelaide with wood cladding.
Beechwood, Salcombe
Beechwood, Salcombe
VESP ArchitectsVESP Architects
Inspiration for a beach style house exterior in Devon.
Bay Head Beauty
Bay Head Beauty
Baine Contracting, Inc.Baine Contracting, Inc.
Beautiful Bay Head New Jersey Home remodeled by Baine Contracting. Photography by Osprey Perspectives.
Design ideas for a large nautical two floor detached house in New York with wood cladding, an orange house, a pitched roof and a shingle roof.
1112 New York Ave
1112 New York Ave
Classic CoastalClassic Coastal
Charming is the best way to describe this unique California Craftsman bungalow tucked away in Cape May. No detail went unnoticed.
This is an example of a beach style house exterior in Philadelphia.
Riverfront Living
Riverfront Living
CMM Custom HomesCMM Custom Homes
http://www.dlauphoto.com/david/ David Lau
Large and green nautical house exterior in New York with three floors, wood cladding and a pitched roof.
Beach House Additions
Beach House Additions
Quin Wyatt Building DesignerQuin Wyatt Building Designer
Derek Rowen-open2view.com
This is an example of a nautical house exterior in Melbourne.
Casa Verde at Diamante Los Cabos
Casa Verde at Diamante Los Cabos
Archterra Design StudioArchterra Design Studio
The elegant covered walkway outside the guest suite wraps around the courtyard and pool deck.
Design ideas for a beach style house exterior in Sacramento.
Blacksmiths
Blacksmiths
Etchells Building DesignEtchells Building Design
Beach style bungalow house exterior in Central Coast with wood cladding.
Boathouse, Port Carling, Ontario,Canada
Boathouse, Port Carling, Ontario,Canada
Kris Brigden Design Co., North Muskoka House Ltd.Kris Brigden Design Co., North Muskoka House Ltd.
Sierra Building Group, Jeff Kansun
Photo of a beach style house exterior in Toronto.
Elanora House
Elanora House
Aspect ArchitectureAspect Architecture
Design ideas for a small and gey nautical detached house in Gold Coast - Tweed with three floors, concrete fibreboard cladding, a half-hip roof and a metal roof.
Beach House Renovation
Beach House Renovation
ARCO DesignsARCO Designs
Medium sized coastal house exterior in Gold Coast - Tweed.
Outdoor Oasis
Outdoor Oasis
The MineThe Mine
Photo of a beach style house exterior in Seattle.
Sarasota Island House
Sarasota Island House
Ellis Consulting Group Inc.Ellis Consulting Group Inc.
Expansive nautical house exterior in Tampa with three floors and a pitched roof.
Indian River Renovation
Indian River Renovation
BARRETT GROUP CUSTOM BUILDERSBARRETT GROUP CUSTOM BUILDERS
This is an example of a brown coastal two floor house exterior in Vancouver with wood cladding.
Paint Projects
Paint Projects
Pro Painters MuskokaPro Painters Muskoka
Photo of a coastal house exterior in Other.
Round Cove Cottage
Round Cove Cottage
Maritime HomebuildingMaritime Homebuilding
Large and white nautical two floor house exterior in Boston with wood cladding and a pitched roof.

Coastal House Exterior Ideas and Designs

With so much attention devoted to interior design, the exterior of a home can often get overlooked, but as the first thing that welcomes both us and our guests, it is worth devoting some time tending to the outside of your house. Furthermore, focusing on the coastal kerb appeal of your home can add significant value if and when it comes time to sell up. Georgian, Edwardian and Victorian homes, with their bay windows and elegant plasterwork, often benefit from built in architecture advantages, but even if your house design is unassuming from the outside, small decorative and structural improvements to the coastal exterior of your home can equal huge impact. Key areas of building design to focus on are the front door, the driveway or approach to your home, the porch area, the windows, the facade and the roof. And just a note of caution... before any significant coastal exterior architecture gets under way, check first whether you need planning permission for your exterior house designs– this applies particularly to listed houses or buildings in a conservation area, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Take a look through the house designs, exterior architecture and images of front doors and driveways on Houzz to inspire your facade or building design, or read on for a few more pointers when it comes to redesigning your exterior.

How do I give my home an exterior facelift?

You may feel like your home’s exterior architecture is unalterable but there are a wide range of options available to improve its external building design, no matter what raw materials you begin with. Begin with the front door and the pathway or driveway that lead up to your home as these are easy to improve without huge budgets. A driveway or pathway must be kept neat and tidy and you can consider replacing tarmac with attractive tiles or gravel. Repainting or replacing the fence, wall or gate that fronts your home can also offer an overnight transformation without breaking the bank. An area to not cut corners however is the front door, where spending a little extra can make a huge difference in quality, and painting it in a colour you love will pay you back every time it welcomes you home! Updating your windows can be a significant building design project but it is one that has benefits both inside and out, as well as potentially saving you money on energy later. If you are lucky enough to have period windows such as bay windows with sash or leaded windows, then maintaining them should be a top priority, but if they are beyond repair then there are plenty of window professionals that will offer modern, double or triple glazed equivalents that could still work in your bay window. Working with uPVC? Not a problem – the best improvement you can make is to ensure your windows are the right size and shape for your home's overall proportions.

How do I update my home’s facade?

When it comes to updating the facade of your home, painting is the quickest and most affordable way to achieve a coastal makeover, and if you opt for a colour other than white it can really make a statement (although sticking within the palette of your road and local area is advisable). A makeover that requires a bit more patience but can add romance and character to the most mundane of homes is to adorn the walls with climbing plants – delicate trailing wisteria is ever a British favourite, whilst roses and jasmine offer fragrance as well as beauty. If you’re looking to make more significant changes to the exterior of your home, whether that is adding timber cladding, hanging tiles, installing a bay window or rendering, then you should first check whether your house designs require planning permission. A New England style wood boarded home is beautiful and bright, but remember that it will need frequent repainting if it is going to stay looking its best, whilst stucco render or Tyrolean render can tidy up a home's exterior but think carefully before covering over original brickwork.

What should I consider if building a home from scratch?

If you’re working with an architect on a brand new build, the options are endless when it comes to deciding on the exterior architecture. But first things first, you will need to check planning permissions, building regulations and local restrictions, such as being in a conservation area, to make sure your plans for your exterior house designs will meet stipulations. If you are building in a street with predominantly Victorian facades, with bay windows and side returns, you might need to ensure your house designs fit in with the rest of the homes on the street, but if you’re building in a more remote area you’ll probably have more freedom for your building design. There are many 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 wood 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 coastal exterior architecture choices for your house designs.
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