There is something so sleek about the new black siding exteriors that are rippling through new homes today.

It screams moody and mysterious.

Picture this house with red brick, and black siding on the second floor and in those bump-outs. Doesn’t it just look so industrial? Like a house that is just so dependable and holds down a steady job and puts in the work without the need for any extra frills?

Sometimes in a subdivision, the ground level from outside your home to your inside floor level has quite a height difference. This results in needing many steps from your garage into your home.

This can take up a lot of space in your garage!

An alternative is to lower your mudroom height and split the number of stairs getting into your home into two locations: one smaller set in your garage, and a smaller set from your mudroom into the rest of your home.

Problem solved!

When using tones of white, black and grey on a home, it can start to look cold. Adding wood to the mix adds warm hues to soften the cooler tones, adding depth and visual interest.

Wood possesses a natural beauty that is hard to replicate with other materials. The unique grain patterns, knots, and variations in color and texture create a sense of authenticity and charm. The warmth of wood tones adds an organic and inviting feel to the overall aesthetic of the house.

Wood tones can give a house facade a classic and traditional look that transcends passing trends. This timeless quality adds a sense of permanence and stability to the overall design, creating an inviting and comforting aesthetic. The earthy tones create a harmonious blend with the natural surroundings, providing a seamless transition from the outdoors to the interior of the house.

If you’re looking for a home that feels inviting, connected to nature, and evokes a sense of comfort, look to incorporate wood tones into your facade.

Juxtaposition: the fact of two things being seen places close together with contrasting effect.

When different materials are juxtaposed on a home’s exterior, they create a visual contrast that draws attention. This contrast can be in terms of color or texture, but the interplay between contrasting elements adds visual interest and can make a design stand out.

In the case of the home below, the contrast is in the texture of the two materials: stone and stucco. Juxtaposing materials can help achieve a sense of balance and add depth and tactile interest to a design as well as create a dynamic visual experience that adds richness to the overall composition.

It’s important to note that the successful juxtaposition of materials requires careful consideration of the architectural style and the overall design intent to create an exterior that is contrasting and cohesive at the same time.

Raise your hand if you love a kitchen neat, tidy, and free from clutter? Is your hand raised? Of course it is, who says they like a messy kitchen?

A walk in pantry is going to be your best friend.

When designing a house, make sure your pantry is large enough to have counter space. Boom, you just moved all your everyday counter top appliances into the pantry and out of the main kitchen.

In the cabinets below the counter, store all the once-and-a-while small appliances and the extra large pots that only get used when making a party-sized amount of chili. Now your main cabinets aren’t looking cluttered with layers of kitchen tools.

What about the extra large pack of paper towels? Easy, put it in the pantry.

All the shelving above the lower cabinets will be your food storage, making everything you have easily visible. No more food waste.

Add a window for natural lighting and you’ve completed what will be one of the favourite rooms in your house.

Enjoy!