Exterior Elevations, Finishes, and Ideas

This first drawing is a concept pieced together that will hopefully be replaced soon by something a little more professional ;), but I think it starts to create the picture of what we want out home to be when everything is done.

Exterior Home Goals

I really like when all aspects of a home feel unified. We hope that when guests turn into our driveway, it would lend clues as to what the inside of the house might be like. The master plan for the property might unfold little by little, but the message is pretty consistent at every turn....I don't know what to call the style....I think of it as a somewhat European country, somewhat storybook cottage. The photo above is a Cotswold cottage in the UK. I describe the look as "a home in a setting", rather than just a house on a lot. Every detail matters, but subtly blends together seamlessly to result in a nostalgic feeling family home.

We have been attracted to many homes within our own neighborhood, as well as several homes in close by neighborhoods, but we are hoping to create something that is unique for our family. To make sure our home has great curb appeal, I also scoured the Internet for photos of Relais et Chateaux inns across Europe. I wanted to capture some of the charming old world appeal of a few hotels and inns so focused on creating an truly hospitable experience. What I noticed I liked over and over again.....

1. 
   
Multiple roof lines, some flared gable and hip, to soften the lines of the house, and mask the size, especially near entrances and entertainment spots.
2. Slate or cedar roofing.
3. Accented window headers and porch structure with rustic beams.
4. Flower boxes, trellises, decorative corbels and knee braces, and pretty little window integrated into the design.

The goal is for us to translate this information into an approachable and welcoming home with well-planned details that give it a more authentic look.

Lovely!

The next three photos are the best examples we have found of the exterior impression we would like to achieve with our home.

photo 1

In photo 1, I love the...

• multiple roof lines, keeping things lower in the front of house, especially at the entrance
• flower boxes
• front courtyard trellis (not visible in this side of photo)
• color of the stucco
• scale and color of windows
• scale of doors, like color too
• inset segmented arch windows
• shutters (board and batten style)
• charming driveway design
• casual European garden style landscaping with stone wall and gate

photo2

In photo 2, I love the....

• Breakfast turret scale, roof, windows, connection with other roof lines..everything!
• Windows-design to keep the grills at the top and the viewing area clear
• Roof line and knee brace combination, keeping roof lower at entertainment areas so that the house does not feel like it is looming over everyone
• Patio relationship to house

...same house different views.

Photo 3, we like the overall finished effect. To me, it has a storybook cottage look, even though it is a big house.


Photo 3

This is an entrance that I just love. A bit more along the rustic feel, I like the gable roof with the shed dormer help by braces

This is a front entrance that I could see modifying slightly to work with our front elevation. I like the stone columns and arches....and the door, but I would widen the door and change the lite design.


This photo is from a real estate listing in Illinois that I came across while looking for photos of Hickory floors. The porch and gable roof is similar to our wing design, and I love how the house has created a welcoming cottage feel with the chosen exterior finishes and landscape design.

Here are a few of the inn photos I found online. I notice that that these buildings look substantial. The window lites are consistent and proportionate with the structures. The adornments, such as window boxes, are subtle and integrated into the design. Everything looks like it belongs together, rather than a bunch of flashy features that compete for attention.

Exterior

The two Jock Sewall (architect) photos above show a lot of details we like. Specifically the inset dormers, that might work along our back elevation, and the shutter style.

This window is inset and has such a subtle segmented arch, it looks more authentic as a cottage window.

These are photos from Bill Ingram's homes. He has so many great details and he flows back and forth from the French and English country home to more of a Craftsman style with some whimsical details like the birdhouse cupola.

This door style is what we talked about changing all of the doors into. I think the proportion looks good, and would be appealing in a 30" door. Ours might be taller, adding a set of two more lights.

We love this house down the street. It has so many details--the turret, the roof lines, the warm colored stucco, a similar staircase column, and the beams. However, we do not think we would have the courage to do this French green color. :)

New note 9-18-2008: The green is gone! Although the green color was very traditional French, I think I like it in the more subtle color. It is easier to appreciate the just the beautiful architecture. Either way, one of our favorite homes in the entire DC area.

This may be a shingle style elevation, but I think it translates to our house. I like the detailed curve on the water table of stone. I like the big peaks, but I am not crazy about the window lite patterns.

This photo is appealing because we have spoken about a landscape plan that provides greenery close to the home. I might like some sort of entrance arbor, or maybe an iron detail, provide it did not clutter the entrance.