9 Top Design Ideas for a High-End Exterior Home Remodel

Even if we all know that you “shouldn’t judge a book by its cover,” we invariably find ourselves being influenced by outer appearance. For houses, the exterior profoundly shapes our impression of quality and value, which makes an exterior remodel a compelling investment and a key part of many home improvement projects.

But it’s not just about looks alone. Exterior remodeling is more than aesthetics. It can also activate the outside of your home, creating more places for your family and friends to spend time together doing the things you love.

True home exterior remodel work goes beyond small repairs or touch-ups. A professional exterior home remodel can completely transform how your property looks and functions, from siding and roofing to outdoor living spaces. In its best form, it involves custom design and high-level execution that can transform the outside of your home.

In this post, I’ll walk through nine examples from our portfolio that show how you can get more out of the exterior of your home through a thoughtful exterior remodeling process. Whether you’re focused on aesthetics, functionality, or both, I hope this post can kickstart your thinking about potential upgrades from exterior remodeling.

Exterior Renovation Idea #1: Blend Materials, Textures, and Colors

The back of this home showcases how inspired design can create a beautiful and extremely functional space. A large covered outdoor area with direct access to the home and the backyard makes for a perfect place to relax and get fresh air.  Adding decorative window boxes and updating the porch railing can further elevate the charm of a traditional home exterior while maintaining functionality.

Architectural features, such as a large bay window and dark siding on gabled roofs, combine to make this home appear eye-catching and luxurious without feeling extravagant.

Exterior Renovation Idea #2: Outdoor Living Space

An exterior home remodel that incorporates a covered porch or patio can significantly increase your home’s usable square footage and boost its resale value. If you've got the space, building out a covered porch can have a similar impact to finishing a basement. It creates a new place to gather and entertain, activating your home's exterior.

In this design, a flat-screen TV, hot tub, L-shaped sofa, and two sets of bar seating make this a perfect place to relax, even on a rainy day.

Exterior Renovation Idea #3: An Outdoor Kitchen

For this home, we installed a high-end outdoor kitchen with an integrated fridge, gas grill, and pizza oven. Countertop surfaces are at two heights, one for food prep and another that acts as a bar with the ability to pull up a high-top chair.

This project shows how changes to a home’s exterior don’t have to directly touch the home’s structure. The same principle applies when remodeling the exterior to install a fire pit, sports area, or other custom-designed outdoor space.

Exterior Renovation Idea #4: A Luxury Pool House

In this project, we helped a local homeowner take summer relaxation to a whole new level. We built out a standalone pool house that provides a comfortable and shady spot to kick back on warm days.

Shared architectural elements with the main home, like the siding, roof, and trim color, help the pool house blend seamlessly into the backyard. Coordinating the exterior paint and vinyl siding with the main structure ensures the pool house feels cohesive and refined.

Exterior Renovation Idea #5: Expanding Your Porch

A porch doesn't have to be expansive to enhance your home's appearance and curb appeal—sometimes, simple exterior upgrades can make a big difference. For this home, the small covered porch features double columns that frame the entrance and the picture window. A new front door with black trim adds a touch of contrast to complete this home exterior makeover.

Exterior Renovation Idea #6: Custom Deck and Hot Tub

One benefit of custom exterior remodeling is that you can add unique touches to make your home more usable and attractive. In this exterior home design, a sturdy deck extends out the back door and is shaped to perfectly accommodate a hot tub, including a built-in step that makes getting in and out easier.

A similar design could be customized even further by covering the deck and hot tub for more comfortable use during wet weather. A side wall could also be included to offer more privacy when relaxing in the hot tub.

Exterior Renovation Idea #7: Mixed Window Styles

The front side of the home from our first example demonstrates how multiple architectural elements can add up to a sophisticated and stylish exterior.

• A combination of window styles, including a bay window, two round windows, and an array of rectangular windows

• Overlapping gables and angles to create added depth

• Color-matching of the garage door, upper-story siding, and roof

• Complementary patterned brick for the lower story

• An expansive driveway with textured pavers that create an open path to the front door

Exterior Renovation Idea #8: Matte Finish

For this exterior design, a dark matte finish gives the home a sleek yet refined modern look. Different textures for the siding keep the matte style from feeling overly uniform.

Another feature of this exterior is the dual porch arrangement. One is designed to serve as the gateway to the front door, and the other provides a quiet and covered sitting area in front of a large picture window. One porch is set back further from the street, giving added visual depth to the home’s appearance. A coat of fresh paint, combined with fresh landscaping, can make the front yard look revitalized and more welcoming.

Exterior Renovation Idea #9: Trim and Doors with a Pop of Color

Sometimes in an exterior home remodel, just choosing the right exterior paint colors can have a dramatic effect on a home's visual appeal. In this case, a bright white paint for the doors, windows, and trim energizes the entire look, making the gray siding and roofing feel more vibrant.

Stone pavers for the walkway add a natural touch while also aligning with the overall color scheme.

Components of an Exterior Home Remodeling

During an exterior home remodel, you can also enhance the architectural balance of your home by integrating matching materials, lighting, and landscaping. Many different elements of a home's exterior can be upgraded or added during a remodel. Elements to consider when planning your remodel include:

• Siding

• Doors

• Trim

• Windows (Installing new windows can instantly improve your home’s energy efficiency while updating the overall look of your exterior)

• Roofing material

• Chimneys

• Outdoor areas, including porches and decks

• Lighting

• Detached structures like a pool house or mother-in-law unit

• Dedicated recreational areas, like a basketball court, tree house, or playground

• Landscaping

• Fencing

• Paving, including driveways and walkways

Depending on your needs, you can upgrade as many of these elements as you deem necessary. If you are working with a strict budget, though, make a note of your top three to five priorities so that you can focus on optimizing those elements in your remodel.

When Is the Best Time for an Exterior Home Remodel?

The best times for exterior remodeling are when you need to repair damage, are already planning other home renovations, or are thinking about selling and want to make an impression on potential buyers by amping up your home's curb appeal.

Sometimes wear-and-tear or weather damage make some exterior repairs a necessity. In these cases, it may make sense to do a more complete remodel instead of just smaller fixes.

For some homeowners, an exterior remodel is a natural companion to an overall home renovation. Doing work on the interior and exterior at the same time can decrease the amount of time that your family has to face potential disruption from on-site construction.

Lastly, an exterior remodel is well-suited to efforts to increase your home's value in preparation for a sale. Whether in listings, open houses, or showings, your home's exterior is the first thing that potential buyers will see. A unique or stunning exterior can drive interest and provide an excellent return on investment.

Planning Your Remodel

Before beginning an exterior home remodel, it’s important to define your priorities, establish a clear budget, and partner with a trusted design-build firm. Exterior home remodeling requires both great design and focused craftsmanship.

At Hogan Design and Construction, we've honed our skills and experience over 25 years, and we're proud to help clients in the greater Chicagoland and southern Wisconsin region with high-quality exterior home remodel and renovation projects.

As a design-build firm, we offer a seamless project experience built upon a foundation of teamwork, communication, and dedication to our clients. We encourage you to learn more about our process, read reviews from past clients, and, if you're thinking about an exterior remodel, contact us for more information.