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Exterior design trends 2023: 5 experts share their predictions on the future of home design
The first thing a homeowner notices about their newly built or remodeled house – before they even walk in the front door – is the exterior.
Good curb appeal of a home gives clients, home buyers and neighbors their first impression of the property – so it better be amazing. Having a beautiful aesthetic on the exterior of a home is what catches people’s eye and makes them want to see more.
But like all things design, trends come and go, and it’s important to stay up to date in order to give clients what they want and to continue generating leads. So, we asked five home builders and remodelers their expert opinion on what home exterior design trends have become popular in 2023 – and what they predict to see more of in the second half of the year.
Heartland Builders: Custom home building
“The first half of 2023 has seen many modern-influenced homes – either from Hygge or Scandinavian design, Coastal Modern looks, Modern Farmhouse and some Mid-Century influence.
We’ve also been getting more requests for extra-large doors and windows, arched windows and garden windows to help capture more of what’s seen outside. Many of our homes have elements tying back to nature. Whether that’s through stained elements on the exterior, larger windows for better viewing or more elaborate patio, deck and screened-in porch spaces. Lots of tying into outdoor spaces and nature.
This year we’ve seen a split of smaller homes and larger homes, with minimal options being built in between. That’s the fun part of being a custom builder, we can do it all! Of course, Board and Batten siding and black windows are still very popular, as is an all-white exterior. But we have seen a decrease in the use of light gray siding.
Many people seem to be paying more attention to curb appeal and instant appearance, instead of a basic labeling like Modern Farmhouse with simple looks.”
– Jen Clements, interior designer at Heartland Builders
Coppola Brothers: Residential, commercial and historic renovations
“Some of the trends our clients are looking to incorporate into their homes this year are: black windows and black trim when replacing traditional white window frames and replacing existing wood shingles or siding with board and batten Siding – often mixing it with other types of siding to add contrast to their design.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we see our clients, in the Northeast especially, looking to incorporate their indoor spaces with their outdoor living area. By adding expansive sliding windows, they can open up the interior to a newly remodeled outdoor living space. Many of our clients are taking an indoor room and creating a home office area for them to work in during the day, and then in the evening they’re enjoying the new indoor-outdoor space they just created with us. We expect this trend to continue for the rest of 2023.”
– Frank R. Coppola III, owner of Coppola Brothers LLC
Breen Homes: Boutique custom home builder
“In Q4 ‘22 and Q1 ’23, many of us were still feeling the pains of trying to get materials and products. During that time, we saw projects shifting from certain specified products to different available products. Luckily, that time period appears to be behind us, and we’re loving the availability of products out there.
Q2 ‘23 is showing us sustainable and durable products, like custom metal panels and lightweight concrete, mixed with a splash of warm tone products, like cedar or wood-looking aluminum or composite products.
Once the siding materials complement each other on the house, we’re seeing amazing custom steel front doors, linear and modern light fixtures and the empire of black window frames continues!”
– Adam Breen, owner of Breen Homes
CoCreations Construction & Design: Contracting and design firm
“As far as exterior home improvements, we’ve found that most people are frustrated with their screen porch. As much as they love having one, the pollen season has turned the space into a nightmare to keep up with, hence causing the space to not be used as much. So, folks are asking to turn them into three- and four-season spaces so they can get more use.”
– Nick Syros, founder and owner of CoCreations Construction & Design
Aubuchon Homes: Luxury new home construction
“We’re seeing a good portion of our clients going with a West Indies-inspired look, including flat tiled roofs, large overhangs and eave brackets as those are super popular in our area now.
We’re also seeing a lot more contemporary designs lately. Quite a few of our clients are looking to develop elevations with some sections with flat roofs, large multi-window mulled assemblies and several different cladding materials like stacked stone, tile and wood-look panels.
The trend moving forward is likely to continue to move more toward modern and contemporary designs.”
– Mike McKiddie, vice president of architectural design at Aubuchon Homes
The Building Code podcast: Delivering a new design experience with Piper Stromatt
Top 5 exterior home design ideas
Based on the insights from these experts, here are the five top exterior home design ideas builders should be incorporating into their projects in 2023.
Mixed textures
Home builders and remodelers are finding ways to create more depth and visual interest on the exterior of a home by mixing different textures and materials. Clients are loving the idea of incorporating both brick and vinyl siding, or metal and wood because it strays from the cookie-cutter style homes we see a lot of nowadays.
Indoor-outdoor flow
Now more than ever – thanks to the pandemic – people want to be outside and enjoy the feeling of being one with nature. Whether it’s creating multi-season rooms, easy access to an outdoor living space or multi-window mulled assemblies for better viewing, expect to see more indoor-outdoor flow in home remodels this year.
Black trim
Adam Breen said it best, “The empire of the black window frames continues!” And he’s not wrong. Three out of our five experts agreed that black windows and trim are one of the most requested features clients are wanting on their homes. These black accents create a modern feel with a nice contrast of color against a lighter siding.
Board and batten siding
Board and batten siding is a style that’s been around for a couple hundred years but has been gaining popularity on Pinterest more recently. This look combines wide vertical planks joined by thin vertical strips that cover the seams. Don’t expect this trend to go away any time soon due to its ability to create either a modern or a traditional look to the exterior of a home.
Modern and contemporary designs
In terms of overall style, all our experts agree on the fact that clients are expecting more modern exterior house designs. Any house – whether it’s big or small, Craftsman or Bungalow – can be built or updated with modern touches in mind. By using some or all of the advice from our experts, you’re sure to create a dream home that your clients will love for years to come.
Project management software for construction pros
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Here at Buildertrend, our platform helps manage projects from start to finish. Our software and services include lead, project and financial management, as well as communication tools to keep your team, subs and clients informed every step of the way.
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