Are you considering designing a custom home? You may already have a Pinterest board full of ideas, or you may not have a clue what you’d like your new home to look like.
One of the first questions we’ll ask in the design process is your preferred style of home. If you don’t know the answer to this question, we encourage you to start browsing. Understanding your style preferences will get you one step closer to the home of your dreams.
Once you start looking, you’ll likely prefer some particular styles over others. As home designers who have worked on a wide range of different projects, we certainly do.
Keep in mind that though we have our personal preferences, we only care about what you want your home to reflect. Also, try not to pick a style because it’s trendy, look for styles or elements that reflect you and make you say, “This feels like home to me.”
Coming up, we’ll showcase some of the most popular exterior home designs you’ll come across on your journey that can be broken into traditional and contemporary categories. These include:
Traditional
- French Country
- Victorian
- Craftsman (Arts & Crafts)
- Farmhouse
Contemporary
- Mid-Century Modern
- French Country Modern
- Prairie Style
- Modern Farmhouse
Read along as we walk you through some of our favourite home design styles, their key features, and why they might just capture your heart.
Traditional
Traditional home styles are revered for their classic architectural elements that have stood the test of time. These styles are often rooted in historical influences from Europe and America, featuring elegant and intricate design details.
The emphasis is on comfort, warmth, and functionality, making these homes ideal for anyone who appreciates heritage and a touch of nostalgia in their living spaces.
French Country
Key Features
Inspired by rustic homes in northern and southern France, the French Country style balances elegance and simplicity. Soft, curved lines, stucco and stone exteriors, and steep rooflines are quintessential. This style also often features tall, narrow windows and wooden shutters.
Key takeaways of French Country home design include:
- Stucco and stone exteriors are common
- Steep, multi-pitched roofs
- Tall, narrow windows with shutters
- Arched or rounded doors
- Earthy tones
What We Love
We love the warm, welcoming vibe these homes offer. It’s both luxurious and comfortable. Plus, the natural materials and colours bring the outdoors inside, making the home feel grand and grounded.
Victorian
Key Features
Victorian homes are incredibly unique, with ornate, elaborate features that reflect the prosperity of the late 19th century. From intricate trim and steep rooflines to vibrant colours and impeccable detailing, words that describe this particular style include lavish, heavy, ornate, and layered—much like Victorian-era fashion.
The key takeaways of Victorian home design include:
- Decorative trim
- Vibrant colours
- Steep roof pitches
- Textures walls
- Ornate gables
What We Love
The intricate detailing of these homes makes each of them a unique art piece—and within custom home design, this is never truer. For those looking for a home that stands out in their neighbourhood, consider the unique look of Victorian home design.
Craftsman
Key Features
It’s all in a name with craftsman homes, which are known for their handcrafted simplicity and natural materials. Typically bungalows with low-pitched roofs and wide front porches, their interiors emphasize woodwork, built-in furniture, and exposed beams.
Key takeaways of craftsman homes include:
- Hand-crafted woodwork or stone
- Built-in furniture
- Bungalow-style
- Rustic appearance
- Often 1 ½ storeys
What We Love
The charm of hand-crafted elements offers a cozy, artisan feel. If you’re a nature lover, this home style is a great choice, bringing outdoor elements inside. This includes interior design choices which are typically warm, earthy colours and natural materials.
Farmhouse
Key Features
Characterized by its functional simplicity, the Farmhouse style features large, inviting porches, simple rooflines, and a lot of wood in its structure and interior design. It’s simple and practical, and while the design is rooted in the past, it’s updated for today’s living needs.
Key features of Farmhouse style homes include:
- Wood, metal, and stone exteriors
- Horizontal siding
- Gable roofs
- Large windows with traditional grid design
- Neutral colours
What We Love
Farmhouses have a straightforward, no-nonsense approach that’s great for family living. A great option for large families or those who like to entertain.
Contemporary
Contemporary home styles emphasize modernity and innovation with clean lines and minimalist aesthetics. These designs focus on the connection between indoors and outdoors, often featuring large windows and open floor plans.
Materials like glass, steel, and concrete are common, creating sleek, efficient living spaces that resonate with modern-day living.
Mid-Century Modern
Key Features
Popularized in the mid-20th century, this style includes organic forms, clean lines, and minimal fuss. Often featuring large windows and open floor plans, it’s the perfect setup for indoor-outdoor living. When it comes to interior design, furniture tends to be iconic, simple, and functional.
A recap of the key features of mid-century modern design includes:
- Large windows
- Open floor plans
- Indoor-outdoor living
- Iconic flat planes
- Sleek look
What We Love
We really love the sense of nostalgia this style provides. Mid-century modern homes are as functional as they are charming, with ample living space rather than storage. Custom home design means storage can be integrated into your preferences, but typically, these homes utilize more stand-alone furniture pieces.
French Country Modern
Key Features
Merging old-world France and country living, French County Modern home design is nothing short of enchanting. For interior design, this means soft, muted colours with vibrant accents, while design elements like curved arches, soft lines, and textured walls are common.
In short, French country design key features include:
- A blend of rustic elements with modern designs
- Natural materials like stone and wood
- Airy colour palettes
- Elegant yet comfortable interiors
What We Love
We love the way French Country Modern home balances rustic comfort with modern elegance. Indoor-outdoor living integrates beautifully with this style as well, and if your lot has ample green space, choosing it is a great way of making the most of it.
Prairie Style
Key Features
Developed in the early 20th century during the Arts and Crafts movement. Characterized by its strong horizontal lines and integration with the surrounding landscape, Prairie-style homes emphasize craftsmanship and the use of natural materials.
Key features of Prarie Style homes include:
- Brick, wood, and stucco
- Low-pitched roofs with overhanging eaves
- Bands of windows
- Earth tones like tans, browns, greens, and rusts
What We Love
Prairie homes offer an immersive living experience that connects the home to its surroundings. This style blends into the landscape excellently, allowing plenty of natural light and ample views of the outdoors.
Modern Farmhouse
Key Features
Blending country character with modern living, farmhouse-style homes have a relatively simple exterior with large, covered porches. Inside, the decor is also simple, focusing on practicality and rustic touches with open layouts, large kitchens, and lots of reclaimed wood.
For quick reference, the key features of farmhouse homes include:
- Large, wrap-around porches
- Tall, narrow windows
- Simple, rectangular shapes
- Large kitchens
- Fireplace as a focal point of the home
What We Love
Farmhouses have a welcoming, family-friendly layout that’s perfect for entertaining. While practical and without frills, these homes are functional and comfortable.
Choosing the Right Style for Your Custom Home
These are just a peek into the many different home styles to choose from when designing your custom home. While many exist across Canada, these are some of the most popular in Calgary and the surrounding areas—and they just happen to be some of our favourites!
But in the journey of custom home design, it’s about your favourite, not ours. While we’re happy to provide guidance, one of the best parts of designing a custom home is getting a home that reflects your preferences, needs, and lifestyle.
While you can choose an overall style of home, with custom home design, you’ll have a completely unique design that’s all your own. Our thorough and collaborative design process ensures that.
Create Your Dream Home with Ellergodt Design
Want to chat more about custom home design? Schedule a call with the friendly team at Ellergodt Design. We can tell you more about our design process and answer any more questions you have about specific exterior home design styles.