Eye-Catching Exterior Architectural Design Details in Minnesota

Have you ever driven by news homes in Minneapolis and imagined how nice it must be to live there? Every home builder or architect in Minnesota hopes to incorporate architectural design details that garner that kind of reaction. The only way to turn blueprints into a head-turning home is to pay attention to details — they make all the difference in a home’s aesthetic appeal.

Exterior Designs That Will Enhance Your Architectural Home Styles

When you work with custom home builders in Minnesota, you have the opportunity to create an architectural home style that incorporates exterior design elements that impress. Read on to discover how to add architectural design details to the exterior of a home.

Trim & Molding

Even children include trim and molding on their gingerbread houses, which illustrates how distinctive these architectural design features really are. While trim surrounds windows and molding provides an accent to home corners, both make a home more interesting to look at.

When you’re deciding which type of trim or molding to add to the exterior design of your home, consider the home’s overall architectural home style. A mid-century modern home will have very different trim and molding elements than a cottage-style home.

Another important factor is material type. Older homes nearly exclusively used wood for trim and molding, but modern synthetic materials, such as engineered wood, fiber-cement and polyurethane are attractive alternatives that are engineered for durability.

Siding

There may be no other part of a home’s exterior design that changes the look quite as much as siding. When you’re deciding what type of facade and architectural design details to add to your home, functionality matters just as much as aesthetic appeal. Beautiful siding that lets rainwater inside is not something you’ll want to deal with. Another factor to consider is lifespan — cheap siding might not be such a great deal when you need to replace it in less than a decade.

The good news is that there are plenty of options when it comes to siding materials:

Vinyl

The most popular, and cheapest, option for siding is vinyl. While some people have had bad experiences with this material, technological advances have led to more durable and attractive vinyl options. Because vinyl is manmade, it’s easy to find a variety of colors in this material.

Brick

Brick provides a classic architectural look that requires little to no maintenance. There are many ways to stack bricks, each creating a unique pattern for the home, and its timeless exterior design appeal is sure to age well.

Wood

Wood looks great with or without a coating of paint on top of it. Some newer homes are incorporating wood strip siding — thin, horizontal planks of wood that create a fresh, modern look. You can also find wood siding in more traditional shingle-style arrangements.

Fiber Cement

Fiber cement is a rising trend in the industry because of its aesthetic appeal and longevity. This material was invented by the James Hardie company, and it is the type of siding our team installs most often. This product as an architectural design detail can mimic the appearance of just about any other material and has color and texture options that are nearly endless. You can expect this siding to maintain its look for decades. Most James Hardie siding is backed by a 50-year warranty, due to its ability to withstand storms, fire and rot.

Stone

Stone is one of the most luxurious siding materials because it provides a striking aesthetic appeal. This type of siding provides excellent insulation from outdoor sounds and extreme temperatures, making everyday life more comfortable. Stone also stands the test of time — the centuries-old stone structures you find in Europe are proof.

Exterior Lighting

One of the best ways to make your home’s entrance feel grander is to improve its lighting. Lanterns provide an elegant feel for the home, but it’s important to make sure the light they provide doesn’t create awkward shadows. You can avoid this pitfall by balancing the illumination using ambient, accent and task lighting to balance out the light. Other factors to consider when choosing lighting for an exterior design detail are the architectural style of your home, the energy efficiency of the lights and the colors of the lamps themselves.

Sidelights

Another option to make your entryway more inviting is by installing sidelights. Although the name implies that they are light sources, sidelights actually take advantage of the light from your home’s interior. Two vertical windows on either side of the door allow rays of light to reach the outdoors. You can find sidelights in a variety of widths and glass types, each providing a different level of brightness and privacy.

Roofing

Choosing roofing material is never an easy decision when it comes to architectural design details for your Minnesota home. There are countless things to consider, including weight, style, flammability, insulation and life span. What’s more, homeowners must strongly consider the aesthetic appeal of their roofing choice, because this part of the home is designed to last years if not decades.

Asphalt Shingles

The most cost-effective option for roofing is asphalt shingles — by far the most common choice for homes in the US. These shingles come in a variety of colors, making them a versatile choice. While asphalt shingle quality varies, they generally will not last as long as other, more durable materials.

Metal Roofing

Metal roofs may not be the most common roofing type out there, but the material provides a number of unique advantages. Over time, a metal roof will not experience problems with mildew, insects or rot. Metal is relatively lightweight, yet it provides an effective barrier against rain and snow, both of which slide right off a metal roof. One drawback to a metal roof is the noise it makes during a rainstorm — the pitter-pattering is too intrusive for some homeowners.

Slate Roofing

Slate roofing has the highest durability of any material, and it has excellent curb appeal to boot. This lasting material has been the choice of those looking to add elegance to their home’s architectural design details for centuries. If you’re looking to boost your resale value, slate may be your best choice. One thing to remember about slate roofing is that it’s heavy, so your home structure needs to be able to support this hefty material before installation.

Designing Your Exterior

If you need some help creating an architectural home style that adds design details to the exterior of your next home, our experts in Minnesota can guide you through the process. Learn about the steps we take to ensure your dream home ends up exactly as you imagine it. When you’re ready to start designing your home, reach out to our team!