Your choice of home design is an important step to creating your new home. What’s equally as significant? Your home facade! As the first thing you see, it’s worthwhile allocating some extra thought to this crucial design element.
‘Creating a cohesive façade and colour scheme is so vital to your home’s curb appeal and long-term value. First impressions are everything, so the exteriors can make or break your home design and feel,’ says Boutique Homes Interior Designer, Shona Donnelly.
Your exteriors are arguably the most permanent feature of your home so it pays to get it right.
Sounds important. So, what makes for a cohesive home exterior?
The three Cs – consistency, colours and considered elements. The exterior of your home should reflect your personal taste and style, without looking out-of-place in your suburb. It should also meet any council or estate restrictions. ‘Your façade should also feel consistent with your landscaping style and interiors – you don’t want to create a beachy, Hamptons-style vibe on the outside, and then walk into an ultra-modern hallway,’ says Shona.
Where do I start?
Decide on your overall style – be it coastal Hamptons, Scandinavian or contemporary, or a combination of different themes. Do your desktop research, drive past the latest estates, scour lifestyle magazines, and scroll through Instagram and Pinterest. ‘You don’t need to know exactly what you want in terms of design before your Interior Design consultation, but it pays to get an idea of what you like – and what you don’t – and to bring lots of examples,’ says Nikki.
Does the design theme inform the façade you choose?
It does! If you build with Boutique, there’s a wide range of both single storey façade and double storey façade designs for you to choose from. Your designated and qualified Interior Designer will be able to point you in the right direction.’
Once I’ve decided on the façade design, does that mean I can’t make any colour changes?
There are always ways to customise your façade design to make sure it works with your vision. While structural changes can’t be made to a Boutique façade, we do offer most of our clients bespoke colour options for the bricks, renders and cladding, as well as adding feature elements such as wall lights and window furnishings.
Colours are key though, right?
They’re definitely the best place to start. When it comes to colour, less is more. ‘Keep it simple and remember that your home exterior isn’t made up of just your façade – it also includes your landscaping, your driveway and your garage door. It can quickly become cluttered and busy, with too much going on,’ says Shona, who suggests sticking to a maximum of three colours. A good rule is to match metal surfaces while contrasting against elements such as renders.
When should I use lighter colours as part of the façade?
Lighter colours are usually best for creating an airy coastal or provincial style home. ‘Creamy cladding or weatherboard in whites and blues screams Hamptons,’ adds Shona. ‘Or for a modern take on beachy design, take a look at our moody Cove facade.’
How about if I want to create a more modern home?
Stick to dramatic, darker tones; architectural lines and angled rooflines within your façade. ‘The Flinders facade is a great example of a more contemporary exterior,’ suggests Shona.
Façade style, colours and keeping it simple. Is that it?
No – there’s a whole lot of other elements that can help you create a bespoke design. Your front door, roof tiles and gutter colours can all make a difference to the look and feel of your final design.
Sounds good! But how can I be sure that my exterior / interior selections will look great?
At Boutique, your personal Interior Designer will lay out samples of your selections side-by-side in what’s called a flat lay. ‘This helps you to see how the different elements work together and ‘flow’ from exterior to interior,’ explains Shona. We also offer an online portal, Abode Online, that can help you visually see what your façade colours will look like, helping to provide extra peace of mind.
What if I don’t have a creative eye?
Don’t stress. Each Boutique client is assigned a designated and qualified Interior Designer to help guide them through the process. And this can be an incredibly important asset, even for the most creative of new home builders.
‘Understanding how the human eye sees different colours and how different colour families work together usually takes a qualified eye,’ says Shona. ‘I had one recent customer who made some beautiful selections, but for some reason the colours just weren’t flowing how we wanted them to. As an Interior Designer, I was able to identify the jarring element – in this case, the undertone of the render – and make some very slight adjustments so the façade worked perfectly.’
Are you ready to start your home ownership journey?
Book a consultation with one of our experienced New Homes Consultants to find the perfect new home design for you.
Have you found ‘The One’?
Share your home journey and connect with the Boutique Instagram community by using #ourboutiquehome