It’s that time of year when many of us are thinking about spending more time outdoors, so we thought it appropriate to share some of our favorite modern lake house exterior designs. Whether you have a place on the lake or simply want to bring lake house vibes to your every day abode, the before and afters on this list are sure to inspire. From coastal and breezy to dark and rustic, there’s something for all design styles!
Designing backyard hardscapes with a lake view, making the huge choice of what paint color to use on your cladding… there’s so much that goes into designing the exterior of a modern lake house. Visualize your lake house’s potential, and walk away with a resource list specific to your project, with our virtual design services.
#1 // Fresh paint & enclosed breezeway
The biggest change we made to this lake home was to enclose the massive breezeway with a screened-in porch. This update maximizes outdoor living space while providing protection from bugs and pests. A patio visualization to the right may be the preferred option on cool, insect-free mornings. Finally, a fresh paint color palette with Sherwin Williams’ Oyster Bay on the siding and Greek Villa on the trim and shutters is subdued and airy, perfect for this environment.
#2 // Modern mountain lake home visualized from elevation
Our designers turned this normal house front elevation design into a full-color rendering with a modern mountain aesthetic. A combination of vertical and horizontal lap siding in Benjamin Moore’s Black Beauty is dark and moody but is balanced by a lighter stone siding accent and lots of warm wood elements.
#3 // Rustic mid-century vibes
The asymmetrical slant of this lake home’s deck gave off mid-century modern vibes that we leaned into with the new exterior design. A gabled deck overhang with trim in a near-black matches the new trim on the deck itself. Benjamin Moore’s Aegean Olive on the siding is warm and earthy. Lastly, a gray-and-taupe stone veneer on the lower level completes the modern update.
#4 // So many options for outdoor lounging
The before photo of this lake house looks like a nice place to hang out, sure — but the after image is The Place to Be. Our designers leveled up the outdoor living in so many ways. Swapping out the small awning over the deck for a more permanent, extended structure provides all sorts of covered seating, with a view. Multiple patio lounge areas offer lots of room for hosting a big group. However, our favorite might be the lakeside sitting area complete with a portable fire pit, gorgeous decking, and built-in seating and planters.
#5 // Front and rear exterior design ideas
A two-sided exterior design shows this lake home’s full potential. New Hardie® Plank Lap Siding and Hardie® Panel Vertical Siding, both in Aged Pewter, is a smart solution that will stand up to the elements. Removing the retaining wall in the front of the home opens up the patio and makes the front door feel more approachable. And the rear exterior design makes full use of the lakeside setting with the deck and walkway out to the built-in firepit.
#6 // All about the deck
New upper level vertical siding and lower level stone veneer makes this modern lake home’s exterior feel more finished. Same with fresh walnut stain on the decking and the walkway idea that leads to a lovely outdoor dining area.
#7 // Modern cladding update
New James Hardie panels in Black Beauty and modern wood cladding on the upper level were the big upgrades we made to this lake house’s façade. Intentional selections for lighting, the front door, and copper gutters are the touches that make the exterior feel cohesively designed.
#8 // Covered outdoor living
Porch and deck awnings can extend your usable living space substantially. They allow you to enjoy the outdoors even when it’s raining or too sunny to be out in the yard. The two-sided exterior design of this modern lake house has three covered outdoor seating areas: a side patio, a wraparound deck, and the area beneath the deck, which was finished off using a beautiful sandstone. This home’s new vertical siding is rendered in Benjamin Moore’s Graphite.
#9 // A new construction rustic lakeside retreat
We used the elevations of this new build to create a three-sided, full-color visualization of a modern rustic lake house. If you look closely, you can see that the above renderings are in Benjamin Moore’s Charcoal Slate, while the closeups of the front and lakeside views of the home below are in Sherwin Williams’ Urbane Bronze. The property is in a mountain setting and slopes down to the lake. This inspired our designers to make use of thick wooden columns and accents grounded in gorgeous stone veneer.
#10 // Updated cottage style
This adorable lakeside cottage got a modern upgrade with the use of new building materials. Slate blue hand-split shake siding looks gorgeous on the upper level with a soft blue-gray on the lower level siding. Bright white trim (Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore) makes the accents pop. And the modern deck elevates the design while opening up views.
#11 // Leveling up
The key update our designers made to this modern lake house, with its multiple levels of decking and patio space, was to provide layers and contrast. The before was monochrome and one-note. In the after visualization, the home feels multi-dimensional thanks to the smart use of color and mixing textures and materials. A nice starting point is now a show-stopping exterior design.
#12 // Charming charcoal
This lake house was absolutely charming, it just needed a little love. A new metal roof is a smart choice, new vertical siding in Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black is on-trend, and updating the deck material makes sense for durability, less maintenance, and aesthetics.
Modern lake house living
We’re big fans of modern lake house living at brick&batten. And we’re here to help you envision what the could look like for you and your family! Get started on your exterior design project today.
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