Facade design as an integral part of home design

The aesthetics of the facade of the house is no less important than the aesthetics of the interiors. The design of the facade should combine indoor and outdoor spaces into a common idea and harmoniously integrate the building into the surrounding landscape. In addition, facade finishing protects the main structures of the house and contributes to their strength and durability. Therefore, the design of the facade is scrupulously developed to the smallest detail at the earliest stage of building design – creating a sketch – and is a significant component of the entire architectural concept of the future structure..

The appearance of a residential building plays an important aesthetic role

Design features

When creating a facade design project, not only the style of interior decoration of the house is taken into account, which is formed on the basis of the tastes of the owners. The characteristics of the selected materials must correspond to the characteristics of the climate in the region; the materials, in turn, dictate the direction of the style. The architecture of neighboring buildings also has some influence: the new house should support the overall style of the residential area, and not become a foreign stain against their background..

A well-chosen finish is a spectacular view of the structure and its durability.

In addition to the above, it is important to consider the basic aspects of facade design:

The color scheme in the design of facades is important not only as a stylistic nuance; color will affect the psycho-emotional state of both owners and visitors.
Materials of various textures in certain combinations will add expressiveness to the building, visually shatter the array of facades.

Style selection

Facade design today is not strictly linked to the canons of a particular style. Some eclecticism is in trend, combining elements of two or three related architectural trends. Such a structure looks fresh, unconventional and has a touch of exclusivity..

The style of the facade design depends on the selected material, and vice versa, if the style is already known, then finishing materials are selected for it

However, the characteristic stylistic elements of the facade design must be consistent with the intended purpose of the building. The most typical areas of architecture suitable for decorating the exterior of a country house:

classic style;
country style;
modern style;
hi-tech style.

Classic facade design

The classic style in the design of the facades is expressed by the nobility of proportions, symmetry of silhouettes, restrained color combinations and sophistication of decor elements that emphasize the high status of the owner. Painted plaster, natural stone or its imitation, columns and arches, stucco and carving will logically complete the style of the building and make it fashionable.

Baroque architecture is pomp, luxury and richness of decoration

Classical Russian architecture is very similar to Byzantine

Country style facade design

Country or rustic style can be equally called ethnic: it includes a Russian tower with lace trims and balusters, a German half-timbered house with an overhanging attic, a pastoral Swiss chalet, and a slender English cottage. From materials, preference is given to natural wood, natural stone and ceramics, natural textures and a warm palette of colors characteristic of the surrounding landscape. Rural motives in the design of the facade will make a country house cozy.

Country style log house

Facade design in Art Nouveau style

The design of the facade of the house in the Art Nouveau style – brick cladding, vertically elongated silhouettes of carpentry elements, openwork forging and “shop” windows; graceful lines and pearl shades.

Art Nouveau facades, on the one hand, combine the traditions of long-standing styles, on the other hand, they complement them with original features.

Modern design of facades

Stylish neo-loft meets all the requirements of modern design and effectively contrasts with the natural background. Laconic forms and functionality of the space are reflected in the exterior: simple plaster of dark muted tones, glass walls, metal “industrial” structural elements are the main features of modern high-tech private houses.

The modern design of the facade is a kind of mix borrowing from various stylistic trends

The modern style is characterized by straight lines, clear geometry and a large building area

Selection of finishing materials

Modern methods of finishing country houses imply the use of both traditional finishing materials and new composite materials – porcelain stoneware, clinker bricks, false beams and acrylic stone. The combination of textures allows you to create a unique design of the facade of a country house in a wide variety of architectural styles.

The technology of cladding of the building depends on the material used for finishing.

For facing facades in accordance with the architectural direction of the exterior of the house, the following materials can be used:

decorative plaster;
ceramic tile;
natural or artificial stone;
siding;
decorative brick.

Each option has its own distinctive features, characteristic advantages and disadvantages..

Plaster

The construction market offers a lot of varieties of plaster compounds for external surfaces..

Plaster – the most budgetary option for transforming the facade of a house

Mineral plaster is the traditional and least expensive, but also the least durable and plastic option, prone to cracking. The main advantage of mineral plaster in its porous structure: walls made of cinder block, insulated with mineral slabs, will breathe under a layer of mineral plaster.

One of the advantages of plaster is a wide range of colors, there are no restrictions here.

Acrylic plaster has high ductility and moisture resistance, but is practically impervious to vapor. Acrylic mixtures are suitable for wall decoration with polystyrene foam as insulation.

Silicate plaster, along with elasticity and permeability, has antistatic properties, which is important for gas-polluted areas. One of the most expensive types in terms of the cost of the material itself and the cost of its installation; nevertheless, the costs are well paid off by durability.

Plaster fits well in almost any style

Silicone plaster has absorbed all the advantages of the above materials and at the same time costs more than attractive.

Siding

There are three types of siding:

wood;
metal;
vinyl.

The history of wood siding goes back several centuries, and the popularity of this material remains unchanged. Modern methods of wood processing – for example, impregnation – make planken even from short-lived varieties extremely resistant to all types of decomposition.

Modern wooden siding is quite durable and can serve for decades, provided that the protective coating is updated in a timely manner.

Wood cladding is organic not only in rural façade designs. The imitation of laminated veneer lumber in the decoration of laconic forms of high-tech looks original and impressive.

The aesthetic variety of metal siding allows you to design very spectacular and bright facades. The main disadvantage of metal siding – the tendency to corrosion – makes it a material for houses standing in open areas..

Metal siding with imitation of a wooden surface

PVC siding has appeared relatively recently. As a protective coating for the facade, PVC siding has a number of significant advantages: it slightly increases the specific weight of the building, and therefore is suitable for finishing houses on shallow foundations; creates reliable protection of walls from atmospheric influences, including UV radiation, and has sufficient vapor permeability. At the same time, it is environmentally friendly, easy to use and durable.

Using vinyl siding, you can beat the texture of any natural material

Modern, practical and relatively inexpensive finishing material will well support the country style in its Western European modifications. Some types of vinyl siding imitate a debarked log, with this siding you can complete the styling of a country house as a Russian estate.

Tile

Facing tiles are preferable on non-shrinking frame-type buildings, on buildings made of materials with minimal shrinkage (foam or aerated concrete) or on the walls of a long-built building.

The texture, shape and color of facade tiles are very diverse.

Ceramic tiles are equally appropriate in the classic design of facades, and in the modern, in a monolithic version of wall decoration and as accent fragments combined with contrasting textures.

Installation work can be done independently, it is enough to have a little experience in this area

If imitation of brick or chopped stone is used, it is worth paying attention to the color of the grout in order to achieve the most expressive effect. If the basement and the perimeters of the openings are faced with large elements, and the planes of the walls – with smaller ones, then the exterior becomes monumental and respectable.

Stone

A durable, reliable and almost eternal finishing material, the decorative possibilities of which are incredibly wide and versatile. Limestone and sandstone are indispensable finishing elements in the design of the facades of an English cottage; granite and marble – in the design of the basement and openings for a classic country house, dolomite – in giving a country house a unique Mediterranean flavor.

Facing the facade with a stone takes a lot of time, while high-quality surface preparation is required

But this design will give the house a chic representative look.

Artificial stone has similar performance characteristics, but much richer in terms of colors and textures. In addition, resin stone tolerates restoration well.

Brick

A solid, solid and venerable look to a country house in the Art Nouveau style will be given by finishing the facade with bricks, especially with a bright, contrasting color grout.

Brick is the oldest finishing material

Usually brick cladding is carried out simultaneously with the construction of the walls. However, the subsequent finishing of facades is also possible, for the sake of strengthening and decorating outdated unpresentable structures. It is important to arrange high-quality ventilation here in order to prevent the destruction of the building material of the walls. Brick, like stone, increases the heat and sound insulation of the load-bearing walls of the house.

Brick is often used in combination with other finishing materials.

The choice of materials for facing facades, in addition to the architectural style, is influenced by many aspects: their specific gravity, thermal insulation properties, environmental friendliness, relief and climatic features of the building site.

DIY facade design

It is unnecessary to remind that design requires extensive knowledge in the field of regulations and free orientation in the specifics of the building materials market; this can be a bit tricky for a layman. Alteration of the facade of a previously built house is complicated by the need to completely dismantle the old decor. Also, not all finishing work can be done with high quality, relying only on ingenuity. In some cases, it will be cheaper to resort to the help of professional designers and experienced finishers..

Facade cladding can change the appearance of the house beyond recognition

The whole process of finishing the facade can be divided into four stages:

The starting point of the design project of the facade of a country house is the moment of transferring the idea to paper, that is, creating a sketch of the future decoration. Its development implies careful thought over every aspect – from color combinations to the location of all decorative elements in relation to the structure of the house..
The second phase is design. For an already built house, this requires accurate measurements of all external planes. Many computer programs allow visualization: a three-dimensional model makes it possible to evaluate and, if necessary, adjust the design project.
Now you can start calculating costs. The calculation of consumables and installation work will show the approximate amount of costs.
The final stage – decoration – can be done independently, it is enough to follow the principle of unity of individual decorative details of the stylistic integrity of the entire exterior.

Decorating methods

The classic way to decorate a facade is landscaping. Pastoral flower boxes or pots suspended from window sills, or climbing roses, grapes and ivy, entwining columns or crawling along the walls and shading windows, will become a romantic and cozy design element. The contrast of carved greenery and stone or brickwork, delicate and bright petals against a gray plaster background will help create a unique mood for the whole house. This technique is appropriate for classic and rustic design styles..

Vertical gardening of the facade with climbing plants

One of the modern methods is backlighting. By playing with light, you can highlight individual architectural details and create various visual effects. In houses of Art Nouveau or neo-loft style, spacious display windows become lighting elements, and, by supporting them with additional lamps, you can enhance the sound of the style.