20 Modern One Story Houses With Garages and Zero Compromise

Last updated on May 7, 2026 · How we make our designs

Check out our modern one story home designs and see how we keep the garage almost out of sight. We let the rooflines and patios do the talking, and make the front of the house feel welcoming instead of car-first.

We like one story houses when they feel settled, not puffed up, and these designs do exactly that. The garages are tucked in, wrapped in wood, or nudged to the side so the front of the home says hello instead of just announcing where the car sleeps.

A lot of these ideas came from place as much as style, from prairie lines and desert courtyards to coastal pavilions, forest retreats, and hillside homes by the sea. You will notice long rooflines, deep overhangs, warm stone and timber, and plans that open to patios, decks, and quiet little courts.

Pay attention to how each house stays low and calm, how the windows stretch living spaces outward, and how the garage is handled without getting bossy. That part matters more than people think, because a good garage can help a house look sharp and not like it ate the whole front elevation.

Angular Modern Ranch With Garage

1/21
Modern one story house with wood garage and metal roof
More like this: Modern Houses Suburban Houses
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We shaped this one story home with long sloping roof planes and a low profile that feels calm and grounded, inspired by modern prairie homes but trimmed down to something cleaner and sharper. The white exterior and warm wood wrapped garage balance each other really nicely, so the front feels polished without getting fussy.

Large black framed windows stretch the living spaces toward the patio, and the slim pergola gives the outdoor dining area a bit of cover and a clear sense of place. Up front, the curved driveway softens all those crisp angles, because even a sleek house benefits from one friendly gesture so it does not look grumpy.

Mesa Courtyard Hideaway

2/21
Modern desert home with flat roof garage
More like this: Modern Houses Suburban Houses Dream Homes
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This low desert home leans into the landscape with crisp flat rooflines, warm rust toned panels, and pale concrete walls that feel carved right out of the site. We shaped the garage as a clean front volume so the entry court gets a little privacy, which is always nice when the driveway is acting bold.

The sheltered patio at the center pulls indoor and outdoor living together, while long horizontal windows keep the whole place feeling calm and grounded. It was inspired by desert modernism and the wide mountain setting, so every overhang, planter, and textured surface helps the house stay cool, look sharp, and sit easy in the sand.

Timberline Hearth Retreat

3/21
Modern black and stone single story house with garage in autumn woods
More like this: Modern Houses Forest Houses
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This single level home stretches low across the site with a crisp folded roof, dark cladding, and pale stone walls that give it a refined cabin feel without going full lumberjack. We tucked the garage into the main volume so the front stays clean and calm, while the warm wood door keeps all that charcoal from feeling too serious.

The long deck and big corner windows pull the living spaces right out toward the trees, and the tall stone chimney gives the whole composition a grounded center. It was inspired by Nordic retreats and classic woodland lodges, so it feels snug, simple, and polished enough to make fallen leaves look like part of the styling.

Snowfield Gable Court

4/21
Modern one story house with attached garage in snow
More like this: Modern Houses
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The plan folds into an L shape around a sheltered terrace which is a smart move for a house that clearly knows winter is boss. Steep metal roofs shrug off snow fast while the long low profile keeps everything calm and neatly composed.

Warm wood cladding softens the crisp white walls and concrete base so the exterior feels modern without going cold or fussy. We paired the garage with a covered entry because coming home should feel easy and not like a tiny polar mission.

Tideglass Dune Pavilion

5/21
Modern beachfront one story house with garage
More like this: Beach Houses Modern Houses Dream Homes
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Set low in the dunes, this coastal design keeps a calm profile with flat rooflines, long bands of glass, and a garage volume that feels neatly tucked forward instead of bossy. The composition was inspired by the horizon itself, so everything stretches outward and stays clean, which lets the house sit easy against the ocean rather than trying to outshine it.

Warm wood soffits and pale stone walls soften the crisp geometry, while the sheltered courtyard entry and broad deck make outdoor living feel built in, not added later. Even the fire pit terrace gets a prime seat by the water, because when the view is this good the house can brag a tiny bit.

Obsidian Forest Bungalow

6/21
One story black modern house with garage in forest
More like this: Modern Houses Forest Houses Gardens
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The long low roofline and dark cladding let this one story home tuck into the trees like it knows the neighborhood rules. Brick panels, broad windows, and the side set garage keep the front clean and calm, with just enough edge to feel cool without showing off.

We shaped the entry as a sheltered court with concrete walls, layered planting, and a raised wood deck that makes arrival feel a lot nicer than your average driveway moment. It pulls from rainy Northwest hillsides, so the deep overhangs, sturdy finishes, and snug outdoor room all make sense when the weather gets moody.

Prairie Crosswind House

7/21
Modern one story prairie house with garage
More like this: Modern Houses Dream Homes Landscapes
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Low metal roof planes stretch outward like they are trying to catch the horizon, giving this one story home a calm grounded shape that suits the open prairie. The mix of pale stucco, weathered wood, and black framed glass keeps it crisp and modern without getting too fancy about it.

The garage sits as its own cedar wrapped volume, which makes the arrival feel more like a small compound and less like a suburban box with a car hole. Broad patios tuck under deep overhangs at the corners, a smart move for shelter and views, and honestly a pretty great excuse to sit outside and watch the grass do its thing.

Palmcrest Wingroof Villa

8/21
Modern tropical one story house with garage and sloped roof
More like this: Beach Houses Modern Houses
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The long sloped roof gives this coastal home a breezy, almost surfing feel, like the whole place leaned toward the ocean on purpose. We kept the profile low and stretched out so it feels calm and settled, while the wood trim warms up the clean modern lines before they get too stiff.

The garage is folded neatly into the front volume, and the entry path slips beside a narrow reflecting pool that makes the arrival feel cool and collected. Big corner windows and generous overhangs open the rooms to the lush garden and sea beyond, which is pretty handy when the sun starts showing off.

Olive Coast Foldroof House

9/21
One story modern stucco house with garage in an olive grove
More like this: Mediterranean Houses Modern Houses Villas Landscapes
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This house leans into its Mediterranean hillside setting with sandy plaster walls, a calm low profile, and one broad roof plane that seems to skim over the rooms. The shape keeps it tucked into the landscape, which is smart and also a lot less showy than some houses that clearly had too much coffee.

Floor to ceiling glass opens the living side to the terrace and pool, while the garage is wrapped in dark vertical slats so it blends in instead of barging into the view. Stone garden walls, gravel courts, and clipped planting echo the old farm terraces around it, giving the whole place a clean modern feel with roots that go way back.

Canyon Steel Outlook

10/21
Modern desert home with garage and sloped roof
More like this: Modern Houses Landscapes Dream Homes
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Inspired by the broad canyon ledges around it, this one story design stays low and stretched out, with crisp shed roofs that seem to skim the desert floor. Dark stucco, pale stone, and weathered steel give it that rugged polished look, like it cleaned up nicely without trying too hard.

The garage is tucked into a simple side volume, so the front entry still feels welcoming instead of all driveway and no hello. A walled courtyard, big corner windows, and deep overhangs add privacy, frame the views, and keep the whole place cool and settled in the red earth.

Aerie Over the Vines

11/21
Modern one story hillside home with garage and vineyard views
More like this: Villas Modern Houses Landscapes
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Set along the slope like it always belonged there, this long low home borrows its calm from the vineyard rows and distant hills. The flat roof stretches out in one clean move, while the stone base tucks the garage into the grade so the whole place feels grounded, not bulky.

Full height glass and a shaded terrace run the length of the house, giving every main room a front row seat to the valley, which is a pretty smug perk. Warm wood soffits, crisp white walls, and bands of planting soften the sharp lines, so the modern look stays polished without feeling like it might scold you.

Mistgrove Skillion House

12/21
Modern wood-clad house with garage in a misty redwood forest
More like this: Forest Houses Modern Houses
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This one story home tucks into the redwoods with a long sloped roof and a low profile that stays calm against the towering trees. The cedar style cladding and black metal roof give it that clean modern look, but it still feels cozy enough that you half expect it to smell like coffee and rain.

We shaped the garage as a simple side wing so the front stays neat and the entry walk gets a gentle little curve instead of a straight shot that feels too stiff. Big corner windows, deep overhangs, and broad decks pull the house outward into the forest, which is important here because a setting this good would be rude to ignore.

Jacaranda Courtyard Cubehome

13/21
Modern white courtyard house with wood garage door
More like this: Modern Houses Suburban Houses
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White stucco volumes and warm cedar panels fold around a tucked courtyard, with the garage pushed forward like a neat little sidekick. That move keeps the street face calm and gives the living areas privacy, which is nice, without making the house feel standoffish.

The crisp flat roofs and long ribbon windows pull from West Coast modernism, while the pale brick chimney and slatted fencing stop it from feeling too boxy and serious. Dry planting, broad concrete paving, and those clean corner turns make the whole place feel relaxed and polished, kind of like it has its shoes off but still looks sharp.

Rain Cedar Garden Home

14/21
Modern one story house with garage and fern garden
More like this: Modern Houses Forest Houses Gardens
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This one level home leans into the rainy woodland setting with broad sloped roofs, charcoal metal edges, and warm cedar planes tucked between smooth concrete walls. We shaped it to feel grounded and sheltered, the kind of place that looks calm even when the weather is showing off a little.

The garage is folded neatly into the front elevation, while the covered entry and small deck pull you past the driveway and into the garden. Tall glass at the corners keeps the rooms connected to the ferns, stone swales, and mossy planting beds, which makes the whole house feel softer and a bit less buttoned up.

Saguaro Lantern Court

15/21
Single story modern desert home with garage and courtyard
More like this: Modern Houses Dream Homes Suburban Houses
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This one spreads out in a soft L shape, wrapping a sheltered courtyard that quickly becomes the favorite hangout spot. Creamy stone walls, warm wood cladding, and crisp black gabled roofs give it a clean desert look that feels polished without getting too fancy.

We borrowed from Southwestern ranch forms, then pared everything back with taller glass, a slim covered terrace, and a garage volume that sits neatly up front. The gravel garden, sculptural plantings, and that lone courtyard tree keep the whole place grounded, which is nice because modern houses can get a bit full of themselves.

Driftwater Shedroof Lodge

16/21
Riverside modern house with detached garage
More like this: Modern Houses Lake Houses Forest Houses
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Set close to the riverbank, this one story home uses a sharp folded roof and a detached garage to keep the whole composition clean and easygoing. The form feels inspired by contemporary cabins and utility barns, which is a nice way of saying it looks great without getting fussy.

Warm wood panels, soft stucco, and dark framed windows give the exterior a grounded look that fits the autumn setting really well. The covered porch, riverside deck, and corner glass nudge everyday living toward the water, because a view like that should not be wasted on a hallway.

Redcliff Skydeck House

17/21
One story modern house with garage on a canyon edge
More like this: Modern Houses Dream Homes Landscapes
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Set right at the canyon rim, this low modern home keeps its profile calm and horizontal so the landscape stays the star. The flat roof, concrete exterior, and warm wood garage door give it a crisp desert character that feels tough without showing off.

We shaped the plan to follow the slope, with a tucked entry on one side and a terrace reaching toward the view on the other. Deep overhangs, broad corner windows, and terraced native planting help it sit naturally in the site, like it belongs there and knows it.

Bloomstone Orchard House

18/21
One story modern house with garage in blooming orchard
More like this: Modern Houses Farmhouses Landscapes
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This long low home borrows the calm of the orchard around it, with pale brick, smooth stucco, and a dark metal roof that keeps the profile crisp. The attached garage tucks into the front bar so the facade stays clean and balanced, which is always nice when cars insist on joining the composition.

Black framed glass openings stretch across the main elevation and turn toward a sheltered terrace under a pergola, giving the plan a quiet courtyard feel without any fuss. That mix of farmhouse simplicity and polished modern lines makes the house feel grounded and fresh, like it knows exactly where it belongs.

Juniper Bend Poolcourt

19/21
Modern one story house with garage and pool on a corner lot
More like this: Modern Houses Suburban Houses
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The design stretches across the corner lot with a series of crisp gables, giving the house a clean profile that feels calm instead of showy. A dark standing seam roof caps the white exterior and warm wood cladding, which keeps the garage and entry from feeling like they showed up to different parties.

The side courtyard pulls the pool right into everyday life, framed by big glass and a low fence that adds privacy without making the place feel closed off. Simple planting, wide paving, and the tucked in outdoor lounge make the whole layout easy to read and easy to live with, which is kind of the point.

Lichen Coast Crossform

20/21
Black one story house with garage on a rocky coast
More like this: Modern Houses Beach Houses Landscapes
© Design by BuildGreenNewHomes
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Set low against the wild shoreline, this one story design uses a cross shaped plan and crisp metal rooflines to settle into the rough terrain without looking timid about it. The form feels inspired by volcanic ground and ocean weather, so each wing reaches for a different view while also giving the house a bit of shelter from those not exactly friendly winds.

Dark vertical cladding helps the garage and living spaces read as one clean composition, while the pale concrete walls carve out a calm entry court that feels protected and easy. Big glass corners and the broad timber deck open the home toward the sea, which is smart because when the landscape looks like this, you let it show off a little.

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20 Modern One Story Houses With Garages and Zero Compromise
More like this: Modern Houses Suburban Houses Forest Houses Landscapes
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