Last updated on · ⓘ How we make our designs
Check out our classic modern house designs that show how timeless charm and simple architecture create a winning combination.
These homes are our love letters to “classic” meeting “modern” without either one getting offended.
We borrowed from manors, villas, cottages, and even a few beach resorts, then pared everything down to clean lines, big glass, calm symmetry, and light that does most of the decorating for you.
As you move through the designs, watch how entries are staged. Porticos, floating steps, water courts, long walkways. Each one slowing you down just enough so arriving feels like a small event, not just “keys, door, done.”
Pay a bit of attention to the lighting and landscape as well. The soft uplights, tiny stair LEDs, and those very intentional palms, hedges, and grasses all act like supporting cast for the facades.
If you catch yourself picturing evening drinks on a balcony or pretending the driveway is a red carpet, that’s honestly the goal.
Sunlit Coastal Modern Entryway
This design leans into that sunny coastal vibe with a tall, gallery-like entry framed in warm bronze-toned mullions. The oversized pivot door feels almost theatrical, but it quietly sets the tone for generous ceiling heights and a calm, airy interior behind it.
Slim vertical windows repeat across the façade like a rhythm, keeping everything balanced while pulling daylight deep into the rooms. Softly lit stone steps and tailored greenery ground the whole composition, proving you can be both resort-level elegant and still feel like home, not a museum you’re scared to walk into.
Palm-Lined Marble Modern Facade
The strong geometry of this home mixes creamy marble, dark metal panels, and warm wood to create a facade that feels both sharp and welcoming, kind of like a well-dressed neighbor who actually says hi. Broad glass walls open the living spaces to the street and garden, letting in soft coastal light while keeping the lines crisp and super clean.
Those vertical wood slats and deep overhangs aren’t just there to look pretty, they filter light, add privacy, and keep the sun from roasting the interiors at midday. Layered steps, planters, and palms gently pull you up to the front door, so the whole place feels like it’s easing you into the house rather than just dropping you at a flat, boring entrance.
Quiet Courtyard-Inspired Suburban Manor
This clean-lined home plays with symmetry and softness, pairing a crisp stucco-and-brick shell with warm wood at the front door so it never feels cold. Tall black-framed windows pull in daylight from every side, while the petite balcony over the entry adds just enough drama without shouting about it.
We borrowed cues from classic European manors—the arched doorway, the gentle bay, the hipped roof—and then stripped away the fussy bits to keep it fresh and modern. Even the simple hedge-lined walk and slim columns are doing quiet work, guiding you in and framing the facade so the whole place feels calm, ordered, and honestly kind of hard to leave.
Evening Chic Cityfront Retreat
Tall stone pilasters and creamy stucco give the front a quiet, European confidence, while those black-framed windows keep it feeling crisp and very today. The centered balcony and hefty lantern over the dark wood door add just enough drama, like the house dressed up a bit for the evening.
Soft, layered lighting was a big deal here, so the wall sconces and uplighting wash the facade without turning it into a spotlighted stage. Clean marble steps, precise hedges, and those chunky planters of greenery frame the entry in a way that feels welcoming but still a little bit grand, because why not.
Symmetry-Loving Garden Reflecting Villa
Tall, crisp walls frame huge windows, while that warm wood entry portal steals the show like it knows it’s the main character. The long walkway floating over shallow reflecting pools slows you down on purpose, so by the time you hit that oversized door you’ve already shifted into “this is special” mode.
Around the side, the terraces, pergola, and pool all line up in clean, almost obsessive geometry, which is exactly why the whole place feels calm instead of fussy. We pulled in slender cypress, tight box hedges, and low grasses to soften the strong lines, letting the landscape blur the edges so the architecture feels relaxed, not like it’s trying too hard.
Layered Glass Retreat With Pool
This place plays with stacked boxes of glass, warm wood, and crisp white frames, so the whole thing feels like it was carefully balanced instead of just built. Floor‑to‑ceiling windows pull in daylight from sunrise to cocktail hour, while that slim lap pool mirrors the long driveway lines and keeps the whole yard feeling calm and stretched out.
We wrapped the upper levels in horizontal wood panels to soften the strong geometry, a little like giving a sharp suit a cozy sweater so it doesn’t look too serious. The rooftop terrace, low planters, and razor‑straight paving joints all work together to guide the eye forward, making the house feel bigger, lighter, and honestly, a bit like a grown‑up treehouse with better lighting.
Warm Timber Framed Forest Haven
This home leans into its forest backdrop, pairing tall black-framed windows with vertical cedar siding that feels almost like tree trunks pulled into the design. We balanced the warmth of the timber with cool stone columns and crisp metal roofing, so it feels cozy without sliding into mountain-cabin cosplay.
The large glass entry and frosted garage door pull in soft light, making the whole front glow gently at dusk, which is exactly when neighbors start slowing down as they pass. Layered rooflines, deep overhangs, and carefully stacked volumes aren’t just for good looks either, they help control sun, shed rain cleanly, and quietly make the whole place feel calm and well put together.
Urban Veranda Boxhouse Retreat
Tall windows, crisp vertical lines, and that generous roof overhang all work together to make this house feel a bit like a modern veranda with walls. We played with a calm palette of warm siding and soft white frames so the dark window grids pop without shouting at the neighbors.
The slim columns and floating concrete carport were inspired by classic porticos, but we stripped away the fuss to keep it clean and functional. Around it, the simple lawn and low planter keep your focus on the facade, proving you don’t need a jungle of landscaping to make a front elevation feel welcoming and put-together.
Quiet Gabled Cottage With Glass Canopy
The house plays with that classic cottage silhouette but stretches it taller with those slim, elegant windows that pour light straight through the rooms. We wrapped the exterior in crisp white siding and a soft-toned roof so it feels fresh, almost like a blank page you’d actually want to live in.
Out front, the floating glass canopy is doing double duty, keeping guests dry while giving the entry a light, modern halo instead of a heavy porch. The low planter and layered steps gently stage the arrival, guiding you from the paver court up to the door in a way that feels simple, calm, and just a tiny bit fancy without trying too hard.
Calm Pavilion Inspired Water Courtyard Home
This place leans into a quiet, almost resort-like symmetry, with that broad metal roof floating over creamy stucco walls and warm wood accents. The centered stair, flanked by neat hedges and slim trees, pulls you straight toward the tall timber door like it’s been waiting there all day just for you.
We drew a lot from classic Mediterranean villas, then dialed everything down to clean lines and big glass panes so the light and garden views do most of the talking. Those slim water channels hugging the house aren’t just pretty; they bounce light into the interiors, cool the microclimate a touch, and make every arrival feel a little bit like checking into a calm, grown‑up retreat.
Soft-Edged Streetfront Linear Oasis
This design leans into clean lines but keeps the mood soft with pale vertical wood, warm stucco, and those generous panes of glass that almost feel like calm eyes facing the street. The low-slung volume in front and the taller wing above play off each other, so the house feels grounded but still a bit like it’s ready to lift off for a weekend away.
We borrowed from mid-century California vibes and tuned them for a quieter, more energy-conscious life, which is why the overhanging roofs shade key windows and the slim frames keep the glass looking light, not chunky. Drought-tolerant planting and the concrete planters stitch the house into its site, so the whole place reads as one simple, thoughtful gesture instead of a big box plopped on the block.
Clifftop Horizon-Hugging Glass Retreat
This coastal home leans right into the horizon line, stretching out in one clean concrete plane so the sea almost sneaks into the living room. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels keep the façade light and quiet, letting the changing sky do most of the decorating work for us.
We wrapped the structure with deep overhangs to shade the glass, so it feels cool and calm even when the sun is busy showing off, and yes, that does save a chunk of energy too. The slim infinity pool runs along the terrace edge like a mirrored ribbon, softening the hard geometry and letting the house literally reflect the landscape it’s borrowing.
Sunlit Portico Stonefront City Manor
Tall classical columns frame the double-height entry, while slim black-framed windows keep everything feeling light and a bit cinematic, like you might spill coffee just staring up at it. Warm stone accents and those rich timber doors soften the crisp white facade so it feels inviting instead of museum-serious.
On the right, arched garage doors and the glass-railed terrace echo the front rhythm, balancing formality with a relaxed outdoor living vibe. The clipped hedges and sculpted topiary are not just for show either; they sketch out gentle geometric lines that guide you to the entrance and quietly underline the home’s love of symmetry.
Compact Villa With Parisian Street Flair
This house leans into a playful neoclassical vibe, with fluted columns and crisp cornices giving it that slightly formal, “dressed for dinner” look. The tall black-framed windows stretch the facade vertically, pulling in daylight while the warm wall sconces soften everything at night so it feels more boutique hotel than museum.
We tucked in slim balconies with planters to break the symmetry just enough, so it feels lived-in rather than stiff, and they frame those big openings like little outdoor rooms in the sky. Down at street level, the marble entry, wood-and-metal gate, and cozy car porch ceiling work together to welcome you in gently, turning a compact city plot into something that feels surprisingly grand without trying too hard.
Warm Plinth Over Water House
The house plays with calm reflections, letting the water court double the glow of those big, almost drama-free windows. We pushed the tall timber entry door forward like a warm plinth, so the whole place feels quietly grand without yelling about it.
Inspiration came from those serene gallery courtyards, where every step feels deliberate and the air slows down a bit. Floating concrete pads over the water, slim black framing, and soft landscaping all do their job together, guiding you in and making the facade feel crisp, welcoming, and just a touch show-offy in the best way.
Neoclassical Lantern Courtyard Residence
Tall paired columns frame the entry like a quiet little stage, while the dark hipped roof sits above it all like a tailored hat. Soft uplighting and layers of French doors turn the façade into a glowing lantern, giving the architecture a sense of welcome rather than formality overload.
Slim vertical proportions, deep eaves, and clean molding lines keep the classical language feeling light and modern, so it doesn’t slide into museum territory. The attached canopy, ribbon of windows, and tight greenery edging the walk were all planned to guide the eye smoothly across the front, making every arrival feel just a bit like pulling up to a boutique hotel.
Lakeside Glass Ribbon Retreat
Floor-to-ceiling glass runs the entire length of the house, turning the interior into a quiet spectator of the lake and tall pines. The long flat roof and slim black framing keep the whole structure feeling like a low, calm line on the horizon, almost like it’s trying not to upstage the view.
The pool mirrors the lake beside it, creating this neat double-water effect that blurs where the terrace ends and nature begins. Clean stone paving, simple planters, and soft grasses keep the palette restrained, so every design move is about framing reflections, catching changing light, and making that walk along the edge feel just a little bit cinematic.
Twilight Terrace Neo Manor
The facade leans into a calm, urban elegance, with creamy stucco walls sharply outlined by charcoal window frames and trim that make everything look crisply underlined. Generous windows and French doors glow warmly in the evening, so the whole house feels like it’s gently exhaling light onto the street.
Those layered cornices and strong horizontal bands aren’t just for show, they give the house a grounded, tailored look while quietly hiding transitions between levels and rooflines. A slim balcony, simple railings, and that neat cobblestone entry keep the composition refined yet friendly, like it’s dressed up for a dinner party but still fine with you showing up in jeans.
Calm Graphite Courtyard Front Door
The design leans into a really calm, graphite palette, letting the stone column do the quiet talking as a vertical anchor. Slim black metal trim and that oversized solid door keep everything looking sharp, almost like a well-tailored suit for the house.
Glass sidelights wrap the entry, pulling daylight deep inside so the foyer doesn’t need to work overtime with artificial lighting. A simple concrete stoop, pared-back planter, and flush modern sconces keep the focus on clean lines and easy maintenance, because not every beautiful thing has to be high drama—or high upkeep.
Soft Stone Terrace With Framed Views
This home leans into that sweet spot between classic symmetry and laid-back hillside living, with its tall columns acting like quiet guardians around all that glass. The stone terrace steps and layered greenery pull you in gently, almost like the house is taking a deep breath before you arrive.
We drew a lot from traditional portico entries, then stripped them down and paired them with slim black-framed windows and glass balustrades so the mountain views stay front and center. Warm recessed lighting tucked under the eaves and at the stair nosings gives the architecture a soft glow at dusk, turning what could have felt formal into something surprisingly welcoming and a bit cinematic.
Twilight Framed Terraces Modern Residence
Tall glass panes and slim vertical columns give the front elevation a kind of quiet drama, like the house dressed up in a tailored suit. The extended flat roofs with wood soffits stretch outward to create deep terraces, softening the transition from driveway to front door and keeping the entry nicely sheltered when the weather gets moody.
We played with warm and cool contrasts here on purpose: creamy stone, dark metal bands, and that big walnut door make the whole composition feel calm but not sleepy. Low hedges, precise planters, and the generous paved forecourt reflect the light back onto the facade, so the architecture almost glows without shouting about it.
Sunwashed Manor With Balcony Crown
Tall, black-framed windows stack neatly across the facade, giving the house that quiet confidence of a suit that actually fits. The pale stone cladding and crisp cornices pull from classic European townhouses, but the lean lines and glass balcony keep it from feeling stuffy or museum-like.
Up front, the raised entry canopy on stout columns works almost like a little stage, turning everyday arrivals into a tiny moment of ceremony. Curved planters and low hedges soften all the geometry at ground level, guiding you naturally to the door while sneaking in a bit of garden romance around the very organized layout.
Palm Grove Grandlight Column Villa
Tall fluted columns carry a deep portico that feels a bit like arriving at an old-world opera house, only this one is parked happily in a lush palm garden. The chandelier hanging in the circular ceiling recess adds a soft glow that spills down the steps, and those tiny stair lights quietly do the red-carpet job without shouting about it.
We kept the façade crisp and layered with pale stone and slim vertical windows, so all that classical detailing still feels light and airy in the tropical climate. The side car pavilion, clean lawn edges, and low landscape lighting pull the whole thing together, making the house look formal but not stiff, like it put on a tuxedo and then slipped off the tie.
Rainlit Portico Garden Manor
The house leans into calm symmetry, with those tall front columns quietly pretending they’re from an old-world estate, while the slim black window frames keep everything feeling crisp and current. Soft stone tones, a deep wood entry door, and that glossy, rain-damp drive all work together so the facade almost feels like it’s being staged for a movie, just without the drama.
We pulled cues from classic manors but stretched the rooflines and balcony details to suit a softer, tropical light, so shade and breeze do half the comfort work. Generous windows, sheltered by deep eaves and framed by layered greenery, make sure the interior glows at dusk while the exterior lighting picks out every edge, turning the front walk into a pretty decent “wow” moment at the end of the day.
Golden Portico Glowstone Manor
The design leans into clean symmetry and big, confident moves, with those tall black-framed windows stretching up like they’re in a friendly competition with the trees. Warm cove lighting tucked into the deep overhangs wraps the whole façade in a golden halo, so it almost looks like the house turned its own lights down low for mood.
We pulled from classic manor proportions but stripped out the fuss, keeping the stone cladding crisp and pairing it with dark metal accents so it feels timeless without feeling stiff. The layered entry, from the broad steps to the glowing canopy and crystal chandelier, is all about slowing you down for a second, giving this everyday home just a little “hotel arrival” drama, but without needing a valet out front.
Bricklined Manor With Modern Stone Frame
This house leans into symmetry, using brick, limestone, and slate-toned stone to feel both classic and pretty current at the same time. Black-framed windows and that bold central portico sharpen everything up, so the whole front feels like it’s quietly posing for a magazine cover.
We pulled in cues from traditional European townhouses—the dormer, the formal steps, the tall doors—and then softened it with warm copper awnings and low garden walls of greenery. Even the tiny step lights and carefully clipped hedges do a job here, guiding you to the door while making the walk up feel just a little more like a red-carpet moment.
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