When we picture our dream home, it’s often the exterior that comes to life first — the silhouette at sunset, the richness of natural textures, the way it sits confidently on the block.
Yet the true magic of a luxury home’s exterior isn’t just in how it looks. It’s in how thoughtfully it’s designed to live with you, grow with you, and stand beautifully through time.
To help you shape an exterior that feels distinctly yours, we’ve gathered the design ideas and principles we return to again and again — all drawn from decades of experience bringing custom homes to life across Western Australia.
Why the exterior matters more than you might think
Your home’s exterior is more than just a first impression. It sets the tone for how you come and go, unwind outside, and move through the spaces that connect your home to the world outside.
It also plays a much bigger role in daily life than most people realise. Think of the quiet welcome of a tree-lined driveway or the cool relief of a shaded alfresco on a summer afternoon. These moments are all shaped by thoughtful exterior design.
At the heart of it, great exterior design is all about supporting your lifestyle. As Stannard Homes Designer Sam Jenkins explains:
‘Some people want bold, high-contrast facades with real street presence. Others prefer a more private, understated aesthetic. The important thing is that the exterior speaks to how you want to live, and that it works in harmony with the floorplan.’
At Stannard Homes, we believe every great exterior starts with clear intent. That’s why our design process balances form and function from the very beginning, so your home’s exterior feels as refined and considered as the spaces within.
Key design principles behind a luxury home exterior
So what actually makes an exterior feel refined, timeless and distinctly high-end? While every home we build is different, there are a few luxury home exterior design ideas we return to time and again. These are the principles that give a facade its sense of purpose and lasting appeal.
1.Proportion and scale
Luxury is often felt in balance. A well-designed exterior doesn’t draw attention to any one element. It feels harmonious from every angle.
That could mean roof pitches that suit the overall structure, window placements that align with internal sightlines, and elevations that sit naturally within the landscape, without feeling bulky or out of proportion.
In the words of our design team, “A good façade comes from a well-developed plan. Elevations need to be considered from the start; otherwise, you’re retrofitting design onto a structure that’s already set.”
It’s this early attention to proportion that ensures the exterior works in step with the rest of the home, rather than feeling like an afterthought.
2.Cohesion across the build
A standout exterior doesn’t exist in isolation. The most successful designs are those that reflect the tone, texture and rhythm of what’s happening inside the home. But don’t be concerned here — this doesn’t mean your exterior should match your interior one-for-one. In fact, contrast can have powerful effects.
For example, picture matte and gloss, smooth render and textured cladding, symmetry and deliberate asymmetry. Essentially, what matters here is that each decision feels purposeful and part of the larger vision for your home.
3.Light and shadow play
A striking facade isn’t just about bold colours or complex textures. Often, it’s the way natural light and shadows interact with architectural features that gives a home its unique presence.
Architectural elements like recessed entryways, deep eaves, vertical battens and projecting windows are designed to catch and shape sunlight throughout the day. As light moves, these features cast changing shadows and highlights that add dimension and soften the home’s lines, making your exterior feel dynamic and alive.
Choosing materials that last and impress
Just like proportion, cohesion and light, materiality plays a standout role in how your home presents, and how it holds up over time.
In luxury exterior design, it’s not enough for materials to simply look good. They need to be chosen for their performance, their resilience in Western Australia’s climate, and how naturally they age in place.
That’s why, for us, choosing the right materials is always a well-considered part of our design process. Here are the trusted exterior materials we often recommend:
- Timber-look aluminum: Offers the warmth and texture of real timber without the upkeep. It’s a favourite for garage doors, soffits and vertical cladding, especially in coastal suburbs where timber can weather quickly.
- Natural stone: Natural stone brings a solid, lasting presence to your home, whether it’s used on the facade, around the entry or in garden walls. Each type of stone has its own unique texture and feel, creating a sense of quality and permanence that imitation materials just can’t match.
- Polished render and texture coats: Contemporary finishes like polished concrete or fine-grain renders deliver a sleek, durable exterior. They’re flexible in colour and tone, allowing for subtle contrast or strong visual anchors.
- Face brick: Particularly in glazed or custom blends, brick can be used to layer depth and pattern. It’s low-maintenance, highly durable and makes a striking impression when used with restraint.
Designing from the inside out
One of the most underrated luxury home exterior design ideas is starting from within. When the floor plan informs the facade, the result is an exterior that feels cohesive, considered and naturally aligned.
This approach allows for smarter design decisions, such as:
- Placing windows to frame key views and align with your interior layout.
- Setting wall heights that reflect internal proportions and maintain visual balance.
- Designing entryways and alfrescos that feel integrated, not tacked on.
- Incorporating architectural details that are grounded in the home’s structural logic.
By designing from the inside out, the home’s structure and exterior begin speaking the same language, one of balance and cohesion. At Stannard Homes, we use this principle on every project. Once the floor plan concept is finalised, we begin shaping the facade to complement it.
This ensures the exterior reflects not just your home’s style, but its practical and personal use. As our design team explains: ‘We’re not just adding a facade to a box. We want the whole structure to speak the same language.’
Different styles, same foundation
Once the home’s layout guides the facade, the possibilities for exterior style open up. Across Perth , several timeless styles continue to inspire luxury home exteriors, each grounded in the same principles of proportion, cohesion and thoughtful materiality.
Contemporary coastal
This design is defined by clean, horizontal lines and soft , soothing render tones that capture the laid-back elegance of coastal living. The timber-look cladding brings natural grain and depth to the exterior, offering the warmth of wood without the constant upkeep.
Outdoor living spaces flow seamlessly into the interiors, blurring the line between inside and out and inviting you to embrace the fresh coastal breeze at every turn.
Minimalist modern
Here, simplicity meets impact with strong geometric shapes and high-contrast colour palettes. Oversized windows and open voids maximise light and connection to the outside. And details like slim eaves and skillion rooflines add sleek refinement, which reinforces a sense of understated luxury.
Refined traditional
Blending classic and modern, this style reinterprets familiar forms, like pitched roofs and gables, using contemporary materials and restrained detailing. Thoughtful use of feature brick and subtle mouldings creates a timeless look that feels both elegant and fresh. Symmetry and layering lend a harmonious rhythm to the facade.
Original and textural
For those who love natural warmth and tactile interest, this approach celebrates materials like stone and wood tones. Asymmetrical balance is achieved through varied planting, stepped levels or irregular forms. The result is a grounded, relaxed exterior that ages beautifully over time.
Adapting to your site and climate
A hallmark of refined exterior design, and one that sets luxury homes apart, is how well the home responds to its natural setting.
At Stannard Homes, one of the first things we look at isn’t just style, but site. Why? Because a beautiful design that doesn’t work for your block, your environment, or your lifestyle won’t feel luxurious for very long.
Here are just a few considerations we factor into every exterior design:
Orientation & solar access
We shape the exterior form, including rooflines, eaves and window placements, to maximise solar access, capturing beneficial light and warmth throughout the year. North-facing living areas then benefit from passive heat in winter, while shaded outdoor zones stay comfortable on hot afternoons.
Wind exposure
We carefully consider prevailing wind patterns when designing the home’s exterior. Elements like wall heights, entry positioning and screening are strategically placed to deflect strong winds and create pockets of protection. This makes sure outdoor areas, especially courtyards and alfrescos, feel sheltered, comfortable and usable year-round.
Coastal or fire-prone zones
Blocks near the coast or in designated bushfire areas call for a more rigorous material palette. We specify cladding, roofing and detailing that meet strict durability and compliance standards, such as non-corrosive metals, fire-rated boards and salt-resistant finishes.
These products stand up to sea air, intense UV and ember attack, so your home’s exterior keeps its structural integrity and visual appeal for decades, not just seasons.
Sloped blocks or irregular shapes
Every site has its own character, and a luxury home should respond to that. On sloping blocks or irregularly shaped lots, we design the front elevation and overall form to follow the contours of the land.
That might mean stepping the structure gradually down the slope or adjusting massing to maintain visual balance. This approach not only enhances street appeal but also avoids harsh retaining walls and awkward transitions, which creates a much smoother connection between the home and its natural surroundings.
Start the conversation early
When it comes to your home’s exterior, early planning lays the foundation for better outcomes. By sharing your vision for the exterior from the outset, we’re able to explore design opportunities that might not be possible later in the process.
As our design team emphasises, ‘When clients start talking about their vision for the exterior early, it opens up so many more possibilities.’
Early collaboration allows us to:
- Guide the style direction from day one.
- Select layout features that enhance the facade.
- Plan materials with availability, cost and climate in mind.
- Navigate council requirements without last-minute changes.
Let’s start crafting your home’s exterior with purpose
From facade styling to site response, the earlier we collaborate, the more design opportunities we can unlock together.
At Stannard Homes, we take the time to listen and understand how you want your home to look, perform and feel, and then we bring it all together through a thoughtful, tailored design process.
Our experienced team works closely with you from the earliest sketches through to construction, making sure every detail, big or small, feels deliberate, polished and uniquely yours.
So if you’re building your forever home, let’s talk. Book a consultation today and discover what’s possible when great design starts early.
