10 Modern Home Designs to Inspire

Minimalistic, flooded with natural light and functionality are the three keys to any modern home. These homes have consistent design aspects, such as an extreme aversion to pitched roofs, straight lines on the exterior and large windows. They are inspired by the need to be functional. They are also notorious for making great use of the surrounding environment and how they use natural sunlight to their benefit. Each room is designed with a distinct purpose and no space is considered wasted in a modern home.

Modern homes also tend to choose materials that are resilient to the landscape’s elements, yet also flow with the look of their location. Structural elements are generally showcased on the interior and provide a sense of “truth” to the home – meaning all structural elements are out in the open in an honest fashion, creating a sense of peace to the home owners. (Distinct Build, 2016)

Not sure how to make your new home unique? Look at the following examples, to provide you with inspirations for your future home!

1. Minimalistic Drought Friendly

This home, located in Costa Mesa, California, features a drought-friendly front lawn with a minimalistic front profile. Re-imagined by designer Kristine Hedley, the floor has been completely opened up in order to allow more natural light to infiltrate the space. The floors in the home are made of beautifully formed concrete which gives the home an overall classy feel. The home is low maintenance and perfectly functional for a young family. It sports a classical looking pitched roof; however, the “attic” space is adequately used in order to ensure that no space is wasted here. (SoCal Modern, 2016)

2. Mid-century Modern Pool Home, “Rancho”

This one-storey mid-century pool home boosts an abundance of natural light due to the wall-to-wall windows that overlook the large, inviting pool. Stepping outside from the living and kitchen area will lead homeowners to their backyard oasis – shielded by a high fence and plants that create a calming sense of privacy. The ceiling is tongued and grooved and provides viewing access to the open beams, creating that mid-century feel. The roof is pitched; however it is exposed, allowing home owners to appreciate the structural supports in their home with ease. (SoCal Modern, 2016)

3. Wooden Low-Rise

Built in 2013 in Menlo Park, California, this low-rise home has crisp lines and edges with a classical wooden finish that is appeasing to the eye, as it flows with the abundance of the surrounding nature. Though a low-rise home, it boosts a 3-storey tower and roof deck that emerges among the evergreens – a technique that smoothly blends the concept of open, shared and private spaces. This smart home can also shut down various spaces in the house at once, creating an intimate feel while using minimal energy. (Spiegel Aihara Workshop, 2013)

4. Orange Grove

Orange Grove is a home located in West Hollywood that is considered a landmark due to its material palette that differs from its neighbours. Orange Grove boosts modernism with its clean, straight lines and not a single pitched roof in sight. Its highly usable front balcony creates a simple, yet dramatic, effect on the front of the home. As in typical Californian style, the windows are located between the concrete panels and shed a comfortable amount of light into the home. Each piece of this building has a strong and defined shape, giving it a known and strong presence in its neighbourhood. (Brooks + Scarpa Architects, 2016)

5. Curving the Traditional Perception

On the picturesque Southern California coastline lies a breathtaking oceanfront estate sized at 8,328 square feet. The Pacific Ocean and the estate view to it are the central point to this home, meaning lots of balconies, patios, terraces and view decks. The home’s previous owners used it rightfully as a “beach getaway”. The Spanish-inspired roof and rounded exterior give this home a classical finish that flows well with the view. Though it avoids the typical clean lines of the pitched roof, it does integrate the surroundings very smoothly into its exterior and permits no pitched roofs, as all roofs are used as living spaces for enjoying the view. (Gega, 2016)

6. Cantilever Home, “Modern Cabin”

This home is comprised of three cantilevers placed strategically on each other, outlining a beautiful pool in the backyard. The cantilevers’ ends are completely submerged into the surrounding nature, making this landscape a staple backdrop in this home. This cedar home is perfect for a young family of up to five people due to its two master suites and three additional bedrooms. The design of the pool creates the illusion of a body of water that is suspended between two stone walls, while the infinity pool effect spotlights the beautiful forestry. (Rangr Studio, 2013)

7. Integrating with the Landscape

Looking on to downtown Vancouver in British Columbia on a steep and extra wide property lies this stunning residential home. The home operates and was built for the couple residing in it – combining their need of peace, business and entertainment space. The business space is separated by a reflecting pond, keeping it safely away from the rest of the home. The dramatic and open interior is perfect for entertaining guests, while intimate living spaces are separated from both these spaces, making them perfect to relax in. The exterior is finished in typical modern home fashion – with no pitch roofs or brick, but with plenty of uniformity and clean lines. (McLeod Bovell Modern Houses, 2012)

8. Natural Split, “Findlay House”

The Findlay Residence is located on an irregularly shaped site in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The home is ideal for a family of four and is centered on the two storey exterior void present in the outdoor living space, in the back of the home. This cut-out separates the two spaces without fully disengaging them from one another. The second floor also boosts a glazed bridge that connects the master bedroom’s sleeping and changing area. Light is used inside the home to animate it and contains a skylight that brings in views of surrounding nature. The modernism in the exterior of this home is prevalent in the crisp lines, natural materials and flat roofs. The backyard contains all the open windows and space. which allow the serene layout of nature to reflect into the home. (Splyce Design, 2013)

9. Twin Slope

Located in Bahrain, an island off the coast of Saudi Arabia, lies this iconic twin sloped home. The western side of the home is perfect for protecting the inhabitants from the extreme sun present in the summertime, yet the open windows on the eastern side ensure that plenty of light is still brought into the tall rooms of the home. The angular home boosts various split levels on the interior giving each space its own unique height, proportion and purpose. To complete the sense of serenity in the home, a long and narrow body of water traverses the north-south span of the building, which eventually turns to a waterfall. (Moriq Interiors and Design Consultants, 2011)

10. Copper House

This home is the epitome of minimalism – especially with regard to its size. The Copper House, located in an Australian suburb, was designed as a beach holiday retreat and is located in a tight and steep area. The three sections of the building contour the slope of the landscape, while the butterfly roof allows winter sun to enter the home with privacy from its neighbours. A steel structure was used to construct the roof with all remaining work to be completed under it. The steel and copper exterior is resilient, especially given the proximity to the ocean, which causes a humid and salty atmosphere. This type of home acts perfectly as a minimalistic cottage that has just about everything you need. (Takt | Studio for Architecture, 2012)