This cute, cottage home is dressed to the nines with pretty, pale-blue shutters and a custom copper and cedar portico with trellis columns. The charming arched entry adds curves and softness to the otherwise boxy home. Cedar covers the interior of the barrel-vaulted portico and matches the front door and window boxes. The white trellis columns add function and fashion to the facade by supporting the arch and creating a lovely climbing structure for vines and blooms.

Consider this lakeside home your green light to get creative and mesh different styles and materials to create the curb appeal of your dreams. East meets West with this pointed portico design. A rich mix of stone and locally sourced wood speaks to the lakeside-mountain appeal, while the curved brackets and pagoda-style roof speaks to Asian influence. The results are universally stunning.

Tall, dark and handsome? Yes, please! Create a portico that meshes seamlessly with your home by pulling inspiration from the architectural style or characteristics of the facade. This stormy-gray colonial home sports an evenly proportioned portico that fits perfectly with the nine windows. The portico is topped with a Juliet balcony that serves as an elegant crown to the home's classic architecture.

Porticos aren’t reserved for stately colonial homes. Use this striking design as your muse and enlist professionals to give your modern or contemporary home a similar, head-turning addition. The architects of this edgy home used post-tension structural methods (and years of higher level education) to create the dramatic overhang.