Step Three of Designing a Custom Luxury Home

Fratantoni Design • October 31, 2022

Designing a Custom Luxury Home Step Three: Exterior Elevations, Ceiling, and Roof

Over the last few weeks, we have shared steps one and two of designing a custom luxury home. The next step in our architectural design process is step three: to begin working on the exterior elevations of your home, including the ceiling and roof design. These are areas of homes that frequently don’t receive as much attention as warranted. At Fratantoni Design we like to do things differently, paying special attention to these areas.

Elevation design sets the aesthetic of the house and the standard of what you’re looking for ultimately, which should carry over into the interior of the home. It’s where your home begins to take shape. Visions go from 2D architectural plans to 3D renderings created in programs like Sketchup. Thus where you begin to see the home’s true form emerging. 3D renderings can include the different materials that will be utilized to give a realistic portrayal of colors, textures, and finishes. Such as brick, stucco, stone, siding, etc., to enhance each area’s overall look and feel. At this point in step three of designing a custom luxury home, you will begin to see the style come to life.

Establishing which materials clients prefer, the placement of those materials, and the style of roof pitches can greatly affect the home’s overall appearance. Modern homes typically have more of a flat roofline with clean, sharp lines. Whereas a pitched roof has different design styles and many options geared toward different architectural styles. A roofline says a lot about a home and helps to further define its style.

 

Vaulted Exposed Beam Ceiling - step three

Vaulted Exposed Beam Ceiling in the French Luxury Estate

Layout Matters:

What you decide about your home’s layout and lot placement will also determine many factors in the home. Such as spatially planning for the desired number of square feet in the home and maximizing the home’s position on the lot. This will also determine the ideal number of windows in the home, their placement, style, design, and types of window treatments to be used. Our residential architects at Fratantoni Design are here to create your dream home! Contact us today to get started on designing your custom luxury home. 

 

French Villa

Exterior Design



The post Step Three of Designing a Custom Luxury Home appeared first on Fratantoni Design.

French Villa stone courtyard entrance with wooden double doors, hanging lanterns, and a pergola
By Sam Fratantoni June 18, 2026
Explore French Modern architecture with Fratantoni Design. Our premier residential architects blend classic European symmetry with contemporary luxury nationwide.
By Sam Fratantoni June 11, 2026
How Custom Residential Architects Evaluate Land for Topography, Privacy, and Elite Lifestyle Amenities
By Sam Fratantoni June 3, 2026
The primary suite is no longer just a spacious bedroom at the end of a hallway. In luxury custom home architecture, it is engineered as a complete private residence within the larger estate. High end homeowners expect their primary suite to function as a secluded sanctuary, offering dedicated spaces for relaxation, morning routines, and peaceful separation from the main entertaining areas of the house.  At Fratantoni Design, we approach the primary suite as one of the most critical elements of a custom floor plan. Designing the ultimate master retreat requires precise spatial planning, strategic orientation, and a deep understanding of how the homeowners begin and end their day.
By Sam Fratantoni May 28, 2026
Creating a luxury home is an exercise in balancing the distinct vision of a homeowner with the unique environmental demands of the surrounding landscape. While the desire for refinement, comfort, and exceptional scale remains consistent among elite clientele, the architectural approach must fluidly adapt to the region. A structure that feels perfectly integrated into the Sonoran Desert would look entirely out of place on the coast of Maui.  At Fratantoni Design, our portfolio spans the United States. We have spent decades engineering custom home plans that respond directly to regional climates while maintaining an uncompromising standard of high end luxury. Designing nationwide requires a deep understanding of varied structural engineering requirements, precise solar orientation, and premium material durability.
By Sam Fratantoni May 21, 2026
The Sonoran Desert is stunning, but it’s unforgiving. As temperatures climb, true luxury isn't just about what a home looks like—it's about how it performs. You shouldn't have to feel the extremes of the desert unless you choose to step outside. Enter the "Smart Shell." This concept completely rethinks how a custom home handles the intense Arizona sun. It requires a specific architectural approach where hard engineering and high-end design work together right from the initial sketch. Relying strictly on massive mechanical air conditioning to fight the heat is an outdated strategy. Today, we have to design from the outside in. We engineer a protective envelope that responds to the sun, stopping the heat long before it breaches the interior walls. 
By Sam Fratantoni May 12, 2026
Spatial volume defines the true character of a luxury home. The distance between the floor and the ceiling dictates how natural light interacts with the room and influences the emotional resonance of the space. Mastering ceiling height strategy elevates a residence from merely large to truly magnificent. A thoughtfully designed vertical axis transforms ordinary rooms into breathtaking architectural achievements.
By Sam Fratanoni May 7, 2026
The geographical setting of a property dictates more than just the breathtaking view from the window. It defines the entire structural philosophy of a custom estate. Crafting a home that respects its environment requires a profound understanding of nature and absolute luxury.  Every landscape possesses a unique rhythm that brilliant architecture must seamlessly echo. Whether overlooking crashing waves or vast arid canyons, the design must elevate the natural surroundings. True architectural mastery harmonizes extreme environmental demands with uncompromising comfort and elegance.
By Sam Fratantoni April 29, 2026
Grandeur reveals itself the moment a front door opens. A staircase is far more than a functional transition between levels. It is a profound sculptural masterpiece that commands attention and sets the tone for the entire residence. Mastering this architectural focal point requires profound expertise. At Fratantoni Design , we approach large scale stairs as intricate works of art. Every curve and angle must balance breathtaking beauty with exacting mathematical precision.
Architectural Blueprint for Multigenerational Luxury Estates
By Sam Fratantoni April 24, 2026
Discover how luxury multigenerational estates blend privacy, elegance, and functional design through custom architecture, construction, and interior planning.
Luxury architecture and interior design team standing in an elegant custom home entryway
By Sam Fratantoni April 16, 2026
Learn how to choose the right architecture firm for your custom home with expert insight on luxury design, planning, interiors, and construction.