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Transform your home with the Hardie™ Architectural Collection.

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Take the James Hardie home style quiz to find your perfect modern home.

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Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture - Modern Classical

Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding - Modern Classical

Axon™ Cladding 133mm - Modern Classical

Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding - Box Modern

Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture - Box Modern

Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture - Modern Farmhouse

Hardie™ Axent™ Trim - Modern Farmhouse

Axon™ Cladding 133mm - Modern Farmhouse

Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding - Modern Farmhouse

Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding - Modern Heritage

Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding - Modern Heritage

Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding - Barn

Axon™ Cladding 133mm - Mid-Century Modern

Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture 325mm - Mid-Century Modern

Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding - Modern Coastal

Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding - Japandi

Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding - Japandi

Take the Hardie™ Style Quiz to find your perfect modern home style.

4-3 MidCenturyModern

4-3 ModernFarmhouse (1)

4-3 Coastal

4-3 BoxModern (1)

What’s your home style?

Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture 325mm brings a refined rendered look with subtle v-shaped-grooves, used here to create a sweeping curved wall. Paired with Hardie™ Brushed Concrete and Matrix™ Cladding on the lower level, these tactile finishes complement Modern Classical’s structured softness and add depth to both straight-edged and rounded forms.

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The Modern Classical facade uses archways and enclosed thresholds to shape moments of arrival, creating a feeling of compression before opening into more expansive spaces beyond.

Modern Classical is evolving from elegant, warm, and whimsical forms. The design extends its timeless elegance through functional simplicity and purposeful layouts, balancing classic European symmetry with more approachable detailing.

Modern Classical supports layered cladding treatments to create elegant, textured facades with refined vertical precision.

The colour palette embraces muted creams, botanic greens and grounded earth tones to create a warm, resort -like atmosphere. These considered neutrals soften structured forms and highlight Modern Classical symmetry, allowing light, texture and gentle curves to take centre stage.

The clean vertical lines evoke the fine detail of
vertical joint timber, fostering a sense of harmony
with nature that is essential to this style.

Architectural order, sculptural softness and rounded transitions work alongside botanic greens and bronze tones to create a calm, elegant resort like atmosphere.

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For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Modern Classical vision to life:

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Materials And Texture 
 
Modern Classical materials balance structured elegance with tactile warmth. Calming neutrals and botanic greens ground the palette, while timber, stone and softly ribbed finishes introduce depth and refinement.

01,Modern Classical

01 Modern Classical

Grand, approachable & harmonious

At the rear, the upper level extends slightly beyond the lower, hinting at layered geometry while keeping the alfresco and dining spaces open and light.

02 Box Modern Hero

Each side of this Box Modern duplex reveals a recessed entry framed by bold volumes. The upper level in Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding contrasts with the horizontal blue Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture 325mm below, clearly defining the building’s form.

02 Box Modern Detail

Box Modern is maturing, evolving from simple, symmetrical forms into a more dynamic, purposeful style. Boxy forms are reimagined with bright colour combinations to reflect a more creative, lifestyle-led approach.

Box Modern cladding solutions emphasise crisp geometry and modular expression, combining panelised systems and fine textures to reinforce cubic forms while supporting bold accents and adaptable detailing.

The Box Modern colour palette pairs a clean neutral base with confident, contemporary accents. Crisp whites and cool greys create a calm canvas while bold blues, greens and expressive tones introduce contrast, personality and creative energy across adaptable, light-filled spaces.

The full facade of this Box Modern home features bold, stacked volumes, asymmetrical windows and light planting between the driveways that softens and divides the horizontal lines of the frontage.

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For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Box Modern vision to life:

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Materials & Textures 
A restrained material palette pairs polished concrete, porcelain surfaces and fine textures with natural timber and stone. Matte finishes and subtle relief introduce tactile contrast, creating a confident yet adaptable architectural base.

02, Box Modern

02 Box Modern

Dynamic, bold & purposeful

Colour palette

Modern home styles Image - Modern Farmhouse 1

Iconic dual pavilions, characteristic of Modern Farmhouse architecture, are joined by a breezeway in contrasting cladding style to define the forms, while stone and timber accents bring natural warmth.

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Modern Farmhouse is evolving from cohesive, classic comfort into a resilient, grounded and nurturing style. The style reimagines rustic warmth to include resource-smart, inclusive layouts and intuitive modern conveniences, creating homes that foster resilience across generations. 

Modern Farmhouse layering pairs classic board-and-batten with contemporary cladding, enabling grounded, context-responsive facades that honour rural character while supporting resilient performance and evolving aesthetic preferences.

A Modern Farmhouse colour palette draws on grounded rural hues layered with contemporary restraint, creating a warm, resilient aesthetic. Earthy neutrals, deep charcoals and weathered timbers anchor the form, while soft whites and natural textures enhance light, depth and architectural clarity without overpowering the home’s enduring character.

The texture reminiscent of fine render puts focus on the building’s form and distinguishes the unique roof and exposed structure.

The shallow and narrow grooves with slanted edges offer the fine detail of a vertical joint panels without the hassles of timber.

This cladding adds a contemporary twist to
the traditional farmhouse aesthetic with its wide
grooves and design flexibility. It creates a dynamic
look that complements the mix of rustic and
contemporary elements of Modern Farmhouse.

Stria™ Cladding Fine Texture 325mm with Hardie™ Axent™ Trim reimagines board and batten in a warm, earthy tone for 2026, paired with Axon™ Cladding 133mm Smooth to add depth and a clean, contemporary counterpoint to this crafted aesthetic.

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The central alfresco dining sits between pavilions at the rear of the home, lined with contrast cladding and accented by brushed brass trim and planting that integrates the home seamlessly into the landscape.

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For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Modern Farmhouse vision to life:

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Materials & Textures 
Subtle texture replaces contrast, with natural grain, honed finishes and mineral surfaces adding depth while maintaining Modern Farmhouse’s understated, enduring character.

03, Modern Farmhouse

03 Modern Farmhouse

Resilient, grounded & nurturing

MH Design Handbook Lifestyle themes 1

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Modern Heritage is shifting, evolving into a richer aesthetic that integrates old-world charm with modern functionality, layering multi-sensorial detail and bold finishes.

Modern Heritage layering pairs heritage weatherboards with contemporary cladding, enabling personalised, context-responsive facades that honour character while supporting evolving performance and aesthetic preferences.

The colour palette draws on rich heritage tones layered with contemporary warmth, creating a balanced, inviting interior. Deep, grounding hues and tactile accents highlight original details while allowing light, texture and architectural character to remain the focus.

The subtle texture adds a touch of elegance without
overwhelming the simplicity that is central to Japandi
style. It is also perfect for creating a Japandi twist on
the board and batten look, the embedded sand-like
texture provides a fine matte finish against smooth
Hardie™ Axent Trim battens. The 1200mm panel length
makes it easy to adopt consistent yet unique spacings
to apply the battens, typically at 300mm or 400mm.

Linea™ Weatherboard defines the heritage facade, while the side path leads to the modern extension and a second entrance set back from the street, hinting at the home’s sequence of heritage and modern design.

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This rear modern double-storey extension contrasts the heritage front with Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding, in a bold heritage colour, on the upper level and vertical Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding 300mm below. Doors open directly onto the outdoor lounge, connecting indoor living with garden spaces.

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A short corridor links the original home with the extension, thoughtfully distinguishing old from new while maintaining a respectful, cohesive connection through heritage colour.

For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Modern Heritage vision to life:

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Materials & Textures 
A layered material palette pairs creamy whites and natural stone hues with reds and mulberry in unexpected areas, forming an expressive yet grounded base.

04, Modern Heritage 

04 Modern Heritage

Enduring, rich & sensorial

A close -up of the side elevation highlights the material contrast of board and batten expression of the ground floor and Axon™ Cladding above, with large sliding doors allowing flow from interior to exterior living and dining areas.

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The same restrained gable form continues at the rear, where the ground floor angles away to create a subtle cantilever above. Axon™ Cladding defines the upper level, paired with Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding and Hardie™ Axent™ Trim below.

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Barn is evolving into an immersive, distinctive and soothing style. In 2026, the Barn is refreshed with dramatic shape, natural light and restorative palettes that evoke nature.

The Barn’s adaptable structure supports numerous cladding treatments, allowing for personalised aesthetics that suit different environments and tastes.

The Barn colour palette takes its inspiration from Nordic minimalism, with added warm feature accents to ensure a calming, balanced interior. The palette helps to emphasise the architectural simplicity of Barn style, allowing the play of light and shadow and the beauty of the Barn form to take centre stage.

Its organic, flowing texture adds depth and character to the facade, creating a natural look that is perfect for coastal environments.

The narrow, vertical groove look enhances the
geometric characteristic of this style and evokes
the wood paneling trend of the 1970s.

The Barn’s facade is defined by a strong gable form and pronounced verticality, with Axon™ Cladding 133mm Smooth and its
linear grooves accentuating the height. A simple, monochromatic approach to colour, inspired by nature, reinforces the home’s grounded, restorative character.

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For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Barn vision to life:

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Materials & Textures 
Raw, clay-like walls, wooden textures with bold green tile accents enable visual depth. The abundance of colours and textures, animated by dramatic light play, enables a space that is both comforting and sensorially profound.

05, Barn

05 Barn

Distinct, immersive & soothing

A unique feature of this year's Mid-Century Modern home is a playful mural crafted in Matrix™ Cladding framed by crisp Axon™ Cladding 133mm Smooth panels, celebrating the joy and colour of Mid -Century Modern design and sunny outdoor living. To complete the look, the fascia is finished with Stria™ Cladding Smooth 325mm.

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The facade features a bold angular roofline with Stria™ Cladding Smooth 325mm on the fascia, a distinct round porthole window and a welcoming entry with bright front door and coloured glass feature that pops against the crisp white Axon™ Cladding.

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Mid-Century Modern remains timeless and relevant thanks to its practicality, simplicity and sense of optimism. The style harmonises modern simplicity with the nostalgia of Mid-Century Modern architecture.

Mid-Century Modern is maturing, evolving from its practical, timeless roots into a more layered and comforting direction. The look is refreshed with high -performance design and joyful maximalism, featuring bright colours, tactile finishes and expressive geometry.

Mid-Century Modern colour palettes reinterpret Mid -Century optimism through warm neutrals, earthy greens and soft blues, balanced with playful accents. Layered tones energise interiors while highlighting texture, geometry and architectural clarity.

At the rear, the L-shaped layout frames views to the pool and outdoor living areas, with abundant glazing maintaining a strong connection between interior and exterior.

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For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Mid-Century Modern vision to life:

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Materials & Textures 
A layered material palette combines warm timbers, natural stone and dimensional tiles with smooth render and matte finishes, balancing nostalgic character with contemporary performance and expressive, liveable texture.

06,Mid-Century Modern

06 Mid-Century Modern

Playful, layered & comforting

Textural cladding is enhanced by tile and timber accents, carried through to an ancillary dwelling at the rear of the property, creating cohesion and connection across the entire home.

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At the rear, blush pink painted Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding contrasts with classic coastal white Linea™ Weatherboard above the window height, complemented by clean white trim.

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Modern Coastal is expanding beyond its beachside roots to become an elevated, joyful and effortless style for any location. The look now embodies a refreshing coastal state of mind that is calm, playful and open, whether by the sea or in the city.

Modern Coastal cladding layers breezy weatherboards with smooth and textured contemporary profiles, enabling expressive exteriors that capture coastal optimism while supporting durability, airflow and relaxed indoor–outdoor living.

These colour palettes blend soft coastal neutrals with warm pastels, balanced by subtle citrus accents. Gentle hues and chalky finishes enhance natural light and relaxed elegance while creating a joyful, effortless coastal atmosphere.

The Modern Coastal facade presents a simple, modest silhouette clad in Linea™ Weatherboard and Axon™ Cladding 133mm Smooth. With symmetrical roofline, screened entry with semi-circular reinforcing, and a crisp square geometry, this home balances privacy with an easy coastal personality.

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For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Modern Coastal vision to life:

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Materials & Textures 
A layered material palette combines timber, stone and limewashed surfaces with woven fibres and brushed metal accents. Smooth finishes meet textured elements, creating depth, tactility and a relaxed, refined coastal atmosphere.

07, Modern Coastal

07 Modern Coastal

Elevated, joyful & effortless

A central wellness courtyard lined with Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding brings light and air into the heart of the home, connecting dual wings via a TimberTech deck, and supporting restorative indoor -outdoor living.

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At the rear of the home, Japandi's raked roofline is accentuated by vertical Axon™ Cladding 133mm Smooth, with natural timber accents framing a connection to the outdoors, reinforcing the home’s ethos of tranquillity and calm.

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Japandi is evolving, moving beyond serene minimalism to become a style of quiet intelligence. Japandi prioritises smart layout and intuitive design, creating minimal, nature-integrated spaces that can help restore energy.

Japandi’s refined structure supports a range of considered cladding treatments, allowing personalised expression while maintaining calm, cohesive aesthetics suited to different contexts.

The colour palette draws on serene Nordic and Japanese influences, grounded in soft neutrals and warm natural tones to create a calm, balanced interior. These considered hues enhance architectural precision, allowing light, shadow and material texture to define the space with quiet clarity.

The home’s moody, Axon™ Cladding 133mm Smooth grounds the home in its surrounding greenery, while a simple roof line and recessed entry convey a sense of privacy and retreat.

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For curated advice on design, materials, colours, styling and Hardie™ Exterior Cladding solutions that will help bring your own Japandi vision to life:

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Materials & Textures 
A palette grounded in soft neutrals is layered with warm timber and subtle earthy tones to create an organic, calming foundation. Tactile, matte finishes and natural - look surfaces add gentle depth, while considered material contrasts bring quiet visual interest.

08,Japandi

08 Japandi

Intelligent, calm & restrained

Explore 8 modern home styles.

Download the full Modern Homes Forecast 2026 for a more in depth look at design themes and trends, or to find inspiration for your own dream home style.

Order a sample from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection.

Order a free cladding sample to help visualise your dream home design.
Our samples are cut to approximately 20cm x 20cm, supplied pre-primed and ready to paint. Visit the Paint Desk at your local Bunnings store for expert advice on exterior paint options and get a sample of your dream exterior colour to test on your sample/s.
For further inspiration, visit our<a href="https://www.jameshardie.com.au/inspirationGallery"> Image Gallery</a> or follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jameshardieau/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com.au/jameshardieau/">Pinterest</a>.

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Barn

Modern Classical

Modern Farmhouse

Japandi

Modern Heritage

Box Modern

Modern Coastal

Mid-Century Modern

Explore our previous year's gallery images