You will hear of a house being in the open style of LLoyd Wright or being a Mediterranean or Tuscan. These represent a particular style based on an area and/or time in history. There are also American styles such as traditional or contemporary. It is hard to not fit into one of the styles and many styles overlap. Choosing the style of your choice is one of the advantages of custom home building. You get to make decisions on the facade, doors, roofing and other aesthetic decisions. With so many styles such as Renaissance, Colonial, Southwestern, Cape Cod, Ranch, Tudor, Spanish, and others in the area, it is all a matter of choice. It's your house, but you may have limitations. If you are fortunate enough that money is no object, you can generally use any material on the interior of your home you wish. However, on the exterior, you may find you have limitations determined by the developer or home owners association. Zoning and local laws may restrict you from using certain materials. Wood slat roofing that was once so popular is rarely used now due to its flammable nature. Also, height limitations are often regulated. Make sure you are meeting all rules and regulations. If you are using a local architect, and you should be, they will be familiar with government regulations in the area. However, each developer sets rules for their development. Homeowner associations often add to these rules. If you are set on a style, make sure it meets all requirements before purchasing the building site.