What is Style transfer?

Style transfer takes the visual character of a reference image, its palette, materials, lighting and mood, and applies it to another image. In architectural work, the reference is typically a moodboard tile or a precedent photograph, and the target is your own design or render.

Why it matters

Designers and clients often communicate with references ("something like this house") rather than with words. Style transfer turns that conversation into a visual. It lets you test whether a precedent suits your project, and it keeps a consistent look across a set of images.

Example

You have a neutral render of a villa and a photo of a Mediterranean stone house at golden hour. Applying the style gives your villa warm stone tones and low sun while the building shape stays yours.

Common mistake

Choosing a reference with a very different structure and expecting only the look to move. The reference should offer a palette and atmosphere, not a different building. Copyright also matters: use references you have the right to use as inspiration, and do not present another architect's work as your own.

Practical tips

Choose references with a single, strong idea: one palette, one time of day, one material family. A reference crowded with many styles gives muddy output. Crop the reference so that the part you care about fills the frame, and test two or three different references on the same design to see which direction fits the client best.

In Archome AI

The Style Transfer tool in Archome AI applies a reference look to your design while preserving your geometry. Start with 3 free renders, no card.