Cassie McDowell

Cassie co-founded brick&batten in 2017 with her sister, Alli, but her love of home design was born years earlier. Cassie’s passion for design can be traced back to her childhood, when she’d accompany her parents on road trips through small towns in search of inspiration for properties they would buy, fix up, and sell. 

Prior to launching brick&batten, Cassie worked as a fourth grade teacher, but her love of design, architecture, home renovation, and open houses inspired her to pursue a new career. When writing for brick&batten, Cassie aims to empower homeowners to make the best informed decisions for their property. She knows from experience how challenging home renovation can be, and when she writes, she puts herself in the shoes of every homeowner with similar frustrations.

Cassie currently lives in Florida with her four children, an old dog, and her loving husband. When she’s not working, Cassie is most likely checking out a nearby open house or traveling to learn about the latest house trends.

Blogs by Cassie McDowell

Best Pool Design Ideas in the brick&batten Collection

Spending time by the pool isn’t just relaxing — it’s a great way to reduce stress, get some exercise, entertain guests, and create lasting memories with family. We asked our brick&batten design team to share their favorite pool design ideas of the season, and the results are stunning. From the health benefits of swimming to ...

Simplify Your Life: Tips to Obtain a Low Maintenance Home

Low maintenance is a request from homeowners time and time again. Is it really attainable?  Between soccer games, practices, laundry, homework, meal planning, and the nonstop rhythm of daily life, free time is precious. The last thing you want to do is worry about rotting wood siding, warped vinyl door frames, toppled planters spilling dirt ...

The 16 Best Sherwin-Williams® Home Exterior Paint Colors

Are you considering repainting your home’s exterior in the year ahead but unsure what shade to select? Don’t worry — our roundup of our favorite 16 Sherwin-Williams® paint colors is full of inspiration. To compile this list, we examined the colors we’re loving right now that we expect to remain popular, as well as hues ...

Shake Siding: A Deep Dive on Cedar, Vinyl, and More

Updated on 1/17/25: Siding is one of the most important aspects of a home’s exterior — and shake siding is one of our favorite options. It is durable and has a unique appearance that can enhance the overall look of a home. In this post, we take a closer look at this cladding material, vinyl ...

LIGHT UP Your Life With Some Exterior Design Tips

Your home’s exterior lightto ing will make or break curb appeal.  Lighting is not only used for security but also adds drama and interest.  Nobody wants to walk up a house that appears dark and unfriendly!  Who knows what lurks behind those overgrown bushes!   As summer nights become warmer, you spend more time outdoors ...

6 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Garage Door

We use 6 tips for choosing the perfect garage door for your home’s style. There are considerations to think about when selecting a garage for your home. Many homeowners are faced with a garage dilemma.  You want curb appeal but also don’t want to spend the money on a custom garage. We are always searching ...

Window Labels: What You Need to Know

Energy Performance Labels: What You Need To Know I know you’ve seen those weird blue window labels that just get peeled off with no thought.  Those window labels give important information and things you need to know! If you’re building a new home or remodeling your existing one, sooner or later you’ll probably need to ...

6 Home Makeovers: How to Copy the Look

You’ve seen beautiful homes on Pinterest and tried desperately to do your own home update. Here’s your chance to get it right with 6 home makeovers: how to copy the look. If you know me at all, you know I’m a firm believer in loving where you live and feeling great every time you pull ...