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

July Round-Up…All Things Black and White

July has been busy for brick&batten.  We have done designs from Connecticut to California!  Subsequently, we’ve researched paint trends, hot accessories for your porch decor, found a new love for dark exterior paint, tried to hide those unsightly front loaders, and discovered reasons why now is a great time to paint your home’s exterior. If ...

The Little SUMMER ACCESSORIES for the Big WIN

There is absolutely no reason to spend a fortune on an architect to rip your home apart, change your roof line, demolish your kitchen, and devour your free time wishing you could just go back to your peaceful life!  It’s the little things that can make a huge difference in curb appeal and more importantly, ...

June Round Up…All Things House Exterior

June is absolutely my favorite month of the year.  The kids aren’t quite tired of summer break yet, the school supplies aren’t stressing me out at Target, and I know I have at least a month of sunshine and nice weather ahead of me.  Not to mention, the hours we spend on our porch in ...

Top 6 Facade Fails with an Easy Fix

Have you fallen victim to these simple facade fails? Maybe it’s too much HGTV fever or wine with the neighbor on the porch swing we keep writing about… Whatever the reason, you’re smarter than that! Take a step back. Evaluate. And let’s get to work on breathing life back into your home with simple changes. ...

Memorial Day Flag Etiquette

  Flag Etiquette… where did it go?  Memorial Day means more than white jeans, pool’s open, and race day. Memorial Day, we celebrate those who fight for our freedom! That being said, to show our respect, many homes hang the American flag, Old Glory, in the yard.  We receive questions all the time about flag ...

LIGHT UP Your Life

Your home’s exterior lighting 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 and ...

Revive Beauty with 2018 Exterior Paint Trends

Looking for the latest home exterior paint trends for 2018? Do you want to create a stylish house exterior that is sure to pop? We are always in search of colors that inspire, provoke feeling, and draw attention to your home’s architectural qualities and details. Years of experience and constant research has led us to ...

Exterior Decor Tips: Poinsettia a Winter Bloomer

Looking for planter inspiration, I packed up the dogs and we hit the road. What I realized on my ride is that everyone wants a beautiful home  with perfect, exterior decor, but not everyone knows how to attain these simple changes that make a big impact. First, I noticed neighbors standing on their front lawn talking, ...