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

Home Exterior Paint Colors That Work

Are you still looking to paint your home’s exterior but just can’t commit to a color? We get it! You need home exterior paint colors that work. Choosing exterior paint from a little paint chip, while rushing through the hardware store, is nearly impossible. Many of our brick&batten clients come to us because of this ...

2020 Home Exterior Design Ideas

Get ready: 2020 Home Exterior Design Ideas. This is a perfect time to explore home exterior improvements; however, be sure you’re spending time on ones that add value to your greatest investment. There are some design trends that will continue into 2020 and others that are definitely coming to a quick end. Get READY: 2020 ...

16 BEST Paint Colors for Your Home’s Exterior in 2020

At brick&batten we have curated 16 of the best paint colors for your home’s exterior in 2020. Painting your home’s exterior can be quite a task… but if done correctly it can elevate your curb appeal without cutting into walls or backing a huge dumpster into your driveway for months! What I mean by done ...

How to Choose Paint Color for Your Home’s Exterior

Are you trying to choose a paint color for your home’s exterior? The dreaded stone… paired with brick…. Then add a little siding or stucco, with any kind of textured roof, phew, there’s just a lot going on. Now, try to find a paint color that creates a cohesive design. Yes. It’s a disaster!  I ...

How to Choose the Correct Size Exterior Light

For home exterior lights, size matters! We’ve come up with some helpful tips on how to choose the correct size exterior light. Nothing is worse than getting home and realizing you can hardly see your lights from the street.  Lights are like the eyes of your home…. so, they should be beautiful and functional! They ...

10 Rules to Follow When Choosing Sidelights for Your Door

Sidelights, the longer lights next to your exterior door, are always a thing.  What color do you paint them? We have come up with 10 rules to follow when choosing sidelights for your door. At brick&batten our designers are constantly asked questions… sometimes there’s an easy answer, other times it’s a matter of preference, but ...

18 Predictions for 2020 Exterior Home Design

We’ve come up with 18 predictions for 2020 exterior home design. That said, as 2020 is quickly approaching it’s important to be aware of what’s coming down the pipeline and how you can achieve the latest look.  Many clients are asking for updates and we want to be sure we make the best decisions for ...

10 Home Exterior Finds to Get You in the Fall Spirit

Always on the hunt for the perfect outdoor decor, I found 10 home exterior Fall favorites to take me right on through Thanksgiving.  Because, I’m not really into the traditional Halloween witches and cobwebs decor, finding these treasures are just what I need to get me into the Fall spirit.  Turns out, I have so ...