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

Painting Your Brick? Try Romabio.

Are you painting your brick? Try my new find, Romabio.  Painting my own brick house, I’ve researched and researched  the best paints for home and how to paint my exterior.  Recently, I came across another paint option for  your exterior brick: Romabio.  It is one that  definitely caught my attention. After reading Young House Love Blog I did ...

6 Fall Exterior Home Decorating Tips You Can’t Miss

Our brick&batten designers have found 6 Fall exterior home decorating tips you can’t miss.  These simple changes are easy to achieve this season can make a huge impact on your curb appeal and happiness.  When you’re ready for a home exterior makeover, we’ve got just the solution! Our team at brick&batten is ready to partner ...

Painting Your House? You Better Understand LRV

Are you painting your house? You better understand LRV. Understanding a bit about LRV will help you in selecting the correct shade of any paint color — but especially white — for your environment. Painting your house white sounds so simple! White is crisp, clean, and beautiful… it should be easy. But it’s not. White ...

Designer Tips for Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

Are you looking for designer tips  in choosing your exterior paint colors?  If so, you’re not alone! Standing at the hardware store looking through thousands of paint chips is just plain overwhelming. Reaching in front of people to grab what looks like the perfect shade, in the awkward light, just doesn’t work! Not to mention, ...

Designers Weigh in on Home Exterior Trends

What are the most popular styles for home exteriors and where are trends headed next? AIA partner James Hardie asked designers to weigh in on home exterior trends. Being a member of AIA and in the home exterior design business, brick&batten was thrilled to be asked and weigh in on where home trends are headed ...

Fall Temperatures Are Excellent for Exterior Painting

In order for your paint job to turn out perfectly, the weather needs to cooperate. That’s why we’re here to tell you: Fall temperatures are excellent for exterior painting! Most people think of spring and summer months are best for completing house projects. Those months are definitely warm and much can be done. However, it ...

7 Outdoor Lighting Tips to Best Illuminate Your Space

We have come up with 7 outdoor lighting tips to best illuminate your space.  Where I live there are a lot of houses being updated.  People are choosing to update instead of tear down and move.  I love that!  However, it takes everything out of me not to offer suggestions… I see contractors choosing paint ...

Let’s Talk REAL About Curb Appeal

Let’s talk real about curb appeal.  Curb appeal is a real thing and I had any advice it would be this… don’t wait until you absolutely hate your home’s exterior before you make a change.  Then, you’re frustrated, you’re tired, and you just want to forget it or move!  There are simple changes you can ...

4 Favorite Siding Colors by James Hardie

Almost daily we design homes for clients that are wanting to replace their siding, paint existing siding, or choosing siding color for a new build. Are you ready to replace your siding… the options are limitless. Our designers have come up with a list of favorite siding colors by James Hardie we’d like to share ...