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

13 Before & After Swoon Worthy House Makeovers

We have compiled 13 before & after swoon worthy house makeovers.  Sifting through Pinterest and finding before & after home photos is huge fun!  I always dream of what my house can become with some simple changes like paint and lighting.  The brick&batten designers are pros in defining a home’s architecture, finding the home’s strengths ...

Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal With a Simple Fix

Curb appeal makes me happy and is a reflection of my style. That said, we’re all looking to improve our home’s curb appeal with a simple fix. Are you a perpetual mover seeking that perfect design or a set your roots kinda person? I am a perpetual mover, never satisfied, and always seeing potential in ...

Metal Roof: What’s True and What’s False

My parents recently looked into a metal roof for their island home.  So I put on my brick&batten hat and investigated what’s true and what’s false about a metal roof!  I love the look but questioned that loud sound when the daily rain falls in south Florida.  Every once in awhile a small patter on ...

Window Grilles: What Pattern Suits My Home’s Style?

Window Grilles are the checkerboard pieces that divide the glass in your window. Some people refer to window grilles as muntins, grids, and mullions. Choosing a window style that suits your architecture and purpose is hugely important; however, equally important is the grille chosen to separate the glass. Windows are considered the eyes of your ...

Summer Checklist to Keep Your Home in Tip Top Shape

Summer has started! The birds are chirping, the grass is green, and finally there’s time to complete the summer checklist to keep your home in tip top shape. That means it’s time to spruce up your home with a good cleaning!  If you’re like me, you hop from one job to the other and things ...

2019 Home Exterior Color Palettes to Love

Our 2019 home exterior color palettes to love: 2019 has proved to be a year of exciting color palettes which focus on darker shades, blues, and varying whites.  We’ve put together a few of our tried and true paint combinations to share with you. Stop searching through paint samples and picking up those annoying chips ...

Window and Door Designs to Match Your Home

With the McMansion trend coming to a screeching halt, our brick&batten designers are swarmed with questions about how to match the right window and door styles to their home. To match correctly, it requires a bit of knowledge about your home’s style, trends, likes and dislikes. That said, your doors and windows are essential to the ...

Questions Answered About Home Exterior Siding

Are you considering replacing your home exterior siding? We’ve got your questions answered! It’s a huge project, both emotionally and financially. That said, our brick&batten experts have some advice to help you make an informed decision before you go ripping off your home’s cladding. #1 //  Do I really need new siding? An option to ...

What Is Mid-Century Modern Architecture Anyway?

What is Mid-Century Modern architecture anyway?  Also known as Mid Mod, this architecture is one that evokes a feeling of openness, simple lines, and one with nature.  Built from the 1940’s to 1960’s, mid-century modern homes are becoming increasingly popular again and going for high market value.   What features define mid-century homes? No. 1. ...