The brick&batten Blog
Life Changing Front Porches
By: Allison VaccaroA good front porch can change your life…yep…I said it…a porch can change the trajectory of your life. Period. My parents live on an island…remote by most people’s standards. They take a boat to go almost everywhere and they have been retired as long as I can remember. When they committed to island life full ...
Exterior Decor Tips: Poinsettia a Winter Bloomer
By: Cassie McDowellLooking 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, ...
Exterior Lighting for Curb Appeal
By: Allison VaccaroOutdoor lighting can be magical when correctly chosen and installed. In our quest for curb appeal, we want to show your house in the best possible LIGHT! Here are a few of the key reasons we use lighting on a property: Security: A well lit house is far less likely to be targeted. Increase Property ...
To Shutter or Not to Shutter…That is the Question
By: Allison VaccaroRecently, a friend of mine asked me about shutters on her 1950s ranch (great location with a lot of renovation going on). The house has two large windows to the left of the front door and two separate single windows to the right of the door. Clearly, the shutters were fake and she was looking ...
Mistletoe, Holly… Porch Decor to Show Holiday Love
By: Cassie McDowellGrowing up, my mom hung what we thought was mistletoe from the chandelier in the foyer. It was a 70’s style house with the sunken living room, a huge stone fireplace on the east wall, topped with real wood beams across the lifted ceiling. The kitchen was the span of the house with an office ...
Strap On Santa…I Mean Straps On Santa
By: brick&battenSanta decor for holiday curb appeal Curb appeal and Christmas…or any holiday for that matter….can oddly feel like the sloppy, drunk school teacher who never leaves home and then blows it out at the office Karaoke party. Like she manages to keep it together all year…fresh flowers, symmetry, classic curb appeal and then BOOM…she drops ...
Curb Appeal…First Impressions Matter
By: Cassie McDowellI am a perpetual mover, never satisfied, and always seeing potential in the next house. Boxes aren’t even unpacked and I’m Zillowing, planning our next upgrade or downsize. Countless weekends filled with open houses and drive-bys finding the gem that needs a little TLC. Simple changes and curb appeal make me happy. First impressions matter! ...
10 Ways to Host Thanksgiving Like A Boss That Have Nothing To Do With Food
By: brick&battenHosting Thanksgiving outdoors What sounded great two Coronas at the beach this summer… now sounds ridiculously hard and unfortunate. I was inspired by some photos I saw on Pinterest of twinkle lights and Al Fresco dining, cue the soft music in the background, and free flowing wine. I was going to CRUSH this! Envisioning an ...
Worst to First
By: brick&battenWondering how brick&batten began? Every weekend, my sister and I had the distinct pleasure of driving for miles to look at houses…beautiful houses, middlemanagement houses and broken down houses. Our father was a frustrated insurance man who dreamed of being an architect. He would spend hours drafting blueprints that would never be built…all the while ...