Bold Color Palette Transforms Oklahoma Business Exterior
By: Hannah Warne
When Demita W.’s pharmacy was decimated by a tornado in early 2023, she took the tragic event as an opportunity to rebuild her business exterior with a new, bold color palette. But instead of restoring the damaged exterior to its original design, Demita and her husband decided to look beyond their previous style and explore alternative approaches. While they knew they wanted something different, they didn’t know exactly what. That’s where brick&batten came in.
We decided to update the look of the building during the rebuilding process, but we didn’t want to go through the expense (both time and money) of hiring an architect. I had come across brick&batten’s design services on Pinterest and loved the before and after photos. I wrestled with the decision to hire them. I am so glad I did!
After speaking to our team, sharing photos of what she was looking for, and determining her style, Demita’s virtual exterior design project was well on its way to bringing her dream business exterior to life.
At brick&batten, our seasoned team can expertly bring any exterior to life. From bold color palettes to neutral tones, we’ll help you customize your design to your preferences. From choosing the color palette to selecting finishes and other design details, we’ll help you put together a cohesive, eye-catching exterior. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
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The before
The storm took off the back portion of the building’s roof, shifted the drive-through, and damaged the storefront. Instead of replacing the pharmacy’s brick and stucco exterior, Demita knew that she wanted to opt for a bold color palette instead. She also wanted to work around some of the pharmacy’s existing features, like the awnings, windows, and the remaining roof.
Demita and her husband wanted something that stood out, but they also wanted to make sure that their business exterior complemented the surrounding businesses. After their initial call with the brick&batten team, our design experts began putting together a plan that would ensure their exterior struck the perfect balance.
The design
Demita knew that she wanted our team to keep her existing brick siding but give it new life. To transform the look and feel of the exterior, we recommended limewashing the brick in Romabio Classic Limewash in Nube Gray. This light gray hue has a creamy feel that adds warmth and brightness to the formerly dark brick.
To add texture and contrast, our team recommended wood cladding for the window dormers and the upper portion of the front facade. While Demita wanted the organic look of wood siding, she knew she didn’t want to deal with the upkeep. Our team recommended composite woodgrain siding instead to achieve the look she wanted — without any time-consuming maintenance. Unlike traditional wood, this engineered material doesn’t need to be painted or weather-proofed and is resistant to moisture, mold, and pests. These qualities, paired with the beautiful deep hue, blended the best of form and function for Demita’s exterior. The best part? It also serves as the perfect backdrop for the pharmacy logo.
On the lower portion of the front facade, we added corrugated metal siding to infuse the exterior with an industrial edge. This siding also serves as the perfect complement to the storefront’s new black-framed double doors and existing windows. Dark mahogany soffits with recessed lighting were also added around the perimeter, extending into the pharmacy’s drive-through to create a cohesive look.
As a finishing touch, we recommended Real Red by Sherwin Wiliams as an accent color throughout the exterior. This energetic, eye-catching hue ensured that the pharmacy stood out among the surrounding businesses.
While Demita loved the design, she asked for a small revision to accurately bring her dream exterior to life. Our team removed the wood siding from the window dormers in favor of the original stucco finish. We matched the paint finish to the limewashed brick for a consistent aesthetic. This small change made a big difference, adding extra texture and dimension to the final exterior.
The process was easy, and brick&batten’s design gave me just what I was looking for — but it was also unique and all done in a timely manner. We moved back into the building and have received many compliments on the redesign of the building since.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
The process
Once her design was complete, Demita worked with a team of local contractors to bring her vision to life.
Each brick&batten design deliverable not only features a photorealistic rendering of the exterior with the new color palette but also outlines each design element — from windows and doors to cladding to gutters — to simplify the process for DIY home or business owners or their team of contractors. The digital deliverable is even clickable, so it links directly to the chosen materials online to make researching and ordering easier.
While working on Demita’s exterior, she and her team used her deliverable as a guide, sourcing materials locally that were similar to those we recommended.
The actual after
Once her team of contractors had completed the new exterior, Demita’s business looked exactly like her design deliverable. The new limewashed finish brings new life to the old brick. The wood and corrugated metal siding, on the other hand, perfectly complement the existing gray shingled roof.
But what really sets the exterior apart is the Real Red accents. The fire-engine-red hue draws the eye instantly to the pharmacy logo, while the awnings over the entryway and the front windows tie the entire bold color palette together.
I love our redesigned building and so do our customers. I think it is much more interesting than the original design.
Transform your business with a bold color palette
While many homes and businesses stick to neutral color palettes, there are plenty of options to incorporate statement-making hues. From turquoise to green to red, incorporating an unexpected hue into your exterior can help you create the bold color palette you’ve always dreamed of. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, opt for multiple bright colors. The result is a one-of-a-kind exterior that will be the talk of the neighborhood.
While Demita chose to keep her exterior fairly neutral, one accent color transformed the entire look and feel. The vivid pop of Real Red makes the exterior look more modern. Besides adding a stylish edge, it also helps to catch the attention of those passing by to help draw in new customers.
No matter which exterior style you prefer, brick&batten can help reimagine your home or business exterior. Our talented team of experts will work with you to learn about your vision and bring it to life. From classic color combinations to bright and bold pairings, anything is possible with our virtual exterior design for businesses. Start your project today!
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