The brick&batten Blog
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LIGHT UP Your Life
By: Cassie McDowellYour home’s exterior lighting will make or break curb appeal. Lighting is not only used for security but also adds drama and interest. Nobody wants to walk up a house that appears dark and unfriendly! Who knows what lurks behind those overgrown bushes! As summer nights become warmer, you spend more time outdoors and ...
SHUT the Front Door
By: Allison VaccaroLet’s talk doors. I know it sounds super boring, but stay with me…it’s kind of awesome and here’s why. Your front door is where your home opens its proverbial heart to the outside world. It’s the protective gate keeper and the warm welcome… all wrapped into one big, heavy rectangle. What a job! While doors ...
Get Your Mind in the Gutter
By: Allison VaccaroSeriously, get your mind in the gutter…and let’s strategize how to make gutters and downspouts pop (think copper, aged bronze and gorgeous headers) or make them fade away (think painting them to match what’s underneath). When it comes to gutters, you have options that can vary wildly in expense. But never, ever, should you let ...
It’s the Little Things
By: Allison VaccaroWhile painting the exterior packs a punch in the curb appeal game, it’s the little things that can add up to big style and make or break the exterior of your home. Things like planters, house numbers, door knockers, and even doormats can score big points and add up to a massive curb appeal win ...
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 VaccaroDifferences Between Shutters Recently, 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 ...
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 ...