When Michele W. realized that her stucco home needed renovations due to mold issues, she wasn’t sure where to start. She knew she wanted to upgrade her house with new low-maintenance siding. She also knew, however, that she wanted to use this renovation as an opportunity to update her exterior to be more in line with her style preferences.
When I realized my formerly all-stucco home needed a total exterior mold remediation instead of minor repair, I started looking for an exterior design company. Right away, I was impressed by brick&batten’s designs I saw on Instagram and especially by the fact they could work from a picture with a fast turnaround time and incredible price.
After learning about all the benefits of working with brick&batten, Michele reached out to our team to begin her exterior transformation.
At brick&batten, our team of experienced designers is ready and waiting to start your exterior design! We will help you update your color palette, select siding, and choose every design detail to bring your dream home to life. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
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The before
Before renovations, Michele’s stucco home had a classic feel. The textured stucco exterior was finished in a light gray. She also used white trim for her windows, garage, gutters, and other exterior accents. The combination created a light and airy look that didn’t have the visual impact she was looking for. After discovering her stucco needed to be removed, she knew it was the perfect opportunity to take a look at her exterior with a fresh perspective.
Michele wanted a moodier palette with mixed materials that would highlight her home’s architectural details to add depth and dimension. She knew the brick&batten team would be able to bring her vision to life.
What is the best siding to put on a house?
Before we show you the design we created for Michele, we want to answer a question we get from a lot of our clients. That is, ‘what is the best siding to put on a house?’ There are tons of siding options available to homeowners today, from classic brick to modern metal. Which one is best depends on several factors, such as budget, the style of your home, and its location. Learn more about our favorite types of siding and how to choose the right fit for your home here.
The design
After learning about her exterior style preferences, our team redesigned both the front and back of Michele’s exterior for a total transformation. We recommended replacing the stucco with James Hardie siding. Perfect for the extreme weather in Minnesota, this fiber cement siding is incredibly durable and requires little maintenance and upkeep. It’s also available in many styles and sizes, allowing a more customizable look. To create extra visual interest, we recommended a mix of vertical siding and plank lap horizontal siding.
For a dynamic color palette, some of the siding is finished in James Hardie’s Night Gray hue. The center façade of the front exterior is finished in Gray Mist by Benjamin Moore. Despite the name, however, this greige shade is more off-white than gray. And with a light reflective value of 72.83, it contrasts beautifully with the dark siding.
Wooden beams at the front door, wooden details above the garage door, and a wooden garage door itself add an organic, textured element along with stone siding around the base of the exterior. Black windows and exterior details, like light fixtures and planters, tie the front exterior together for a modern and cohesive finish.
While Michele loved the color scheme and new siding, she also wanted to see another option for the garage doors. Our team switched out the doors in the original design. This alternative features a mix of wood and frosted glass-like panels. This door design beautifully echoes the horizontal siding to create a cohesive aesthetic.
Michele liked the look of the wooden garage doors. In the end, however, her final design features her existing white garage doors. Because the doors had been recently replaced, she wanted to ensure she could visualize the siding, color palette, and other design details when paired with her current garage door style.
The same mix of vertical and horizontal siding continues around the back of the home. Our team also recommended the same color palette but switched up the window trim slightly for added contrast.
The deck and patio are also the focal point of the back exterior design. The deck’s cable handrail completes the modern aesthetic. Below the deck, composite wood-grain siding mimics the look of the front exterior. Finally, a beautiful bluestone patio and artful backyard landscaping elegantly tie the exterior together.
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
Michele started exterior updates with her chosen contractor after her design was finalized — even he was impressed with the plan our team put together for the exterior.
The contractor was impressed with the design even though they had their own exterior design subcontractor. The deliverables supplied by brick&batten helped speed up the process since the contractor did not have to wait for me to make excruciating, time-delaying design decisions and they could immediately order the deliverables.
After dealing with unexpected issues like mold remediation and unforeseen window replacements, Michele’s exterior design was finally complete.
The actual after
Once the renovations were complete, Michele’s exterior was nearly unrecognizable. The new siding, dark color palette, and other design details enhanced the curb appeal and made her home look brand new.
The innovative design enhances my front entrance with cedar pillars to the roof line, and now I have a clear view of my front yard. I also now have a unique, maintenance-free deck with clear sightlines to my backyard. I even bought the suggested deck and patio furniture brick&batten supplied with their design. They made the entire process so easy and convenient.”
Michele, her family, and her neighbors love the new siding for her house. Because she found the entire process so seamless and stress-free from start to finish, she even recommends brick&batten’s virtual exterior design services to anyone in the market.
I love my newly implemented exterior design. I was so happy with brick&batten that I even gave my son a brick&batten backyard exterior design as a gift.
Beautiful new siding for a house exterior transformation
Michele’s dramatic exterior transformation gives her home an entirely new look and feel. Removing the textured stucco and all-light color palette and replacing it with durable siding and darker hues make her home look equally modern and timeless. Though certain elements of her home — like the garage doors and the roof — remained the same, the new exterior has a completely different feel.
The best part? While the updated design looks beautiful, it’s also practical. The low-maintenance fiber cement siding will help prevent recurring mold issues. And it will also help Michele’s exterior stand the test of time. From withstanding frigid Minnesota winters to balmy summer days, the siding easily adapts to the elements. And it does it all while delivering a stylish finish.
