Updated Split-Level Home in Virginia
By: Juliana
Split-level homes were a popular midcentury design. Though practical structurally, their curb appeal often requires updating to suit the tastes of modern homeowners.
That’s how Cate H. of Virginia felt about her 60s split-foyer home. After searching the internet for exterior design inspiration, she found “several beautiful photos” of similar split-level homes brick&batten helped remodel. She decided to give our virtual exterior design service a try. Read her renovation story below.
Is your home missing that special something? Brick&batten, the original virtual exterior design service, will help you fall in love with the possibilities — no commitment required. Join Cate and the thousands of other homeowners who have trusted brick&batten to reimagine their home’s exterior design, virtually! Learn more here. Or, if you’ve worked with brick&batten in the past and have an “actual after” photo to share, upload it here for a chance to be featured on our blog.
The Before
Cate’s split-level home felt dated, and its style was inconsistent, with disjointed brick, siding, trim, and door colors. The back of Cate’s home, which she also had brick&batten design, similarly felt a bit bland and didn’t evoke the modern-yet-homey vibe Cate hoped for.
Cate discovered brick&batten and chose to use our design service to change all this and help her see her home in a new light.
The Design
Our designers provided Cate with two suggested color combos for her home renovation, in addition to suggesting other elements that would help her home feel more modern and fresh. These included black grid windows and glass doors to create an airy atmosphere, stone walkways in both the back and front of the home, wood cladding accents in the front, an updated screened-in porch in the back, and a new open patio space with a fire pit and seating.
The first virtual rendering our designers came up with showcased Benjamin Moore paint colors Olympic Mountains on the brick and Iron Mountain on the horizontal siding accents. Galápagos Turquoise on a rear entry door provides a fun accent to the home’s expanded back patio.
The second paint combo kept the turquoise accent but provided an allover, midcentury-reminiscent color, Benjamin Moore’s Deep Creek, with Revere Pewter on the trim.
Cate ultimately chose the first option with just a small addition of a lamp to the front of the home, plus a few revisions to the back.
She explained the process:
I found the pricing to be very reasonable and the turnaround was quick. The team was very responsive to my questions about modifications, paint color, etc., all the way through.
The Process
The renovation process for Cate’s split-level home took just two months. This included both the non-structural design changes suggested by brick&batten and a few structural changes she chose to make with her contractor.
A stress-reducing element of brick&batten’s virtual exterior design process is that it’s completely customizable. You may work with our designers to come up with a rendering you love, but that doesn’t mean you have to purchase the exact paint colors, porch furniture, or trim we recommend. However, if you do wish to simply purchase all suggested options, the links are easily available to you in the virtual design rendering we provide. Cate shared:
The brick&batten design served as our reference point throughout. We decided to build a bit larger patio and deck than what was in the rendering, simply because we had the backyard space and wanted to maximize the living space. In the front, we stuck pretty much exactly to the design, apart from procuring a different front door, as we wanted to source that locally.
She also said, “Getting the renderings back got me really excited to get started…!”
The Actual After
Cate’s renovated exterior makes her home feel entirely different. It’s no longer busy and incongruous; it feels fresh, clean, and modern, yet still welcoming and homey.
Cate was very happy with the final result. She said:
I was so pleased to share the final product with the brick&batten team after we were finished!
She particularly loves how the new stone patio at the home’s front feels “much more welcoming, given how cramped a front entryway is in a split-foyer home.”
Their backyard looks so elegant! A great place for Cate to hang out with friends and family (while showing off her great taste). She shared:
We love it, love it, love it! … I was so pleased to share the final product with the brick&batten team after we were finished!
Ready to breathe life into your split-level home?
While many of her neighbors are tearing down their homes to construct large, modern replacements, Cate is happy she chose to keep the character of her midcentury house, with a few updates that make it shine. She said:
The new character our home has makes it look like new, while also sticking with the midcentury look we love.
Split-level homes aren’t necessarily on-trend, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be renovated to look stylish and timeless. Cate’s renovated exterior fulfilled her homeowner goals:
I’ve received so many compliments, and so many people asked me who helped with the design that I requested a brick&batten yard sign.
Whether you have a split-level home, a brick home that needs a refresher, a farmhouse, or even a restaurant in need of a facelift, brick&batten’s expert designers can help you re-envision your building! Start your virtual exterior design today.
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