Simple Is Beautiful When It Comes to Home Design

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Simple is beautiful.  It’s true.  Simple is so beautiful.  I go back to the “Law of Diminishing Returns” and how you reach a point and anything more you add detracts from the beauty.   The same is true for the exterior of your home.  Simple is beautiful.  Something happened in the 90s new construction where we got excited and just threw on Faux architectural accents and wild shutters.  It’s still happening, but seemed to implode in the 90s.  Fake window muntins abound!  Complete abuse of the keystone accent…is that foam?  And total reckless abandon of window design.  Leaving me scratching my head…who hurt you?  What happened?

When it comes to your home’s exterior…simple is timeless.  And although you may love the look of a palladium window with a complicated grid pattern and arched shutters….against the back drop of multi colored brick and stone, it’s enough.  The eye can’t enjoy that.  And after a few short years, you will be so sad you made those costly decisions.  So, let’s talk about simple decisions you can make right now that will make the exterior of your home timeless.  And start to repair the hurt that was done to you in the 90s.

wrong shape, size shutter
  1. Choosing Real.  When you are replacing shutters, doors, garage doors…choose materials that are real.  Real is timeless.  Shutters…opt for real, operable, wood shutters with hardware instead of vinyl.  Choose a real wood garage door instead of aluminum.  Solid materials that will stand the test of time.
  2. Choosing Paint colors that are timeless.  Not trendy.  In many cases this means choosing colors from historic color collections...not boring, but timeless.  These colors have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years because as people migrate back to the city to live, they are buying older homes.  They are opting for color that tells an authentic story about the home’s exterior.  You can still inject your personality with planters or the door color, but overall paint should stick to the basics.  Typically, three colors are MORE than enough for field, trim and door color.  If your brick is multi colored, then pick a color off the brick to paint with an eye for undertones.  Painting is a big expense, it costs the same amount to get it right as it does to get it wrong!
  3. Landscape design…once again…simple is beautiful and timeless.  Without boring you with Mathematical equations, the Golden Ratio has been used in all elements of design forever.  Why?  Because it works!  Japanese gardens rely on this concept to create soothing settings that naturally please the eye.  Symmetry, not only in the actual layout, but even in the heights of plants chosen…following this principle will assure that your landscape adds to the curb appeal of your home.  It’s also a good idea to choose color simply.  Timeless gardens are mostly green with pops of color that come and go with the seasons.

Trends will come and go every 5-10 years and unless you want to update your home with every passing trend, following timeless rules for the exterior will keep your home looking beautiful forever.  Ever wonder when you drive through old neighborhoods in cities…why you love looking at all the old architecture?   Do you say the same thing when you drive through newer areas with faux accents and multi colored homes? Just sayin’

Author

Alli’s passion for home design began during childhood when she’d accompany her father to various fixer-upper properties he was working on. Years later, Alli received a degree in physical therapy from Indiana University, but her love of design and personal need brought her back to the home design industry. Alli co-founded brick&batten in 2017 with her sister, Cassie, out of necessity. She was looking for a service like brick&batten for her own home, but one didn’t exist. Alli loves designing exteriors that inspire people. She’s also interested in real estate investment and enjoys creating exterior designs that will provide a great return on investment. Alli lives in Atlanta with her partner, three children, and their dogs. She loves to travel and often finds herself looking at houses in the areas she visits for inspiration and ideas.