Updated Entrance Transforms Traditional New England Home
By: Mackenzie
It can be easy to notice when there’s something “off” with your exterior design. Whether you feel like it’s outdated or it’s just not welcoming enough, it’s often noticeable if the vibes aren’t right. The tricky part, however, is knowing where to go with your design to elevate it and get it where you want it to be. When Renee F started to feel like the exterior of her home fell short of her newly updated interior, she knew she needed help bringing balance to her home. After she came across brick&batten and read our blogs, she came to us for help.
The house was outdated and did not reflect the style and upgrades we had done to the interior. I knew I wanted to do something different outside, but was unsure how to upgrade it.
Read on to see how we helped Renee breathe new life into her outdated exterior. You’ll get to see what the home looked like before, the designs we created, and the real-life finished result.
From small updates to total home overhauls, our designers will help you manifest your exterior goals. We will work with you to understand your tastes and preferences and create a plan to help you bring them to life. Learn more about our services.
Our designers only use and recommend products that we know, love, or would use on our own properties. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
How can I make my entryway more welcoming?
If this post caught your attention, you might be looking for ways to revamp your entrance. There are tons of ways to update an entry and make it appear more warm and welcoming with the help of expert exterior designers (like ours!) who can make the whole thing seamless. We will create a plan to amplify your entrance, making impactful design choices to draw the eye. Our designers will provide you with a photorealistic rendering of your home with the desired changes, so you can feel prepared to take on renovations.
Interested in seeing how we transformed Renee’s entrance into a warm, welcoming standout feature? Read on for all of the details!
The before
Renee’s home (shown above) was a traditional design, complete with siding, shutters, and a Mansard-style roof. She wanted to update her home without sacrificing the charm it brought to her quaint New England neighborhood. Her biggest goal was to create a warm and welcoming entry space. She also wanted the entrance to make a statement as the focal point of the exterior. Renee was overwhelmed by the possibilities for her exterior and landed on brick&batten to help her hone her vision.
We never felt like the front entrance of our home was welcoming and with the farmers porch it just was not a central focus. We love the neighborhood that we live in, its very small New England town and we wanted our house to keep in the character of the homes in the neighborhood but still bring it up to date.
The design
In addition to a second story and garage, Renee had a few other requests for her design. She wanted the new look to reflect her transitional style, and she wanted to keep the brick on the first floor, though she told us she was open to painting it.
With this context, we got to work creating a customize design for Renee with two color palette options. Our design features painted brick and a combination of vertical and shingle siding on the second story and garage addition. We suggested removing the dated shutters and replacing the windows and front door. We also incorporated wood accents throughout and designed a landscape-lined walkway and driveway.
The first color palette option we provided Renee is a monochromatic one featuring Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace on the brick, siding, eaves, and trim. The second consists of Benjamin Moore’s Gray Huskie on the brick and siding and Chantilly Lace on the eaves and trim.
For her free revision, Renee requested some subtle changes from the initial design. Our revision includes a different walkway, with herringbone pavers and a more slender layout, lined with landscaping. The portico is a little different in the revised design, with exposed beams extending diagonally from the center beam, and a fully wood frame. Finally, we recommended a brighter white and lighter gray for the exterior, giving Renee some other shades to consider.
The before and after pictures were amazing and I loved the designers visions. The process was so simple. I just took a few pictures of our home as outlined in the directions. I filled out the questionnaire on my style then in a few weeks I got the first rendition. Everyone was so responsive when I had questions.
The process
Renee used contractors for almost every aspect of the redesign. The renovations took a little over a year since they paused the work during the winter months. During downtime, Renee reviewed all of the recommended products for the design — house numbers, planters, and other accessories — and purchased accents to match the inspiration.
Renee said that our designers helped her land on the perfect brick&batten design to update her home. She explained that the process was extremely simple and she found the pictures as well as the products linked in the deliverable to be very useful. (Curious about what’s in the deliverable? Our designers link recommended products, paint colors, materials, and add any necessary notes to the client’s file, creating a straightforward guide to rely on during renovations.)
The photos were priceless. We referenced them with every contractor we worked with. We met with each of them showed them the final vision for the house and they all used the photo from building the portico and porch to the stairs and walkways even the painter referenced it as he was very unsure about the color but in the end, he loved the outcome!
The actual after
Even after seeing some lighter color options during the revision round, Renee chose the bolder, darker palette option and hugged her brick&batten design tightly throughout renovations. From the portico and wood framing around the patio to the landscaping and walkway, she brought almost all of our design recommendations to life. The front door and light fixtures even resemble the rendering we provided!
Renee told us that she and her family absolutely love their new exterior. We really adore the way it turned out, too!
It now reflects more about who we are and is in character with the interior of our home which we spent years upgrading.
When asked what she loved most about her refreshed exterior, Renee mentioned several details that worked together to create the warmed-up aesthetic.
The portico is our favorite part of the house. We now have a focal point. The stone steps against the wood beams just looks terrific. In the evening the lighting we used creates a very warm and inviting glow. We also love the paint color, though it was a big decision both versions of the rendition were fabulous.
Well done warmth!
Renee’s renovated home looks completely transformed and wholly updated. A bold, striking color palette, dynamic portico, wood accents, and other impactful design elements gave her home the face lift it needed to elevate its curb appeal. Renee and her family (and us, of course) aren’t the only ones who think the renovations are incredible. According to Renee, her neighbors also think the exterior is stunning.
Our neighbors stop and stare and many have commented on how beautiful it is. They have enjoyed the process of the renovation and seeing the before and after.
Contractors used on this project:
- Lawrence Smithe
- Brian Nowak, Nowak Landscape Construction
- Stephen Gagne, SG Construction and Landscaping
Interested in reading more client stories like this one? Check out all the other ones we’ve highlighted here.
Whether you want to focus on one aspect of your exterior or revamp your whole house, our designers can help. We’ll be by your side every step of the way to provide you with a rendering to make renovations seamless. Get started today!
Subscribe for more content like this!
