Three Expert Design Tips for Giving Your Home an Exterior Facelift

Recently, we have had quite a few inquiries for our design team to add curb appeal to the exteriors of homes. I am always amazed at what our design team can come up with for even the the most blah homes – and right now we have some great ideas brewing in our design department. (See some of our “Before and Afters” showcased below.)

Because of this trend, I decided to put together a three-point checklist that I equate to a facial makeover. These are items that you may want to consider before you embark on an exterior “facelift” of your home.

Siding: The Foundation

There are four main options for re-siding a new home. Wood lap siding and cement board lap siding are the two materials that we work with the most often. Both of these materials are very durable (when properly installed) and, with a high quality paint installation, are beautiful and easy to maintain. Vinyl siding and aluminum siding are two additional options that can be installed at a lower price point and also require very minimal maintenance.

However, if you are ecologically conscientious (like all of us here at Meadowlark!), you should already be wary of the last two options. If you are unaware of the implications of producing vinyl, I highly recommend you watch Blue Vinyl. Aluminum, aside from possibly corroding and visibly displaying rust, takes a lot of energy to fabricate. Brick, Stone, Stucco and specialty woods are also options that can be used, but do come at a higher price point.

Entry: The Lipstick

Many 1980s and 1990s standard colonial and ranch homes seem to highlight the garage as the entry and have therefore inadvertently stuck a front door in a dark, narrow space so as to be almost forgotten. Our design team is enjoying developing interesting entry ideas that add the “lipstick” to our client’s homes, making these once forgotten entries noticeable, welcoming, and identifiable.

Trim: The Eyeliner

The trim on a home—the outline of every detail, window, and door—may seem to be a subtle element, but carefully selecting the correct trim and paying attention to dimensionality, weight, and detail will allow for the apertures and the unique forms on a home to “pop.” Trim patterns allow architectural styles to define themselves on the exteriors of homes. Learn more about more about this remodel here.

By Melissa Kennedy