Given today’s challenging real estate market, we are hearing from more and more clients who have decided that they are not moving so they want to renovate their homes to make them more livable, attractive and inviting. When asked about the things they want to change, homeowners often have very specific ideas about the interior renovations they wish to make. When it comes to the exterior, however, they are often much more hesitant – not because they don’t have specific ideas about how they want the outside of their homes to look, but because they aren’t sure if it can be done given the inherent design or look of their homes.
Exterior renovations can indeed be tricky. Every home, whether it is a classic “five over four with a door” colonial or a 1950’s ranch, has its own basic look and feel. The challenge is to find the flourishes and details that will make the home stand out for all the right reasons. Trying to impose a modern look on a cottage home is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. It just doesn’t fit. I certainly understand the desire to “mix things up” a bit but there is a very fine line between eclectic and mismatch and quite frankly, there are only a few architects who can successfully pull off that kind of transformation.
With summer approaching, you may be tempted to make some changes to your home’s exterior. But before you embark on anything – even if it is just painting, windows or landscaping, be sure to consider all the elements that impact the entire look of your home:
Windows: I believe windows are the eyes to the soul of a house and should be chosen, and placed, with great thought. The strategic placement of windows can literally transform the appearance of a home, just as an inappropriate design can completely negate the impact of any other improvements. Removing the mullions on the windows of a traditional colonial will not make the home look more modern. It will, however, make it look as though something is amiss. When shopping for new windows, it is easy to get taken in by the multitude of styles and options available but remember that the windows you choose should complement, not detract from, the overall look of your home.
Exterior wall and foundation coverings: Thanks to a multitude of new products on the market, it has never been easier to give your home’s exterior a facelift. Manufactured stone veneers, stained and texturized concrete, and new siding and stucco products are easy to work with and often much less expensive than real stone materials. That has made them especially appealing to homeowners with exposed concrete foundations who have discovered how a thin layer of manufactured stone veneer can completely change the look of a very run-of-the-mill raised ranch.
Porches: In addition to being popular gathering places on warm summer nights, porches help define the entry to a home. Although your home may not be suitable for a grand wrap-around porch, it is possible to create the welcoming appeal of a porch through something as simple as a roof with columns. Scale is extremely important when considering porches – they should never overwhelm a home’s façade. Railings, columns and roofing materials should complement the overall look of the home and reflect the home’s age and style. Although many of today’s building materials are low-maintenance, some are simply inappropriate for certain home styles. I can assure you that the porch railings of traditional colonial homes were made of wrought-iron or cedar, not white plastic with fake texture.
Trim: When it comes to dressing the outside of your house, the difference really is in the details. Window shutters, sills, and casings as well as exposed structural elements such as rafters, brackets and corbels catch the light and create shadow lines that give an important three-dimensional effect to a façade. These elements also help define transition areas (walls to windows and walls to roof) and add visual interest to a home. Using a contrasting color for shutters and corner trim helps further highlight these elements of the exterior.
Roofs: When it comes time to replace your roof, don’t just replace it with the cheapest material or “whatever was there before.” Use this as an opportunity to really change the feel and look of your house. If you have always wanted slate, there are imitation slate products available today that even fool the pros. And of course, there is nothing more beautiful than a cedar shake roof and it will last just as long as asphalt. If you aren’t quite ready to completely change your roofing materials, check out some of the premium grade architectural series shingles from the roofing manufacturers. If you want to “go green” in your roof replacement, consider roof shingle solar panels.
If you feel as though your house is in need of an exterior facelift, I would encourage you to enlist the services of a design professional. We can help you select the right combination of individual elements that will create the overall look you want and help transform your home from “plain Jane” into a true traffic-stopper.