6 Awesome Home Exterior Transformations
Before-and-after photos show the power of paint, imagination and top-notch architects
A cute 1925 cottage gets a fresh contemporary paint job. A 1917 brick house receives a modern new addition in blackened wood and steel. Those are just two of the impressive transformations seen in these before-and-after photos. Tell us which transformation is your favorite!
1. Before. This 1925 cottage-style house in Arlington, Virginia, had great bones and plenty of charm, but it was in need of some loving attention. The roof, trim and siding needed to be replaced or repaired. However, in renovating, the homeowners were able to keep the original spirit of the home alive while tailoring it to their needs.
After. The homeowners wanted the exterior of their home to respect the fabric and history of the neighborhood. The team at Winn Design + Build used the Ashton Heights Style Guide for Craftsman bungalow kit houses when planning exterior changes. For example, the guidelines recommended square porch columns with sloped sides, Craftsman-style porch railings and clapboard siding (rendered here in low-maintenance Hardie board). A yellow bungalow-style door is cheerful and welcoming.
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2. Before. This 1920 bungalow hadn’t been updated in 30 years when it got a redo that kept its original charm while incorporating chic touches. Located in the eclectic Austin, Texas, neighborhood of South Congress, known as SoCo, the little bungalow was a “borderline teardown,” says Maggie McIntosh, designer, builder and partner at Moontower Design Build, which worked on the project along with architect Hugh Jefferson Randolph.
After. The front porch was too run-down to keep, so the team rebuilt it to match the original. “The original condition of the home informed the exterior,” says McIntosh. With some new touches of black on the roof, door and window trim, the design team continued the home’s original color scheme. “Black and white were part of the intended neutral modern look,” McIntosh says.
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Browse white exterior paint
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Browse white exterior paint
3. Before. This 1917 brick house in Perth, Australia, had strong bones, with beautiful roof lines and ornate windows bringing elegance and charm. It was purchased as a development project for a young family. Architect Janik Dalecki of Dalecki Designs restored the period elegance of the building while building a practical and modern addition for an easygoing contemporary lifestyle.
After. The home’s addition is located behind a new black metal gate and carport. Purposely designed to make a bold statement, the modern addition was constructed from a timber frame and covered with black wood-composite cladding to accentuate the contrast with the rich red brick of the original house.
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4. Before. These homeowners were ready to give their 1908 Craftsman home in Denver a stylish update after their kids left home. The original house featured a side-angled enclosed entryway that the homeowners wanted opened up to create a covered porch. The homeowners tasked architect Erin Elston with keeping and reusing as much of the original exterior siding and brickwork as possible.
After. The new front porch now reveals lovely original brick work. Elston added new gingerbread shingles to the base of the entry to match the exterior shingles on the second floor. She also added a second gable roof form to maintain the home’s original massing while allowing for a full-height ceiling on the second floor that now accommodates a new master suite, guest bath and laundry room.
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5. Before. This 1960s one-level ranch in Irving, Texas, was in bad shape, with spots of mold, but it was also full of potential. “We kind of went in knowing that it wouldn’t be easy, but we enjoyed it,” says owner Cynthia Rojas. The exterior of the house got a full face-lift. Some of the columns in the front were starting to detach at the top. “From the street you could see that they were wobbly. Those were the first to go,” Rojas says.
After. The homeowners replaced the double garage doors with one larger door and painted the brick exterior in Argos, a light gray from Sherwin-Williams. “We added new landscaping, which is pretty simple, but it made a huge difference,” Rojas says.
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6. Before. The back of this original two-level modern house in Atherton, California, featured a painted brown exterior and decks with wood railings on both wings of the second floor.
After. Owner and architect David Henig gave the home’s exterior a new gray-washed cedar siding and two new decks with metal railings. New slate pavers replaced the old composite patio outside the glass sliding doors. A gabion wall replaced the original wood retaining wall in the backyard.
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More
Roots of Style: See where your house got its look
What color should you paint your house?
Find an architect to transform your home’s exterior
See the rest of this house
More
Roots of Style: See where your house got its look
What color should you paint your house?
Find an architect to transform your home’s exterior