Inspirational Nourishment

When we were checking out different properties and decided to buy the home we’re in now, we thought it was a solid choice because the other houses were too crammed together, which was a big deal for my husband. We were worried about what was behind the property, wanting to ensure there wouldn’t be any new developments nearby. Fortunately, a private drive behind us leads to several homes and a golf course, so the chances of that happening anytime soon are minimal! Of course, it wasn’t all perfect. While this acreage is a hidden gem in a lovely suburb, the house hadn’t been updated since it was built in the late 90s. We knew we were signing up for a fixer-upper!

To our surprise, one of the first projects we had to tackle was the exterior of our home following several severe storms that hit the Midwest and caused extensive damage. We felt fortunate that our losses were limited to a few trees, a shed, garage doors, shingles, siding, gutters, and other items. Like many other property owners, we struggled to work with our busy insurance company and mortgage lender to agree on compensation with the contractors for replacing the damaged items. However, due to these unforeseen circumstances, we seized the opportunity to complete some DIY projects and make much-needed renovations to the exterior, significantly enhancing our home’s curb appeal.

The shingles and gutters were new before the storm’s damage. Notable observations include the overgrown shrubs, the faded paint that used to be green but now appears tan, the stairs pulling away from the porch, water damage on the sidewalk, water damage to the wood trim around the windows, and a few other minor issues.

The storm caused extensive damage to many items, including the doors, windows, shingles, siding, and gutters. This unfortunate situation, however, presented an opportunity to redesign and enhance the exterior appearance of our home. The process was challenging, as many others faced similar or even worse damage. Moreover, the post-COVID situation and supply shortages still affected the high costs of building supplies. It was a perfect storm, pun intended!

I’m excited to share what we’ve accomplished so far. I’m trying not to sound too cheesy. Still, our life is a canvas of continuous possibilities, especially because two creatives share their lives. I’m a dreamer, and he’s a doer, creating a powerful partnership that inspires us both! So, let’s dive into the details of our renovation so you can see some before-and-after transformations.

• Cement Board Siding—Our home primarily had cement board siding except for the trim around the windows. Due to rot and hail damage, this wood was replaced with cement board siding, which we painted white.
• Exterior Paint – We ultimately decided to repaint the remainder of our siding, which we had considered for a while but weren’t entirely sure about. We chose a high-contrast color scheme, featuring dark blue and white for the trim and some black accents that we applied ourselves.
• Gutters and Roof – We had to replace our gutters and roof because they had become dented from hail damage during the storm. We opted for a more modern black color to match the new color scheme.
• Cedar Shakes – Cedar shakes are beautiful and rot-resistant. We chose to apply a light stain, but the different pieces will fade over time based on exposure to sunlight and weather, adding to their beauty. Cedar is durable and strong, and the natural look nicely complements our chosen color palette.
• Cedar Wrapped Columns – We extended the same design style to the front porch by addressing the round columns. While they were beautiful, they didn’t match the craftsman style of the rest of our home. We wrapped these columns in cedar to achieve a cohesive look.
• Sidewalk and Porch Steps – We replaced parts of the stairs detaching from the front porch but kept the existing brick. We aimed to keep the project cost-effective while incorporating the elements already part of the home.

Look at the photos of our project and check out the before and after images. We went bold with the color choices and are excited to move on to the next phase, which involves adding landscaping. We would love your feedback or ideas about incorporating different colors or shapes into the design.