share post

Charming Exteriors

by | Feb 8, 2018 | Decorating Inspiration, exteriors

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure Policy here

Charming Exteriors

This post is sponsored by James Hardie

A well-designed house should make you happy when you see it. James Hardie‘s commitment to artistry and innovation allows for beautiful, timeless designs and uncompromising performance to elevate everyday life.

I’m always drawn to a house with inviting curb appeal. Driving through neighborhoods and looking for homes that have something special about them has long been one of my favorite pastimes! There seems to be a magic combination of elements that will make me stop and stare. It’s really not just one thing or one style of house!

Charming Exteriors

A beautiful setting, gorgeous landscaping or a favorite style of home will all speak to me, of course. But it’s not only fancy houses that make my heart skip a beat! I find that effective use of color, accessories, lighting, siding material and trim detail can contribute to the curb appeal of a home.

Today I’m sharing a few tips and tricks that I believe can take any home from ordinary to extraordinary.

Charming Exteriors

Make a Style Statement

If you’re living in a neighborhood where homes are pretty basic or all look the same, this could be your opportunity to give your home the curb appeal advantage.

New exterior lighting can be an easy place to start. Switch out basic lighting and replace it with a look that is unique, but also highlights your home’s personality. New landscaping can create a more welcoming statement and set your home apart on the street. New address numbers are like statement jewelry–they add a personalized touch.

Charming Exteriors

Mix Up Materials

You can enhance the look of your exterior with unexpected use of siding materials. You can consider highlighting a special feature of your home by using shingles or a rock or brick facade rather than lap siding in that section.

Just like texture is important inside a home, a unique combination of siding materials will add interest to the exterior of your home. James Hardie offers a variety of products and design versatility which helps to create a distinct look through a collection of profiles, textures, widths and colors. Mixing profiles can add visual interest and accentuate your homes’ most interesting features.

Charming Exteriors

Play with Creative Color Combinations

Give your home more depth and contrast through the use of color. A darker more dramatic siding color might give your particular house more style than the typical builder beige tone found in the rest of the neighborhood. A lighter neutral color on the siding can pair with a bolder or fresher color accents to make other architectural features stand out. Or use several shades of neutrals for a soft look. Color can highlight your front door or shutters, or use color to minimize features you don’t want to focus on.

If you’re selecting new siding, try utilizing the interactive Home Color Tool on the James Hardie website! It will help take the uncertainty out of your color choices by visualizing them on your home. James Hardie provides hundreds of inspiring color combinations, with a color collection featuring both national colors (16) and regional specialty colors (up to 9). Check out their handy color tool here.

Charming Exteriors

Use Trim to Give Your Home Presence

I think one of the main curb appeal tricks that draws me in is the effective use of trim work. Trim around windows can give them more presence and architectural interest. Trim can make even diminutive features appear larger and more dramatic. Thick trim work around a single door or columns can give an element more presence.

Add HardieTrim® boards to add a clean, finishing touch to porches, columns, doors, windows and more!

Charming Exteriors

Why James Hardie?

James Hardie is America’s #1 Brand of siding, offering a versatile collection of profiles, textures, widths and colors to grace homes with authentic character in the tradition of great American home design. Their products have multiple coats of paint baked on the boards for a brilliant finish and a strong bond that resists chipping, peeling, cracking and fading for years of lasting beauty. James Hardie® siding and trim are uniquely engineered to perform beautifully, despite what nature brings. So, even after years of wet or freezing conditions or blistering sun and hot, humid conditions, your exterior will continue to impress with its warm, inviting look! You can know that your home will maintain the look you love for many years to come.

James Hardie has a beautiful inspiration guide you can download for free to get inspired for exterior projects! Download the guide HERE.

Charming Exteriors

Charming Exteriors

You can also request free siding samples HERE. I requested a few and was so impressed by the quality and color options!

Also, here’s a fun fact…HardiePlank siding is what I used for my kitchen walls and backsplash!

Does your neighborhood have homes with great curb appeal? 

2 Comments

  1. Jenny B.

    I love HardiePlank. I wish we could use it here, but unfortunately, most houses where we live are brick, and nearly every neighborhood has covenants that require all brick or all brick and stone. The clashing combinations of brick and (faux) stone are my favorite (not really, I’m being sarcastic). It’s ugly and frustrating for a girl who loves pretty houses. Don’t get me wrong – there are some beautiful brick homes in the US – but they’re not here. The population in our area started exploding about 15 years ago, so most construction is newer and was put up fast. Sigh… Anyway… I love all the James Hardie products. :)

  2. Kylene Wales

    Melissa,
    Indeed, the title of blog post perfect match with the post! :)
    The way you described about the James Hardie anyone could be a fan of it. I love the two section contains the use trim and mix up materials that makes lot of sense to me when it comes to home design. Really thanks to Melissa for the lovely post!

 

Decor Finds:

browse categories:

browse archives:

let’s stay connected!

Follow for daily
Home Inspiration:

get my free decorating guide

home decor inspiration, free downloads,
and more, straight to your inbox

css.php