Here in Delaware, there are many types of homes. We have classic historic structures that were originally constructed two or three hundred years ago. There are contemporary-style homes, farmhouse-style homes, palatial homes, and much more. Many of the newer structures are made using advanced materials such as exterior paneling made from vinyl, polyvinyl, and the like. These materials are very sturdy and resist damage from weather and the elements very well. But they can pose some aesthetic problems.
Many people here have asked us about ways to enhance exterior qualities for home improvement. Some have asked about replacing stucco with brick or adding cedar accents to improve their home exterior. These are nice ideas and a good place to start. But we think we can up the ante with the following home exterior renovation ideas.
Common ways to improve the exterior of a home are to add a covered entrance, change a major entrance door, refresh the paint job, hang a lantern, add a gate, plant an arbor, and so on. But to rise to the level of a full renovation, we are looking for something a little more comprehensive. But we will begin with some of the more basic ideas and move up.
Adding outdoor lighting is a good way to incorporate ambiance while improving safety and convenience at the same time. Solar path lights can illuminate a stone path and deter trespassers. Best of all, many modern outdoor lighting systems are both solar-powered and ruggedized to resist the elements. Modern exterior lighting systems achieve this without sacrificing elegance or style. It’s one of the latest technological advancements that we are most excited about. You can begin by simply hanging a lantern, or inserting a few low-cost ground lights near an entryway.
Replacing one or more major entrance doors is an easy way to tune up the curb appeal significantly. Doors have great symbolic significance, and the color of a door contributes greatly to the overall look and feel of a home. Adding doors with or without windows, iron or steel embellishments, and choosing a bold color is a powerful way to set the tone for other improvements.
An arbor can be as complex and robust or as small and simple as you like. Regardless of its scope, the flora that you plant to grow up and over it will add a welcoming, decorative garden feel. Adding a simple wooden gate to your arbor transforms it from a mere decoration to a feature of your home exterior.
A street-facing garage door takes up a massive amount of visual space and can be overwhelmingly utilitarian in its affect. Repainting it for a new look and feel is simple. Replacing it to lean in to the utilitarian effect, or to go in another direction can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal.
Like the garage door, the driveway is a massive feature. They usually go unnoticed, but with a new coat of pavement, or better yet, replacing them with beautiful, advanced concrete pavers will make them stand out in a good way.
If your home doesn’t have a front porch, it can look rather naked from the street. Adding even a simple porch can be a great benefit, especially during the rainy times of the year. A porch can be as simple as an awning to help you get out of the rain while you reach for your keys. Or it can be a large sitting, eating, and outdoor living space for many people to enjoy.
Give your exterior and your interior a new lease on life with a new bay-style window. Of course, that’s just one of an unlimited number of ways you can enhance the windows. Add color, admit more sunlight, and transform interior spaces from dull and oppressive to bright, cheery, and beautiful.
Metal roofs are becoming increasingly popular for homes and businesses. They are durable, low maintenance, and relatively easy to install. With proper care, metal roofs can last for decades and they give a structure an attractive veneer of permanence that many homeowners love. Of course, there are other options, all of which will cut energy costs and improve the resale value of your home.
The patio possibilities mentioned above are a good start on outdoor living spaces and will lead us into our final outdoor renovation, the open-air kitchen. What’s more, the ruggedization advancements that make exterior lighting, and even multimedia electronics able to become permanent features of outdoor living spaces give you a lot of exciting options. Today’s outdoor living spaces are much more than fair-weather sitting areas. They are true extensions of your interior space.
Finally, we come to the ultimate outdoor renovation idea, the open-air kitchen. As mentioned above, modern materials and manufacturing techniques make items once exclusively for indoor use able to become permanent features of outdoor spaces. This goes double for outdoor stoves and grills, which transform an ordinary patio into an open-air living space for cooking, eating, and entertaining. Outdoor cook shakes are simple culinary appliances that can be stored and used safely outdoors, and they are very affordable. Ranging in price from $50 to $400, anyone can add a functional outdoor food prep area to their home. Create a durable and festive stucco outdoor kitchen, or replace stucco with brick, either way, you’ll have an attractive and low-maintenance living area.
Alternatively, you may install a permanent gas grill, or build outdoor kitchen essentials around an outdoor fireplace. All of these ideas and more work well with cedar accents home exteriors, as well as stucco and stone exterior homes- all of which are popular Delaware home styles.