From the Outside In

Not every refresh happens inside the house. Sometimes, the biggest transformation is the one everyone can see even if they never step through the front door. For this project, we focused on the exterior. The goal wasn't to completely change the architecture or make the house feel like something it wasn't. Instead, we wanted to create a more cohesive color story, highlight the home's architectural details, and give the front entry a more updated feel.

The original trim color felt disconnected from the roof and, rather than complementing the home's existing finishes, it competed with them. The exterior was missing that visual connection that makes a home's colors feel intentional. This gorgeous trim color is Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore. The deeper tone works beautifully with the roof color and creates a stronger relationship between the different elements of the exterior.

One of the best ways to update a home is to look at the colors that are already there and find opportunities to repeat those tones in a more intentional way. Instead of introducing another competing color, we used the existing palette as our starting point.

The result is a much more cohesive exterior, with the trim helping to define the home's architectural details rather than distracting from them.

The front entry was another area that needed attention. The original entry felt more traditional and heavy than the homeowners wanted, and the existing front door wasn't giving the home the updated look they envisioned. Replacing the door made a significant difference.

Choosing a glass and metal front door that immediately modernizes the entry while still feeling appropriate for the home. The glass allows more natural light to filter into the foyer, which is an added bonus once you step inside. The metal introduces contrast and architectural interest, creating a beautiful balance between the lighter glass and the surrounding exterior finishes. The new door also creates a stronger focal point without feeling overly bold. It catches your eye, but it doesn't overpower the rest of the home's architecture.

One of the simplest ways to create a cohesive exterior is to repeat tones and materials that already exist throughout the home. That's exactly what we did here. By connecting the trim color to the roof and introducing complementary tones at the front entry, the exterior now feels more intentional and pulled together. A fresh trim color can do more than simply change the color of a house. It can emphasize architectural details, create definition, and give the entire exterior a more polished appearance. So what did it look like before?

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And sometimes, that's all a home needs, a thoughtful refresh that works with what is already there rather than starting from scratch.

The updated exterior feels cleaner, more cohesive, and more reflective of the homeowners' style. The darker trim grounds the home, the new front door adds modern architectural interest, and the glass brings a welcome sense of lightness to the entry.

It's a reminder that the front of your home is part of the design story, too.

After all, the exterior is the first room everyone sees.