...but sometimes it's kind of hard not to. Why is the cover important? Because the outside should at best be a reflection and depiction of the words and story inside the book itself.
This brings me to my next question: how important are the exterior finishes on a new home? Very important. Why? Again, same as the book cover: the exterior should be a preview to the beauty and style of the interior. It is the first thing that you will see when you arrive home. It is the first thing that guest will see when they arrive. Like a book cover, the exterior sets the stage for the story that's inside the home.
With this in mind, I helped one of my clients select the exterior finishes for their new home. The home is shaping up just beautifully. The framing, plumbing and electrical are finished, and the brick and drywall are almost complete. I have to say, I'm growing quite fond (and kind of attached) to this home. It's quite charming!
Along with builder, David Percy, and architect, Catherine Sloan, the homeowners selected Canterbury Clinker brick and Weathered Wood shingles.
Another important factor is the mortar selection and application. We chose a medium gray with a messy application (so that a bit of the mortar seeps over the brick).
My part came in for the rest of the exterior finishes. It is important to me to include a variety of materials to add interest without over-materializing the house. Sometimes new homes can look off because the exteriors are over-stylized and do not blend well with the rest of the neighborhood. Since the house is a new construction amidst maturer homes, it needs to fit in with the rest of the community.
The house is designed in the Tudor style with touches of Arts and Crafts style in the interior. I felt that shades of deep browns, greens, bronzes and auburns would tie together the Tudor and Arts and Crafts styles. Wood, an important material of the Tudor and Arts and Crafts traditions, would be brought in through the cedar shakes as well as the exposed cypress columns on the front porch. Bronzes would be included through the metal accent roof and exterior light fixtures.
I put together several exterior renderings to get a sense of the juxtapositions of different material and paint colors. This is the one my clients selected.
Trim: Sherwin Williams Roycroft Bronze Green
Brick: Canterbury Clinker
Shingles: Weathered Wood
Metal Accent Roofing: Deep Brown Bronze Paint
Trim Around Windows: Sherwin Williams Roycroft Bronze Green
Trim Around Front Door: Limestone
Headers: Cypress Wood
Header Stain: Sherwin Williams Exterior Stain in Hawthorne
Siding: Cedar Shake
Siding Stain: Sherwin Williams Exterior Stain in Hawthorn
All in all, the clients, architect, builder and myself are thrilled with the finishes. I'll post a finished photo once the project is complete! Here's a side view of the cedar shakes.
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