Enhancing Your Home's Exterior: Simple Upgrades for a Stunning Impact

I recently had a consultation with a wonderful client who needed assistance with some exterior selections for their 20-year home. They had recently updated their front door and wanted to continue making small, but impactful changes to the front of their home. While the interior of our homes often takes precedence, neglecting the exterior can leave a lackluster impression on visitors and passersby. By investing time and effort into exterior design, you can transform your home's appearance, enhance curb appeal, and create a welcoming atmosphere.

Here are some easy upgrades you can implement to make your home truly stand out! 1. The Power of First Impressions. The exterior of your home serves as its initial introduction to the world. Just as we dress to impress, the outward appearance of your house contributes to its overall character. A well-designed exterior not only boosts curb appeal but also reflects your personal style and enhances the neighborhood's aesthetic. By investing in exterior upgrades, you have the opportunity to create a lasting positive impression on guests, potential buyers, and even yourself.

2. Fresh Paint and Colorful Accents One of the simplest and most effective ways to upgrade your home's exterior is by applying a fresh coat of paint. Opting for a new color scheme can completely transform the look and feel of your house. Choose colors that harmonize with the architectural style, surroundings, and your personal preferences. Consider adding vibrant accents, such as colorful shutters, front door, or trim, to inject personality and create visual interest.

3. Beautiful Landscaping Landscaping plays a pivotal role in exterior design. A well-maintained and thoughtfully designed landscape not only adds beauty but also increases property value. Start by trimming overgrown shrubs, mowing the lawn, and clearing any debris. Then, consider incorporating a variety of plants, flowers, and trees that thrive in your region, ensuring year-round visual appeal. Adding pathways, lighting, and a cozy seating area can create a welcoming atmosphere and encourage outdoor enjoyment.

4. Striking Lighting Fixtures An often overlooked aspect of exterior design is lighting. Well-placed and aesthetically pleasing lighting fixtures can instantly elevate the ambiance of your home's exterior. Install strategic lighting along walkways, highlighting architectural features, and illuminating key areas such as the front door and porch. Consider using energy-efficient LED lights to save on electricity bills while adding a touch of elegance and security to your property.

5. Charming Accents and Details Small accents and details can make a significant difference in the overall exterior design. Upgrade your house numbers, mailbox, and door hardware to reflect your style and create a cohesive look. Consider adding window boxes with vibrant flowers or installing decorative shutters to add depth and character to the facade. These simple upgrades can enhance the charm and personality of your home.

Designing the exterior of your home is a valuable investment that pays dividends in terms of curb appeal, personal satisfaction, and property value. By implementing simple upgrades such as fresh paint, thoughtful landscaping, striking lighting fixtures, an eye-catching front door, and charming accents, you can transform your home's exterior into a captivating sight.

Thanks for reading! Remember to follow along on Instagram to catch all of the behind-the-scenes of what I'm working on!

Cheers,

#EMDHome Reno: Backyard Edition

As the warmer months are approaching, we are starting to prepare for our big backyard update. This will officially be the first 'major' upgrade to our home, which we are so excited about!

The old deck was rotting and definitely has seen better days. And truthfully, the design of it was all wrong. The handrail situation was very aggressive for a deck being just 12" off the ground. While inside, you felt like you were in a giant crib. And the DIY pergola/sun shade was unsafe and broke 2 days after we moved in.

Patio Before: Good from afar, but far from good.

A closer view of the rotting deck. Gotta love the real estate staging to try and hide it all lol

I definitely won't be missing the unnecessarily-tall handrail!

Here is the Proposed Plan! We are bringing the patio area right to the ground, with square-cut stone in varying sizes. We chose this gorgeous stone from Niagara Block, I'm so excited to see it come together!

Inspiration: An open space where I can watch my girls play, do a little bit of gardening and check emails in the morning with a hot cup of coffee. I'm so excited to really utilize this space, I know it will become an extension of our living area. We will be either building or purchasing a pergola for extra shade, as the backyard gets a lot of direct sunlight throughout the day. With natural textures and comfortable furnishings, I know this space will be used well into the end of Fall.

Keep an eye out for updates on my Instagram Stories! I will be documenting the entire process so make sure you follow along!

Thanks for reading!

2021 Highlight: We bought a Fixer-Upper!

Happy New Year! It's been a while! So much has changed since I've last blogged. Do people still read blogs anymore? Regardless, I've made a point to try and document these exciting times ahead!

This past year has provided some amazing opportunities both professionally and personally. Work has kept me busy, but at times I felt like I could barely come up for air. The ever-challenging work/life balance, am I right?!

Through the midst of all the craziness of 2021, my husband and I purchased our first fixer-upper, located in beautiful Welland, Ontario. It was a bit of a whirlwind process, as most real estate deals are these days. I actually didn't even see the house prior to making an offer! My husband went to go see it, we did a walk-through via Facetime with our realtor and put in an offer that same night. A few days later, we were the proud owners of a 26-year-old semi-detached home, located on the cutest cul-de-sac. We immediately saw its potential, and thankfully most of the upgrades are simply cosmetic.

We finally settled in nicely after a very stressful moving day (pro tip: moving with twin toddlers is not ideal: 10/10 would not recommend!). In short, my husband had to rip out a freshly-painted wall in order to fit our sofa down the stairs to our second-level Family Room. Have you ever been buried in boxes while trying to clean up drywall dust, all while trying to manage two curious 3- year-olds? Not ideal.

Just casually ripping out walls on moving day!

But overall, we chalked this up to a happy accident as it allows so much more light down in what would have been a pretty dark staircase. Once we rip out the carpeting and replace the flooring, we'll have professionals install a handrail and metal spindles within the new opening.

Staircase Inspiration

Here are a few more photos of the rest of the home pre-renovation so you can see what we're working with! Pretty much everything is original and the home was built in 1996. Our plan is to modernize the finishes yet keep a realistic sense of living and maintain functionality throughout the home. It's lacking storage in many areas so lots of custom millwork will be installed strategically! The overall aesthetic will be warm but sophisticated, and will always respect the practical needs of family living.

Here are a few more images that have inspired me recently!

https://orsipanosinteriors.com/

So here is our highlight of 2021! I am so excited to share the renovations of our little fixer-upper. Make sure to follow me on Instagram to catch all of the behind-the-scenes!

Thanks for reading!

Cheers,