from dated split-level to modern farmhouse; an exterior home love story
There’s a big difference between having ideas for your home’s exterior and being able to actually see how those ideas will work together before construction begins.
For the Jordan family, the goal was to completely rethink the exterior of their split-level ranch while working with the existing brick. They longed for cleaner, brighter, more upscale; a transitional style with a splash of modern farmhouse. Long story short - they wanted to fall in love again with their home.
The result? A transformation that took their home from dated and disconnected, to fresh, cohesive and completely their own.
The Starting Point
The Jordans’ original home had good bones, but they were ready for the change that would sweep them off their feet.
The Jordan Home.
Their wish list included a cleaner overall look, updated materials, a more welcoming front entry and a design that would work with the existing brick rather than fighting against it.
The challenge wasn’t simply choosing white siding or a new roof. Every decision needed to work together.
Mood Board inspired by conversations with the Jordan and finishes selected.
That’s where exterior design becomes especially valuable.
Rather than making individual selections and hoping they would eventually create the right finished look, the homeowners were able to see the entire exterior transformation before construction began.
Designing the New Exterior
The new design introduced a crisp, white exterior paired with the existing red brick foundation, dark shutters and a dark standing-seam metal roof.
Board-and-batten siding gives the home a more updated, architectural feel, while shake-style siding in the front gable adds texture without overwhelming the design.
The front porch became a much stronger focal point, with white columns and railings framing the entry and creating the welcoming, polished appearance the homeowners wanted. Imagine hanging out in those rocking chairs on this updated porch - what a way to spend an evening!
The Design the Jordans fell head over heels for!
This is where detailed exterior renderings can do something a collection of inspiration photos simply can't.
Instead of asking them to imagine how a roof, siding profile, shutters, porch details, brick and paint colors might look together, the design creates a visual plan for the actual house.
And in this project, that plan became incredibly important once construction started.
From Rendering to Reality
Then came our favorite part, receiving that email showing us that the project was completed, and they were fully committed to this love story again!
“IT.IS.STUNNING.”
-direct quote from the Jordans
The finished home closely followed the original design; from the white siding and dark roof to the shutters, front gable, porch and architectural details.
The value of this design went far beyond knowing what the finished house would look like; it became a roadmap during construction.
“This Is What We Want, Every Detail.”
After the project was completed, the homeowners shared something that perfectly captures why we do what we do.
Their contractor had seen other homeowners attempt planning with AI tools, only to find that the results didn’t translate well enough to the actual home and still required a lot of explanation.
With their Saint Exteriors design, they could simply hand the rendering to their contractor and say:
“This is what we want, every detail.”
Taking Anxiety Out of Exterior Renovation
Perhaps our favorite part of their feedback had nothing to do with siding, roofing or shutters.
It was this:
“We know what our house is going to look like and we can enjoy watching it happen.”
Exterior renovations involve a lot of decisions, and many of them are expensive that aren't easy to undo.
You can experiment. Compare options. Change your mind. See how everything relates to everything else. And when construction starts, you are no longer crossing your fingers and hoping all those choices magically become the house you’ve dreamed of.
You have a plan.
The Final Result: Their Dream Home
The homeowners’ reaction when the project was complete says it all:
“IT. IS. STUNNING.”
We’ll happily take that review!
This project also demonstrates something we believe strongly in at Saint Exteriors: great exterior design isn't just about making a house prettier. It's about giving homeowners confidence before construction begins.
When the finished home looks this close to the design created before the first hammer swings? That’s a pretty satisfying before-and-after.
