The early 1960s was a time of simpler home designs with minimal architectural details. While this mid-century split-level home in Rocky River, built in 1961, had classic design features, it had seen its fair share of wear and tear. Its facade had faded, the roof had aged, the windows had lost their luster and the driveway needed replacement. But, beyond the aging façade, there was an opportunity to breathe new life into this family home.
The homeowners approached our team at Dover Home Remodelers to help give their much-loved home an exterior refresh that would provide modern curb appeal, functional upgrades and greater energy efficiency. This blog follows the renovation project from beginning to end, capturing the before and after while detailing the steps along the way. To read more about this project, view the before and after project on our portfolio.
The Home Exterior: Before & After
The homeowners’ wish list for their exterior remodel included a clean, updated front elevation with an inviting entryway and space for outdoor seating. Plus, a new roof and windows that not only would look great but would make their home more energy efficient for year-round comfort and savings.
The Home Exterior: Before
The home’s existing front elevation had an odd feature often found in split-level plans from the 60s: The grade of the front lawn sloped upward towards the home, ending at a knee wall that flanked the front of the house, ending just past the front door. The wall created a narrow, awkward pathway to the front door and visually obstructed a full view of the front of the home, making it look small.
In addition, the home’s original building materials were aged and due to be replaced, including roof shingles, siding, garage doors, front windows and driveway.
The Home Exterior: After
A complete transformation, the new materials and fresh color palette elevate the property and provide instant curb appeal. We painted the existing brick a crisp white along the lower level with a dark navy blue siding (Norandex Great Barrier Steel Blue) above. Black shutters and roof shingles (Landmark Pro Dimensional Moire Black) create a clean, modern look. The new C.H.I. garage doors in rich Painted Woodtones Classic add warmth and dimension. And a striking new Pella 6-panel bay window dresses up the front of the home. (Pella 250 Series White Vinyl)
The front façade renovation also included a new driveway, retaining walls and other hardscape upgrades. The existing driveway was failing, so it had to be demoed and removed. But before the new driveway could be poured, we had to bring it up to code with a new foundation. Next, we extended the driveway on the left side, flanked by a tiered stone retaining wall that connects to a pathway leading to the backyard.
We also installed a quarter-moon-shaped stamped concrete patio on the right side of the driveway for a seating area. The same stacked stone retaining walls (Dutch Stone Stack Ledge in Sienna) create symmetry on both sides of the driveway. Finally, the same stone wraps the base of the front pillars along the front of the home for texture and continuity—and a beautiful finish.
Need a facelift for the exterior of your home?
This exterior remodel was a great project—instant satisfaction when you pull up to the driveway and standout curb appeal. If you’re looking for a home remodeling partner for your next project, contact us at Dover Home Remodeling. We’re always here to help.
Angie Hambach
