A Dramatic Facade Makeover at Maine

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Without moving one window or door, architect David Matero gave this coastal Maine house’s exterior a stunning makeover. The proprietor, a British guy intending to rent the home a time, desired the outside of the home to match his modern aesthetic. “He wished to make a new speech for the home,” says Matero.

Matero worked together with the owner to liven up the property’s exterior without going through a complete remodel. New cedar shingle siding on front, new paint on the back, modern cedar board treatments and a shiny metal roofing did the trick.

at a Glance
Who resides: Rental Residence and part-time home for a British guy
Location: Harpswell, Maine
Size: 1,600 square feet with a 1,000-square-foot basement

Before Photo

David Matero Architecture

The property’s interior had an updated open-concept floor plan, but the outside didn’t match the owner’s modern sensibility. Additionally, the asphalt roof has been in bad shape, and the 4-foot-wide wraparound porch felt to be an afterthought.

David Matero Architecture

AFTER: Instead of tearing down the entire facade, Matero removed the wraparound porch and replaced with the shingles on the front with new cedar shingles, keeping exactly the identical window and door openings. A more compact front porch topped with a gable now defines the house’s most important entrance.

Matero replaced the asphalt roof with durable Galvalume metal roofing. The reflective roof changes color with the sky from sunrise until dusk. “It is almost like a mood ring,” says Matero.

David Matero Architecture

As time passes the cedar will patinate to a natural gray — a few of the shingles have started to change.

David Matero Architecture

Vertical cedar boards create shade and solitude on the porch. A new exterior color palette of dusty purple on front facade and hot lotion on the back adds sudden richness.

Before Photo

David Matero Architecture

The narrow legged porch made bad utilization of the accessible space and didn’t offer privacy from neighboring homes. Additionally, it blocked sun from the basement windows.

David Matero Architecture

AFTER: The new rear porch welcomes front with its vertical cedar boards, which provide privacy and shade. Without the wraparound portion of the porch, sun now pours to the basement windows, too. The back of the home was not shingled, so Matero cut prices simply by painting the present siding.

David Matero Architecture

Matero replaced the traditional crisscross railing with a more modern cable-rail design that exposes the view.

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