So exited to show you the reveal of our new white cedar impression siding! Finally a FULL exterior shot! We still have a few things to do around the back and a new fence, I will share later. We LOVE how it all turned out. And really love the cedar impressions. They look like real painted cedar! Very happy every time we drive up to our home. It feels like us. If you missed it I shared all the details on the cedar impressions along with pricing on THIS blog post.
Let’s first look at the BEFORE (what it looked like when we moved in)-
We opted for no shutters. This was something we went back and forth on! And if you saw in my Instagram Stories I think I said the word “shutters” one hundred million times. I analyzed different homes that had no shutters and home with shutters. (A lot of photos that I analyzed HERE). Majority of the votes were FOR shutters, 8,426 people to be exact! With 1,874 people saying NO shutters. Most thought we needed it because the front of our house is architecturally simple. 8,464 people might not like this change! OR maybe I will change their minds that the no-shutter look works for our little cape! And who knows, we could end up adding them eventually. It is good to step back and take a different approach sometimes.
One reason we went with no shutters is because the shutters we had felt a little cheesy with our new siding. I love real wood shutters that would actually cover the window if needs be, more of a historical look. With the large window on the front there isn’t enough room for that. Another reason we went with no shutters is so we can change the front door color to whatever color we want! Like say pink! (I shared the paint color and our paint tips for painting a front door HERE). And before with the shutters that the front of the house was basically shutters. AND we have A LOT going on without the shutters!
Below is what it looked like in the midst of installing the new cedar impressions (and shutters)-
I also like how the painted pink door breaks up the painted cement steps-
The plants in our window boxes are called Dwarf Alberta. We have had them here for about two years and all through winter, look better every year!
Some of you asked about this hanging planter on my last post. I found a really similar one HERE on sale!
Honestly the other night I pulled up to our little cape and got teary eyed. Just so thankful for this home and the changes we have been able to make that fit our personalities. God has given us this home to raise our family in right now. Most importantly it is a safe place. A happy place. A place that “daddy can help mommy make our home nice” according to Ella in her nightly prayers. None of this is lost on me. And so thankful for you for supporting my blog and being excited to see the changes. Just makes me joyful. Thank you.
PS- update! We changed the roof! See it HERE
Read the post on how we painted our front door and color HERE
How we painted the steps HERE
Changing the walk-up to the pebbles and the iron to wood HERE
Click on an image below to shop it-
Love love love it!
It looks great! I love It without shutters!
LOVE your house WITHOUT the shutters. I have been trying to make this decision for my little cottage for 1 1/2 years now. I even took them off one window a couple of weeks ago to help me decide. You have inspired me to just do it! Like you said, they can always go back up if I don’t like it after awhile. It will be a nice change. THANK YOU for sharing! I love your blog!!
YAY! BONUS EMAIL!!! 🙂 Get frustrated with you???? NEVER!!! I am beyond smitten with this new look!! I love everything about it! The thing about the shutters….you can always add them again later if you want to! I’m all for a new look and something different. “Mommy and Daddy” do great work togeter! 💕 thank you for taking us along!
You are so sweet Tammy! Thanks for being excited for my emails. You are awesome!
IT looks soooo good Brooke! Love it all!
I love it all SO MUCH! Pink is my favorite color and it is perfect on your door! And I don’t miss the shutters even though I had voted to keep them. I loved your home before but now it is a show stopper!!!
I miss the dramatic rich looking black door……all your touches lean towards the “black” back drop of the door. I love that you try new things, but this one is just a pink phase……. Most Lovely Things pink door works as it is a recessed porch and an old house.
Looks lovely!! I voted for shutters but boy was I wrong! It looks beautiful! I love your perspective that God has given you this Home for right now. We also have been placed in New England for my husband’s job and I need to find the silver lining. Love this outlook!
It looks so great! I voted for shutters, but actually like it without now. Such a welcoming home.
In this instance I think shutters would add too much busyness…your house looks adorable as it is I vote NO to adding shutters.
You did a fabulous job on the design!
Wow! You guys nailed it! The color of the door compliments the roof color so brilliantly …there is no need for shutters. Traditional colors are …safe. People are often too afraid of being judged for expressing themselves and going with their personal style. I applaud you for going with your gut and design sense. It really looks stunning! High five, pat yourselves on the back!
If you want to add a pop of color to the windows for summer…. you could always add a few Calibrachoa Superbells (little petunias) in with the dwarf Alberta Spruce trees. Plant and water and they are good to go! They will go crazy! (The trees look great as they are…. it’s my line of work… I can’t help but see flowers in every possible place!)
I would drive around the block several times just so I could admire my house! The “house with the pretty pink door” is the most beautiful home on the block! If I was riding my bike in your neighborhood, I would definitely stop and take a photo to share ! 💗🏡💗
I originally voted on instagram for no shutters but seeing your photos today i agree you made a good choice for no shutters! Seems like I’ve read in your blog before that you encourage people to go with your gut and do what feels right for you and look how fantastic that turned out in this case! Love your pink door too💗
I love the charm your home offer right from the second someone pulls up. To me your home says welcome and please come in!
I love it so much!!!! No shutters was the absolute right calll. I don’t remember if I voted but, if I did, I probably voted for shutters. I would’ve been wrong. This is charming as heck!
YES!!! I love it Brooke! I was one that voted for no shutters so I couldn’t wait to see it! It looks so beautiful! Not plain at all because of all the other charm you have added. “No shutters” simplifies the look but in no way does it look simple. The best thing about it all is that YOU are happy with it to the point of tears! Congratutions!
LOVE!!! I have to admit, I originally voted for shutters but you totally changed my mind with this new look! It’s perfect! And without the shutters my eye goes right to the front door, which feels very welcoming. What about adding pillows to the black chairs with a touch of pink? High five Brooke (&Kevin) you nailed it! 🙌🏻💕
So glad you went with no shutters!
This looks gorgeous!!! I. Love. The. Door. It is you! I liked the coral color, but this is perfection!!! Nailed it.
I love the look without shutters! They made the front of the house cluttered looking before. The front door color is lovely.
I absolutely LOVE your home with no shutters! It looks much brighter and the windows look gorgeous! Don’t cave to the 8,000+ people, Go with your gut keep it like this. I never even noticed how pretty your windows were before and the expanse of your front seems bigger. Love it!
I think I was a “yes” voter, but I can’t remember. Regardless, I think you made the right choice and “no shutters” looks absolutely PERFECT!!! The facade has such a crisp, clean look. The other design choices (painted steps, door, window boxes) really pop now and can be appreciated so much more. I am in LOVE with the pink door!!! Our homes should be a place of happiness & joy, safety & comfort, for us & our families and yours is a splendid example of that. Happy Sunday!!!
I voted for shutters, but you definitely made the right choice going sans shutters. *heart eyes* LOVE LOVE LOVE!
looks perfect!
Looks fantastic!!
Looks fantastic! You inspire me daily, Brooke!
It’s beautiful!!!!
Love it! The whole look is absolutely charming!
I love it! I’m a no shutter voter! It’s looks so clean and fresh!
🙌 Coral Perfection is a perfect warm, welcoming pink.
So glad you chose to go without the shutters. My eyes are now drawn to the charming windowpanes, the window boxes and the architecture framing “Ella’s happy home”, outside in!
We are about to side our 39 year old home. Thank you for sharing your experience.
I’m usually a shutter girl but your pink door and painted steps are such a great focal point. Also, the no shutter look is giving your home a farmhouse-y, cottage vibe and I’m lovin it.
Looks so pretty! I think the pink makes the striped stairs pop! I am one that likes the front door to be a different color from shutters. Thank the Lord we are all different. Sure would be boring if we were all the same. 😉 You certainly have an eye for things. Thanx for taking us along for the ride.
Perfect choice for going with no shutters. Simple and elegant all at the same time. Very classy! You have great taste and need to not doubt it for a second.
Thank you for being such an inspiration for the rest of us that need it. God bless you and your family! 🙂
Oh my gosh! I love all the changes so much! 😍😍
So inviting! Looks amazing! Great job!!
Super cute, Brooke! Thank you for sharing. The painted stairs just are the crisp, classic look with the beautiful pink door! For some reason, I can’t get John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Little Pink Houses” our of my head. I know yours is just the door, but your home exudes the idea and message in his song. Love it.
Ahhh so pretty! I hope y’all need a new roof soon ‘cause I think that would really bring the exterior look to completion. Although I am not one to talk, my whole house is builder grade blah!
It looks amazing! What a transformation! I admire the eye you have for decorating. You have a gift!
The changes are great!
If you had white chairs I would say no shutters.
With your black chairs…definitely black shutters.
I must admit that throughout the debate I was “team shutters” all the way, but I am so thrilled that you went with what felt right in your heart because the end product is SO very beautiful! I love seeing how far you have come as you have added touches of your personality to make your already cute Cape Cod even more charming, inside and out. This reveal just goes to further confirm for me that you are my design QUEEN! Your taste is impeccable, and you did it again because this fresh new curb-appeal is on-point! I stand corrected… “Team Brooke” > “team shutters” all day, every day …keep on doing your thing & thanks for letting us follow along; it is much admired and appreciated! 🙂
I voted shutters, but now that I see the detail in the siding, I think there’s enough going on without them. It all looks great and so inviting. I like the suggestion to add pillows with pink accents to the Adirondack chairs. Way to go with your gut!
Oh my gosh, SO CUTE!! This is a totally random side note, but would you recommend those outdoor pillows? I’m in San Diego, and our outdoor pillows always get sun bleached in a week or less (yikes!) I’m on the lookout for pillows that can handle direct sun, and yours with the tassels are so cute!
What a transformation!! It’s just beautiful!
This is perfection. I would get teary eyed if this were my house too! I love that you’re able to make your home just how you like and that you and your family are so grateful for that opportunity. It’s such a dreamy home! Thanks for sharing.
The color on the door complements the siding. It gave a young and modern feel to your home. 🙂
A “door” the pink door!!! Your house looks AWESOME!!!
Absolutely gorgeous! You are such an inspiration!
I love everything about your sweet little home! Shutters or no shutters, it looks GREAT! I raised my kids in a house the same size. Love your blog!
It looks fabulous! Absolutely love how it organically came to be and wasn’t planned out from the start! Was like a domino effect? One thing led to the next and everything worked out flawlessly! I adore the new look especially given the sweet coastal vibe of your town! Congrats!!
ADORABLE! I was one to vote for no shutters but you’ve changed my mind. It’s perfect without them!
So clean, fresh and uncluttered. Love the no shutters and pink door. I agree that shutters would have made it too busy.
It looks beautiful Brooke. You went with your gut and no shutters was the right fit for you! You have an eye for that! So awesome, love it!! And I love how you say it’s a gift from God; it truly is! Too blessed to be stressed!!
I love the no shutters look. The pink door is perfect. It looks bigger and the windows stand out.
I have to say that when I saw on Instagram that you were painting the door pink, I thought ohh no please don’t. Now that I see the whole house together WOW you made the right choice. I just love it. It enhances to cuteness of this house of yours! Something so simple looks great and really transformed the look of the house. I also love the no shutters. It just goes so well together. Great job!
I have been on the hunt for window boxes for the back of our home for flowers. But I’m really struggling with the best way to attach them. We have old metal siding that needs replaced but probably won’t be for another year. But I’m afraid to drill in and potentially get leaks. So how are yours attached? Did the people you hired to do the siding reattach them for You? Does it void warranties or anything to go drilling into the siding. It just scares me I don’t know why. But I really want to decorate the outside of my home.
Your home looks lovely. I noticed that a way back you removed the storm door. Can you tell me why? It looks better without it for sure, but I have one, and love letting fresh air in on warmer days.
I love the new siding, especially in white! It’s so New England and timeless but gives you a lot of flexibility. I also like the door and think it will really pop once you are able to replace the roof. You have great taste!