Elevating the curb appeal of an older home doesn’t always require a full facelift. Simple strategies and small swaps can often provide a transformative effect, especially if budgets or time is tight. That was the case for this 39-year-old home outside Rochester, New York, which recently underwent a two-day exterior remodel to replace shutters and implement porch ceiling upgrades.
Aging Shutters, Ho-Hum Porch Ceiling
Even before the project, the two-story home offered the timeless feel of an ’80s-era Colonial, with a welcoming front porch and classic combination of brick and lap siding on the front. But its age was starting to show.
“The shutters had already been repainted once, 20 years ago,” Deb, the homeowner, explained. “But the screw heads were chipping off and many were rusted so they no longer matched the shutter color. Up close you could see a lot of dirt, dust, and even cobwebs within the louvers.”
The porch ceiling was also a bit drab, with chipping white paint on the drywall and noticeable dark and dirty spots.
Along with removing damaged and dilapidated materials, Deb hoped to give the façade an updated look and increase the home’s value while also ensuring she wouldn’t have to do any additional maintenance.
New Shutters Offer Simple Yet Impactful Transformation
For the first phase, Deb’s daughter and son-in-law removed the original louver shutters and installed new Mid-America Two Equal Panel Raised Panel shutters. The Burgundy Red hue was similar to the original that the homeowner wanted to preserve.
Shutters before remodel
With deep texture and precise construction, the shutters offer the look of authentic raised panels, along with a balanced design for a polished appearance. At the same time, the vinyl material is low-maintenance, without requiring ongoing painting or staining like wood.
All Mid-America exterior vinyl shutters feature SolidThru™ colors; even if scratched, the Burgundy Red will be the color that shows.
The shutters came with all needed hardware, including both screws and Shutter-Lok fasteners, for easy installation over both the brick and vinyl. Deb’s install team opted to use the Shutter-Lok fasteners. “They’re very easy to just tap in, and they look great because they’re perfectly matched against the shutters,” they recalled. “We learned that it’s easiest to tap in each Shutter-Lok after each hole is drilled in the siding, versus drilling all the holes at once then installing all the Shutter-Loks, to ease alignment.”
New Mid-America shutters in Burgundy Red
Porch Ceiling Upgrades Provide Instant Boost
For the porch ceiling, Deb infused elegance and warmth by implementing one of her favorite porch ceiling ideas: Grove Collection™, a beadboard trim with the rich look of stained wood. The Weathered Oak color offers a medium tone that coordinates nicely with the home’s dark red brick and cream-colored porch trim.
Porch ceiling before
The beadboard features a hidden nailing hem for straightforward, seamless installation. “It was a very easy product to work with,” Deb said of the porch ceiling upgrades. “The contractor installed all of the planks and trim in just four hours.”
Made of cellular PVC, Grove Collection beadboard is low-maintenance, long-lasting, and moisture and insect resistant.
Grove Collection beadboard adds warmth and elegance to the completed project.
Fast, Easy Façade Transformation
It only took two days to transform Deb’s home, and the results were immediate.
“The shutters pop now! They’re bright, and I love the updated style—it no longer feels old fashioned,” she said. “The porch ceiling was an incredible transformation. It’s warmer and richer, and it feels cleaner overall. A much more enhanced, finished appearance than before.”
The Rochester home is evidence that even when a full siding overhaul isn’t possible or simply isn’t needed, updating small elements of the design can increase curb appeal while giving homeowners a fresh new look to feel excited about. And a couple days is all it takes.
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