Home Home Decor Ideas Charming Cottage Curb Appeal Makeover By Zoe Gowen Zoe Gowen After a notable obsession with yellow houses, historic homes, and glossy magazines as a child that lead to a degree in American Studies from Sewanee: University of the South followed by a jaunt through the Washington, DC art world, Zoë found her way as the Senior Home and Garden Editor with Southern Living. There she crisscrossed the region to produce inspiring interiors, entertaining, and holiday stories while also overseeing the Idea House franchise. After seeing more porches and Christmas trees than any other reasonable person can claim, she ventured out to pave new roads freelancing for various magazines and helping people bring magazine tearsheets to life inside private homes via interior decorating. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 10, 2017 Close Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Architects Bates Corkern Studio turn a 1930s home into the neighborhood favorite by pairing timeless details with classic proportions. 01 of 06 Birmingham Cottage Makeover Laurey W. Glenn Little was wrong with this Cape Cod-style cottage—except that it could better reflect its Southern locale. The young home-owners wanted to give their house more character and local flavor but without hampering its good points: charming proportions, high-end materials, and sturdy hardscaping. They turned to architects Paul Bates and Jeremy Corkern, and all agreed to a few improvements. "The home was already very stylish," says Jeremy. "It just needed some simplifying and rescaling." A new color palette, enlarged front entry, upgraded roof, and updated landscaping created a crisp Colonial home with a neighborly Southern accent. 02 of 06 Notice the Details: A Generous Entry Photo: Laurey W. Glenn The 15- by 12-foot portico with its 4- by 8-foot door gives the home the height and dimension it previously lacked. "We designed the door to look like a pair of doors," says Jeremy. Chippendale-style shutters, rather than columns, give Southern flair to the entrance. 03 of 06 Notice the Details: A Handsome Foundation Photo: Laurey W. Glenn To mimic elegant foundations typical of historic homes, they upgraded plain cinder blocks with dark paint. In time, creeping fig will grow to completely cover the base of the house. 04 of 06 Notice the Details: Correct Dormers Photo: Laurey W. Glenn New flush tongue-and-groove pediments and deeper window casings gave the existing windows more depth and historical accuracy. Properly fitting and functional shutters finish off the dormers. 05 of 06 Notice the Details: Overscale Lanterns Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Two matching 3-foot-tall copper gas lanterns, modeled after antiques, elegantly cap the existing stone walls. "Because these are away from the house, they had to be oversize," says Jeremy. 06 of 06 Architect's Advice: Paul Bates & Jeremy Corkern Photo: Gary Clark Favorite architectural style: We can't pick just one! We love the Regency period of the 1830s—excellent examples are in New Orleans and Charleston, SC. We also love a pared-down modern look that's elegant, not harsh.Small upgrade that makes a big difference: Raising door heights from 6 feet to 7½ or 8 feet makes exteriors appear much taller.Make a statement by... Painting the front door a bright color, such as peacock blue, that reflects your not-so-serious side.Worthy splurge: Quality windows and doors help lend homes critical historical accuracy and depth.Stock up on... Jewelry-like exterior hardware. Our top sources are E.R. Butler & Co. and The Nanz Company.No. 1 design mistake: Overt trendiness. If you really love a trend, though, find a way to make the look your own.No Southern home should be without... A magnolia tree and an ice-maker. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit