There are a lot of ways to add interest to your home and help it stand out from all the other houses on the block. Adding stonework, for example, to the front of the house can give your house that special touch that makes it unique to your and your style. However, stonework has, in itself, a ton of choices: the shape of the stones, color, and location, just to name a few.

So where to get started? This is when the home style and design experts at Carolan Contractors come in. We can help you plan out a terrific upgrade to your house that is all your own.

How? Well, in this article, we’re going to take some inspiration from a gorgeous project we did on a rustic-style Verona Craftsman House to discuss some ways to add character, elegance, and charm to your home.

Ways To Add Character and Charm To Your Home

To get your own creative juices flowing, here are some of the methods Carolan Contractors used to improve this Verona Craftsman house, which included giving the facade a major upgrade:

• Metal roofing accent: a new mansard roof over the garage, clad in bronze-colored metal roofing
• Custom masonry
• A new bracketed portico
• Gable ornaments
• Two-toned siding (clay and canyon), mixing clapboard vinyl siding and cedar shake impressions vinyl siding
• Mixing siding profiles/types
• New fiberglass front door by ProVia

Adding A Portico To Your New Jersey Home

Carolan Contractors are master craftsman, and adding a portico to your house in will provide quite a few benefits, such as adding dimension to the front of your house, so it’s not flat and/or plain. In addition, not only is a portico stylish, but it’s functional! Porticos provide shelter from the rain or snow when you’re getting your keys out.

And as you can see in the picture featured here, cladding the portico in metal roofing gives a farmhouse accent while still looking appropriate for your New Jersey neighborhood. Just that little bit of style goes a long way!

Why Metal Roofing in New Jersey Is A Great Choice

While we do roofs in all kinds of styles and materials, we love when a client is looking for metal roofing. This is because metal roofing is long lasting, available in a wide variety of colors to match your home style, and very popular in farmhouse decor. In addition, if you’re a fan of home design shows, you’ll see it used all the time–just watch an episode or two of Fixer Upper.

Learn more about our roofing services here.

What To Consider When Renovating Or Installing New Doors

A door is not just functional, but is a statement for someone entering your home. (Read more about our entryway services here.) Fiberglass is nice because it’s maintenance free, which is extra important in NJ, since we have harsh winters and harsh summers. In addition, Fiberglass doors are more energy efficient than wood.

It’s also important to consider which manufacturers and suppliers your contractor is working with. One thing we like is that there are hundreds of door options from ProVia, one of our preferred door partners, including different wood grains, different colors and stains, decorative art glass in a variety of styles, hardware upgrades, door shapes/profiles, and much more. This variety allows us to work with our clients to get that exact, specific look for their home.

View all of our suppliers here.

Materials Needed To Add Character and Charm To Your Home

Great ideas is only part of the solution, obviously. You still need to make it happen! So what products went into creating this new dream home?

• Cedar Impressions
• Vinyl siding
• ProVia Doors
• Entry Doors
• Stonework/Custom Stonework/Masonry/Stone Veneer
• Metal roofing
• Gable ornaments for an added touch of character

Add Curb Appeal and Stand Out From the Other Houses In Your Neighborhood

We all know how important curb appeal is when determing the value and sellability of your home. Having a house that stands out from the pack is not only aesthetically pleasing to you as a homeowner, it will also help attract more potentials buyers and, hopefully, more bids if and when you’re ready to sell.

A beautiful home is also a comfortable and nice place to live, and we here at Carolan Contractors want to make that a reality for all of our clients. Give us a call today at (973) 857-1555 for a free quote or contact us here so we can discuss your project.

The post How To Add Character And Charm To Your Home appeared first on Carolan Contractors.

Most Costly Option

The most costly option to spruce up your home is our total exterior renovation service. This typically includes replacing the siding, masonry if present, trim, garage doors, and more. Doing all of these projects at once will save you a bit of time and money, and you will also be able to totally customize the look of your home.

Indeed, new siding, a new entryway, and new garage doors often make a home look completely brand new. This is a great option for those who are dissatisfied with the entire look of their home, and have the budget to do a major overhaul. But note that as a small, private enterprise, we at Carolan Contractors can work with you to make your home’s exterior reflect your dreams.

Mid-Range Options

Some mid-range options would include new doors, a new roof, or maybe a portico, for example:

• Doors: While often overlooked, your front door is the first thing you and guests see when entering your home. A new door is a great start at making your home more attractive. We work with ProVia entry doors, which are available in a wide variety of styles and budgets. Contact our office for an e-catalog if you want to learn more.
• Roof: Depending on your home, your roof is more important to its aesthetics than you probably realize. For example, on Cape Cod and ranch style homes, where much of the roof is visible from the street, an old stained roof can really drag your house down. Replacing your roof with Architectural Shingles by GAF or Owens Corning will not only add value and water security to your home, but will also refresh its look.
• Portico: A new portico (also known as a “covered entry”) is a very popular project to boost curb appeal. Either as part of a larger project, or as a standalone job, a portico adds great value to your home. Not only does it provide shelter from the elements, it adds important dimension to the front of your home. When they come to us, our customers sometimes complain about their house looking ‘too flat’ or too much like other houses on their street. A portico is a custom detail that sets your house apart from the rest.

Other Options

Our recommendation for sprucing up ones home on the lower end of budgets is a full trim/shutter upgrade. We have often worked with customers who have purchased homes with vinyl siding that don’t have much character or charm on the outside. Adding decorative crown molding over windows, new shutters, and luxurious yet low maintenance Fypon entry door surrounds can totally transform the look of your home.

There’s a lot you can do, and there are a ton of options. But the best way to figure it out is to contact us so we can discuss the best strategy for you to upgrade your home. Call us today at (973) 857-1555.

The post How to Spruce Up Your Home On a Range of Budgets appeared first on Carolan Contractors.

About Me

My name is Ed Carolan, Jr. As the son of contractor, I have been fascinated by homes and structures since I was a kid, whether I was visiting job sites around beautifully old Essex County, New Jersey with my dad, or walking the neighborhoods of my hometown of Westfield, New Jersey with my mom. Now I am lucky to work in the business with my father, dedicating my days to helping people improve their homes.

I’ve always wanted to know more about home styles and their components, and growing up I absorbed everything I could. I learned the difference between double-hung and casement windows, the different styles and materials of home facades, the various trim profiles, and all the rest. At this point I could probably write a dictionary of home jargon.

The Aesthetics of Classic vs. Modern

I have always found myself most drawn to the very old, modest Spanish and Dutch Colonials that dotted my street growing up, as well as the larger Victorian homes around town, with their seemingly endless amount of delicately painted woodwork. From a young age I have always appreciated the old, classic styles, as opposed to the “modern” McMansions that have, regrettably, been slowly replacing the charming homes I once knew. In home design and construction there will always be a debate between form vs. function, but there is no reason to sacrifice either.

So as soon as I graduated from Saint Joseph’s University in 2017, I joined the family business and got to work preserving old homes. At Carolan Contractors, our whole business is preserving and renovating existing homes, rather than demolishing and building new. Where other’s see a “knock-down,” we see potential.

After a couple years in the business, my love of homes and home styles has only grown, especially as I’ve been able to work on so many different projects. To continue my education and get even better at my job, I enrolled in an Interior Design Program at Parsons School of Design, part of The New School in Manhattan. At Parsons, I honed my skills to better serve clients in home improvement, as well as get a large knowledge base in the world of interior design.

About Our Blog, Home Savvy

In this blog, I will discuss all manner of home improvement and construction, with a focused eye on design and aesthetics. We will cover a range of topics, from how to select the right roof color, to tips on replacing your windows. At Carolan Contractors, we provide a range of services, from deck replacement to siding to masonry, and this blog will touch on all of it. My knowledge of design always plays a part in working with clients to execute their vision to its fullest potential, and I hope these articles inspire and educate you.

The post Introducing Home Savvy, A Home Improvement Blog appeared first on Carolan Contractors.