Front Porch Face Lift
When the Lippmann’s bought their Cape Cod style home in the West End of Richmond in 2016, they did it sight unseen while living in California.
Over the last four years they’ve grown to love many things about their house, but one thing still bothered them - the exterior.
The Lippmann’s home worked wonderfully inside, but the outside didn’t match their taste.
The Lippmann’s architectural taste was a bit more modern, and they wanted to give their home a fresh update while still keeping it in line with the other mature homes in their neighborhood. They began researching local contractors and found RIC through our social media accounts.
Exterior inspiration from the RIC design build portfolio.
“When we started looking at their projects online we knew they would be a great fit. They had several prior renovations to modernize more traditional houses but in a way that still fit with the surrounding homes.”
-Quinn Lippmann, Homeowner
Final SketchUp design drawing
During the design process, we talked to the Lippmann’s about their biggest concerns: modernizing the look and using more durable materials with less maintenance than wood. Initially brick or stone were discussed, but eventually we landed on a sustainable wood alternative for the porch. We also added a custom gutter to the porch - something that hadn’t existed before and was likely part of the reason their old wooden porch needed to be stained and patched every single year. Finally we decided to paint the house a fresh light gray - still in keeping with the Cape Cod style, but with a much more modern feel as well.
The house before, during priming, and after painting.
From the beginning we knew we wanted to include some sustainable design details and unique features. Wide, deck-level planters were incorporated for a pollinator garden. Rain chains were chosen rather than downspouts for the new gutter, so that the rain runoff could gently water the flower beds, reducing water usage.
The Lippmann’s also knew they wanted an artistic feature to be included, and so a sidelight was designed around the front door for a piece of stained glass they commissioned from local artist, Cindi Smead. This detail really makes a statement and works beautifully with the rest of the design. Everything about it feels custom to this family.
“We sit out on the porch almost every day. I absolutely love pulling up and seeing it! It totally transformed the house into a home that feels like ours! My favorite part of the renovation is sitting out there during a storm and enjoying the rain chains - the sound is beautiful and relaxing.”
-Quinn Lippmann, Homeowner
We love this final product and how it brought together great design and functionality as well as sustainability and art. Sometimes loving the outside of your home is just as important as loving the inside of your home, and the Lippmanns have a lot here to love.
