Manufactured Bland
Split-Levels gained ground in the 1950s due in part to a modern floor plan that offered easy circulation. But from the outside, their style was often lacking. “It’s so manufactured and bland,” Abigail Beaver says of her 1995 split-level in Battle Creek, Michigan. “A Craftsman look would feel much warmer and more inviting.”
To help Abigail reimagine the facade, This Old House turned to Brad Sechrist of Helman Sechrist Architecture. His proposal uses unmistakably Craftsman elements to transform the boxy facade. Wide gables with deep eaves and brackets break up the main roofline, giving the home the character and warmth it was missing.
Vibrant Reinvention
So we turned to Brad Sechrist of Helman Sechrist Architecture for ideas. His proposal uses unmistakably Craftsman elements to transform the boxy facade. Wide gables with deep eaves and brackets break up the main roofline. Shed-style metal accent roofs over the entry and the garage give the exterior even more dimension. To disguise the lower set-back portion of the house, Sechrist’s plan adds stone veneer and chunky brackets.
“I want my home to be vibrant and eye-catching,” Abigail says, “and this is gorgeous!”
Abigail Beaver doesn’t mince words about the starting point for this makeover. “It’s so manufactured and bland,” she says of her 1995 split-level in Battle Creek, Michigan. “A Craftsman look would feel much warmer and more inviting.”
Window Makeover
Removing the shutters and adding snap-in grilles transform the existing windows.
Finishing Touches: Garage Doors
Textured surface treatments and an earth-toned palette support a Craftsman-inspired makeover
White carriage-style garage doors echo the board-and-batten siding on the front gables.
Clopay Coachman Collection, from $1,400 per door
Pro Tip: A garage door can represent up to 40% of your home’s curb appeal, making it one of the most impactful upgrades you can choose. Today’s doors come in a variety of styles—aluminum, steel, wood, or faux-wood composite—turning what was once an afterthought into an architectural statement piece.
Finishing Touches: Roofing
Architectural shingles in a rich pewter gray upgrade the main roofline.
GAF Timberline HD Shingles, about $97 per roofing square
On one This Old House project, homeowner Sunita chose a light pewter gray shingle specifically to coordinate with gray pavers at the front walkway: “We actually really liked this light pewter gray shingles because we thought it would complement the gray pavers. And we thought this gave us a lot of options by going with the lighter gray.” It’s a smart strategy—bracketing your color palette from the roof down to the ground gives you flexibility for everything in between.
Finishing Touches: Paint
Olive green and reddish brown brightened by white update the Craftsman look.
Yogi (clapboards), Chipotle Paste (door), and Gallery White, from $28 per gallon; BEHR
Finishing Touches: Stone Veneer
Lightweight panels ease the installation of faux stacked stone.
Superior Building Supplies Faux Grand Heritage Stack Stone, $99 per 24-foot panel; Home Depot
Thanks to Brad Sechrist of Helman Sechrist Architecture, Elkhart, IN
