Craig O'Connell Architecture

When it’s time to make over a home’s exterior for whatever reason, a skilled designer can restore beauty and style lost over time or pull ideas fresh from the drawing board. Check out these four remarkable transformations that show both approaches, with results that fit both the times and the neighborhoods. Could any of the ideas inspire an exterior makeover of your own? “After” photos by David Patterson 1.

What do landscape designers create when they can follow their own vision to the fullest? To find out, we searched for makeovers completed by the owners, all landscape pros, for themselves. These three yards are quite different, with each speaking to what the designer prioritized — including local history, sustainability, experimentation and family-friendliness. But all show the same high level of expertise that comes from getting your hands dirty time and again for others. Photos by Jimi Allen 1.

2. Wood and Windows That Wow Before: This midcentury home in Lafayette, California, was nestled within the surrounding woodlands, but it didn’t take full advantage of its lush surroundings. The homeowners reached out to ODS Architecture to refresh the home by changing the roofline to accommodate higher ceilings, and by installing new windows and doors to provide more expansive views.