You may have seen snippets of our duplex exterior progress on social media, so here’s a deeper dive on the updates and answers to the many questions you sent. We’ll cover shutters, steps, metal awnings, the diamond-door situation, and other exterior choices that helped bring this 100+ year-old house back to life.
As a reminder, here’s what the house looked like before. The Historic Review Board requires that certain key elements remain—original front doors, window placements, the roofline, and corbels along the roof—so we’ve been careful to honor those constraints while improving durability and curb appeal.
Some corbels were too damaged to save, but the review board let us space newly reconstructed corbels differently so the detail wraps the whole house. The previous condition included rotting siding, failing roofing, a collapsing porch, and awkward patches like satellite dishes and taped-up roof areas—so extensive updates were necessary to preserve the house for decades to come.
To increase longevity, we replaced failing exterior materials with modern, durable products—HardiePlank cement board siding, a new roof, and rebuilt corbels made from composite where appropriate. The goal set by the Historic Review Board is simple: maintain the historic character while using materials that will last, rather than repeatedly patching failing original elements.
Since the exterior demo in April, progress has moved quickly. Roofing, siding, windows, and shutters are installed. The porch floor and columns are the last remaining front tasks and will be added soon. Sherry’s enthusiasm has come back in full force—she might even prefer this exterior to our pink house’s. Big improvements can do that to you.
Hunting Down Operable-Looking Shutters
The shutters became more complicated than expected because the historic guidelines require shutters that appear operable. That rules out basic non-authentic vinyl shutters. The requirement is aesthetic—shutters should look like they could close—even though very few people actually close shutters for storms today.
Custom, truly operable wood shutters were quoted at about $1,000 per pair, which quickly became prohibitive. We found pre-primed composite shutters that meet the “operable-looking” requirement for a fraction of that cost—roughly $250 per pair—so we bought ten to cover the front of the house. They’re slightly narrower than full-closure shutters, but they satisfy the visual requirement.
Next came hardware: pintles, hinges, and shutter dogs. We opted for simple, affordable hardware that achieved the right look without skyrocketing the budget. Combined with paint and hardware, the shutters cost about $1,650 for ten—far less than the custom option. Installation required us to mount the hinges outside the vinyl window frame to preserve the window warranty and performance, which still looks authentic and clean.
Choosing a Shutter Paint Color
Sherry has long wanted mint shutters on a white house, so we tested several mint tones in situ. We used removable paint decals to try five Sherwin-Williams shades on the front to see how they read in changing light. One option—Pale Patina—appeared to echo an original tone we found under the rotting stairs, which felt like a serendipitous sign.
We chose an exterior-grade paint and applied two coats to each pre-primed composite shutter over several days. Painting took a bit longer because we didn’t have space to lay them all out at once, but they were finished just in time for installation and now pair beautifully with the house’s other exterior tones.
What About the Front Doors?
We know the diamond-door saga raised questions. Because the Historic Review Board requires preserving the original front doors, the diamond doors we hunted for are destined for the back of the house. That said, the diamond panes will echo the diamond windows on the front, giving balance to both sides.
After stripping the front doors, we fell for the warmth of the exposed wood. They’re still rough and have old paint haze and off-center hardware holes, which complicates keeping them natural. Patching will be more visible on raw wood than under paint, but Sherry wants to keep the wood tone and plans to use long backplates and careful sanding and sealing to make the finish both beautiful and secure.
Metal Awnings, Backyard Changes, and Placement Choices
We added bronze-colored metal awnings on the back of the house to tie into the tin roof up front and to add visual weight and protection above the doors. A local quote for custom awnings was expensive, so we sourced affordable, well-made awnings online that matched the aesthetic at a fraction of the cost. We checked sightlines carefully—raising the awnings slightly so they didn’t block the interior view or light was an important detail.
Spacing and composition will feel more intentional once porch lanterns, steps, and other exterior elements are in place. We’re planning outdoor showers, a privacy fence that can be opened to connect both sides when one family rents the entire duplex, and string lights to make the backyard a standout spot.
Brick Steps and Masonry Details
Sherry is thrilled about brick steps, so we replaced the deteriorated wood steps with a wide, welcoming brick staircase with the same mitered corner detail we used at the pink house. Our trusted mason rebuilt the concrete pad beneath the steps and installed a perimeter brick border to prevent splash-back from rain—an understated but functional detail that will help keep the skim-coated foundation cleaner over time.
Porch and stair railings will be installed later once porch work is complete. They’ll be historically appropriate—white with vertical pickets—and will complement the wide brick stair approach and the rest of the façade.
The brick border around the foundation will be mostly hidden once landscaping is installed, but it adds continuity with the street’s traditional brick bases and helps protect the foundation finish from dirt and water splash.
That brings you up to date on the exterior. Inside, drywall is finished and the crew will begin priming and painting, followed by interior trim and doors. Porch reconstruction is next outside. We’re excited to share the next phase of progress soon—and we’ll definitely celebrate the day the port-a-potty finally goes away by dancing on those new wide brick steps.
P.S. If you want to follow the full duplex rebuild from the start, there’s a category of posts documenting the project that covers earlier decisions and costs in more detail.
*This post contains affiliate links*