Hyde Park Idea Home 2005

We chose an exterior mix of Centurion manufactured stone and James Hardie shingle- and lap-style siding to add Kansas City shirtwaist charm to our Hyde Park home. (The style's hallmark is a siding "shirt" tucked into brick or stone "pants.") James Hardie fiber-cement siding looks like wood, but is nearly impervious to Midwest weather, making it a practical, yet beautiful, choice. Double-hung Jeld-Wen wood windows, with distinctive, deep green aluminum exterior cladding, add color and no-maintenance detailing. A subtle, two-tone paint job adds architectural definition. Our favorite part of the front exterior is the aesthetically pleasing porch, where both a curved screened porch that keeps bugs at bay and a covered entryway invite outdoor living and neighborly interaction. Small touches add subtle ambience to the front of the house. Stone ledges offer space for flowerpots, and the charming copper downspouts resonate with softly cascading water when it rains.

Read about our other 2005 Idea Home, Longview Manor