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There’s nothing like the quiet of the morning—the mist on the grass, the sun’s glow peeping through the trees, the smell of the fresh air.  It’s a perfectly serene time, then with swift speed, the day kicks into high gear, and stress can pile on until punch-out time.

That could be the reason most of us crave coming home to a calm environment, a place to relax and recharge. We find there’s nothing as calming as getting out into nature, even if that means sitting on your porch or in your backyard.

To create calm in your outdoor spaces, try out these zen-inducing tips—you’re about to put the ohm back in home.

Choose calming colors: Colors can affect your mood, so you’ll want to seek out the ones that most induce calm when selecting your home siding and trim colors. James Hardie’s ColorPlus® palette provides hues that seem to summon the early morning sky, such as Light Mist, or blend into nature such as Heathered Moss, or resemble a shell on the beach such as Sail Cloth. When a soothing palette of colors surrounds you, they seem to soak up the buzz of the day’s stresses.

Pump up your plant life: Research shows that having plants in and around your home can actually lower anxiety and raise productivity. Add potted plants to your porches, air purifying varieties such as lilies and pathos around the perimeter of your home, and hang ferns and flower boxes filled with lavender and rosemary.

Think shutter style: There are a handful of shutter styles you can choose from for the exterior of your home, from plantation, to louvered, to Bahama. We find the right style of shutters on your abode can induce a relaxing vibe in seconds.

Get comfy: When outfitting your porch space, seating is key. After all, you want to be able to lean back and put your feet up. You can go for a row of rocking chairs, a porch swing, a comfy loveseat, even a hammock. Be sure to add a small end table nearby—it’s the perfect tabletop for a cup of tea and your favorite potted plant.

Prop your feet up. Breathe in. Breathe out. Create a sense of calm in your outdoor space.

For all your James Hardie siding needs contact Schmidt Exteriors. We are siding installation contractor with years of experience. Give us a call today!

When you think of the Midwest Lakeshore, sailboat silhouettes lining the coast come to mind. You can almost hear the flap of their well-worn sails in the breeze. The classic sail shade is tough to replicate but James Hardie found a way with the ColorPlus^® Technology shade, Sail Cloth.

We love this creamy siding and trim color that seems to resemble vintage canvas. The softer shade of worn-in white adds a clean and relaxed feeling to a home’s exterior.  And you don’t have to worry about your creamy siding becoming dull prematurely. James Hardie’s ColorPlus^® Technology is engineered with multiple coats of finish baked onto the siding and trim, creating a consistent vibrant finish that performs better and looks brighter on your home. All of which means, your siding will be vibrant longer with less maintenance than field applied paint.

The nautical neutral looks good with any hue in the ColorPlus palette, but we love Sail Cloth paired with earthy greens like Heathered Moss and Mountain Sage, rich browns like Timber Bark, or crisp Arctic White.

Here are a few homes clad in the creamy shade paired with other ColorPlus hues:

James Hardie Sail Cloth Siding

This home is clad in HardiePlank^® lap siding in Sail Cloth with Arctic White HardieTrim^® boards. Even though the siding is fresh and new, the Sail Cloth shade provides a vintage look.

This craftsman is clad in HardiePanel^® vertical siding and HardieTrim batten boards in Sail Cloth. The bright pop of the bold shutters adds interest and a modern sensibility.

The gables of this quaint bungalow are clad in staggered edge HardieShingle® siding in Sail Cloth. When paired with a darker HardiePlank lap siding hue, the Sail Cloth looks more subtle and light.

Evoke shoreline style—set sail for James Hardie clad homes in sturdy Sail Cloth.

Do you like this look? Call Schmidt Exteriors today! We are James Hardie Siding Experts!

No matter where you call home, the east, west, south or Midwest, farmhouses are a home style that thrives. Nowadays, farmhouses may not be on actual farmland, but they still evoke the same feeling of cozy, comfort. Each exterior differs slightly, but many modern farmhouses have some similarities, such as cladding in simple lap or vertical siding.

Schmidt Exteriors is your James Hardie Certified, Associated Contractor with years of experience.

Here’s a roundup of our favorite farmhouses, from modern to traditional, all sided in James Hardie^® siding.

Cozy Covered Porch

HardiePlank^® lap siding in Autumn Tan clads this modern farmhouse, with HardieTrim^® boards in clean Arctic White. The large, covered porch is an iconic farmhouse feature. This home’s well-lit porch, decked out with rocking chairs, is warm and welcoming.

Simple in Siding Choices

Another feature of many farmhouses is the simplicity in style and siding. This modern farmhouse is clad in HardiePlank lap siding in a light blue with HardieTrim boards in Arctic White, for a minimal-meets-classic aesthetic.

Numerous windows

This head turner has a unique stone façade with HardiePlank lap siding in Arctic White accents. The large number of windows is an iconic farmhouse detail that brings an ample amount natural light and heat to the interior.

If you would like to achieve farmhouse style for your home, call Schmidt Exteriors today!