Featured Projects by Lake Country Builders | Photos by Spacecrafting
Courtesy Lake Country Builders
More and more homeowners are turning their attention to the front door—literally. Across the Midwest, design-build firms, including Excelsior-based Lake Country Builders, report a surge in requests for entryway and exterior updates—from statement-making doors to porch refreshes, new railings, and modernized front steps. These projects not only boost curb appeal but also offer clients a chance to express personal style and add value without tackling a full renovation.
For builders, architects, and designers, this is an opportunity to help clients make a memorable first impression—and to position exterior enhancements as a smart, high-impact investment. Ryan Smolik, director of architecture and design at Lake Country Builders, shares with Midwest Design exactly what he’s seeing and how you, too, can position these types of updates as worthy investments to your clients.
As you’ve mentioned, you’re seeing more homeowners prioritize front entry and exterior updates. What’s driving this demand in your experience?
Often, it’s twofold: Initial curb appeal is often what is most important, and homeowners want the character to not only be architecturally appropriate but also capture the [their] personalities. Secondly, there’s the practical matter of some protection from the elements as an area that allows for guests to comfortably enter the home.
When a client asks for an entryway/exterior refresh, what’s the first thing you evaluate or consider?
Initially, we must investigate the setbacks and what’s considered appropriate for the neighborhood and the architectural style of the home. There are times when the footprint must be under a defined allowed area, as well as architectural requirements that might be defined by the city or a district within the city. We always want to make sure we’re honoring our clients’ desires while being mindful of the neighborhood.
How do you balance aesthetics and function when designing a front entry/exterior?
Aesthetics are critical to the success of any design; it should look like it has always been there and proportionately balance the design of the existing home. A proper front entry should draw your attention but also be in harmony with the front facade, as well as the landscape that frames the entry.
Tell us about the key design elements in these recent projects you completed. What features really made an impact for your clients?
Each project varies as to what elements or materials make the new entry stand out. However, clients are looking to have a greater connection to the environment around the home. We’re often adding large windows to the entry itself to spaces adjacent to the vestibule. There is a desire to have more light in these areas, as well as some visual engagement with the neighborhood.
Additionally, some authentic materials (such as natural stone and brick stoops with limestone or bluestone surfaces complemented by custom iron rails) might frame the new stoop or add an elegant touch to elevation of the entry. Lastly, larger entry systems are an important feature of any new entry; it’s important to introduce some height with a pair of 8-foot doors or one very wide individual door at 42 inches in width. This is visually impactful from the street but also important to the reflective, inviting nature of the vestibule.
What value do these updates provide for homeowners beyond curb appeal?
It’s [commonly] homeowners who have been in their home for several years who engage in this improvement. We find clients often love their home, the neighborhood, and the location, but this gesture is a way to add charm and character without having to move or [commit to] a major renovation.
How do you position exterior updates as a smart investment to your clients?
As a practical matter, the return on investment is strictly objective. Sometimes a new entry will be just the missing element to add broad appeal to a simple colonial-type home, and other times, it’s a sensible improvement in making the home more accessible.
Are there pitfalls or common challenges you’ve learned to navigate with front entry remodels?
[An example would be the] discovery of disrepair or missing structural members that have been removed in previous renovations. Or, foundational challenges—like poor soil or abandoned obstructions—that are not evident in historical documentation.
Where do you see curb appeal projects heading next? Are there emerging trends or technologies influencing your work?
I believe we’re just returning to taking a more holistic approach to design and planning with consideration to proper lighting—not just minimal lighting, but path lighting and lighting that highlights aspects of the front facade while integrating into the landscaping that will add to the character of the home year round.
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