There's a better way.
You're not overthinking it. The industry just makes it impossible.
Too many options, no way to know which ones work together.
Every choice feels irreversible, so every choice feels impossible.
The timelines (and the budget) are tight, but you refuse to settle.
-Dale in Colorado
"This process was so efficient... and we LOVE the results!"
-sarah in n. carolina
"Incredible how we got exactly what we wanted and needed"
-carol in florida
"I'm much better equipped to make design decisions on the house moving forward."
-lisa in colorado
"Her suggestions are transformative"
-kat in texas
"Mel has already saved us time, money & conflict"
-katy in tennessee
"We don't have to spend more money later re-doing something"
-caroline in washington
"I loved how quickly we could give feedback and iterate on the next steps."
=Traci in N. Carolina
"The entire experience was exceptional."
Professional collaboration & organized tools mean you can actually enjoy the process.
Stop stressing, & relax (about this, LOL)
Understand exactly what you want - and don't - and how to communicate it. No costly mistakes.
Avoid expensive do-overs
No more trying to piece everything together. See all the colors and materials together, on YOUR house, and revise it all until you love it.
See everything at once
Real materials, real sources. No more AI guesswork. Every selection is something your contractor can actually order and install.
Get designs that can be built
Your Exterior, Figured Out
see the packages →
Because investing a little now will let you avoid spending a lot later on.
HOW it WORKS
VIEW PROJECT FLOW >
Contractor-ready materials info and physical samples give you all the tools you need to get it done.
feel confident
03
Wake up to a video presentation featuring multiple concepts tailored to you. Refine via email until you love it.
see the potential
02
No calls. No meetings.
Just an in-depth online questionnaire, with your photos and inspiration links.
share your vision
01
THREE STEPS TO DONE
VIEW STEPS >
You'll have contractor-ready design sheets & receive samples in the mail.
Final Day:
We refine until you love it.
Revision Time:
Your video and slides hit your inbox by 6AM.
Delivery Day:
I create your proposals, using what you've sent.
No meetings required!
Design Days:
You submit your files and complete the Agreement & Questionnaire.
Before We Start:
HOW it WORKS
Go from panic-searching 'best siding colors 2026' at 2 am, to handing your contractor a complete plan in just one week.
$79
8 hrs of 1-on-1 access
ask anything
recap document
Bring every question you've been losing sleep over for a full day of dedicated access.
Q&A Day
per space
$149
furniture & decor picks
layouts for your space
shopping links
Get a fully styled outdoor living space you can't wait to hang out in.
Patio Furnishings
$249
exact paint codes
diagrams for your painter
front view of your home
See the perfect palette for your home's body, trim, accents & front door.
Exterior Paint Color
$749
Curated materials options
contractor-ready sources
all views of your home
Select real roofing, siding, windows, doors, lighting & accents that look like they actually belong together.
Exterior Materials
Pick your Peace of Mind
Package OPTIONS
Compare PACKAGES
Project Guides
Project Portal
Physcial Samples
Sourcing Guidance
Revision Time
Patio Layouts
Patio Views
Back & Side Views
Front View
# of Proposals
Scope
Directly Email Designer
Duration
FOUR Days
3 Initial
materials & colors
7 Days
Answers only
1 Day
TWO Days
3 Initial
furnish. plans
4 Days
TWO Days
3 Initial
paint colors
3 Days
Not just ideas. Complete, polished deliverables with every decision documented.
Professional Design Package
See exactly how everything looks on your home. Visualize it all together before you build.
Cohesive Digital Mockups
Sourced, organized, and available now. Click to order.
Direct Product Links
A clear breakdown of where everything goes, so your contractor has zero confusion.
Clear Installation Guides
Materials in 7 days, paint colors in 3 days, patio styling in 4 days, or answers same day.
Fast, but Thorough Turnaround
Tweak the designs during your consultation until you're completely confident.
Revisions Until It's Right
Driveways, pavers, walkways, retaining walls (unless you have prints)
hardscaping
Plant layouts, pools, pergolas (unless you have prints)
landscaping
Rooflines, dormers, balconies, decks, staircases, major additions, window moves (unless you have prints)
structure changes
What's NOT INCLUDED:
When I first told my husband we were going to spend money on design, I could feel his stomach drop. I said, look, babe- we are about to spend a lot of money on re-doing our home. Lets spend just a little bit more money on the front end so that we don't have to spend more money later re-doing something or not loving what we chose. After showing him Mel's before & after pictures, he immediately agreed with my recommendation. We knew our house had potential, and Mel laid out a beautiful plan to execute. I cannot wait to get started now!
“We don’t have to spend more money later re-doing something...”
Katy in TENNESSEE
Mel is a gifted designer and communicator. She was able to articulate her reasoning that helped us to see exactly what and why she came up her plans while being kind and affirming. And Mel has already saved us time, money, and conflict. Her design plans are not only beautiful, but they are practical. When we have done other projects, it has been difficult and even unclear to us what we want and how to communicate it to our contractors. Not this time!
"Mel has already saved us time, money, and conflict."
KAT IN TEXAS
I knew our house needed updating but I didn't know how to achieve it or where to begin. Mel was able to quickly identify opportunities for making big improvements within our budget. She understood our special issues and helped us understand them too. Before the consultation I felt so overwhelmed and hopeless. After the consultation I now feel excited and hopeful that we can achieve a style that fits our desires and our budget. It was such a relief, and exciting, too!
"Mel was so insightful, so thoughtful, and so informative."
Sarah In Missouri
Mel is extremely well-rounded in design, a solid planner and communicator and someone who keeps her promises most importantly. It is not common in today's world for people to do what they say they will do. Mel delivered on all timelines and her commitment to our project was felt at every turn. It's a design partnership, with open dialogue and mutual feedback and was very satisfying.
"The entire experience was exceptional."
Traci in N. Carolina
Real RESULTS
recent designs
Exterior Renovations
EXTERIOR DESIGNS FOR NEW BUILDS
PATIO FURNISHING DESIGNS
AI-Assisted Renderings using Human-Crafted CAD Model Data
RENDERING VS FINISHED BUILD
Just helping you decide what’s best for your home, climate, and budget.
I don’t believe in commission.
So I’m not here to upsell you.
Avoid trends that feel dated or choices you'll regret
Communicate clearly with contractors
See your home's potential before you build
Make the right decisions the first time
I'm here to help you:
As founder & principal designer of West | South, I help busy homeowners across the U.S. save time and money by creating create real, contractor-ready exterior materials plans for their renovation or new build.
I'm Mel. Your Designer, Collaborator & Guide
Meet your Exterior Designer
Yes. Designs include contractor-ready info sheets tailored to your materials and region, and even your HOA.
"Will my contractor actually be able to use this?
Common QUESTIONS
"This service is a real gem...After the consult I felt perfectly confident moving forward with my GC.
I provide multiple options, and an unbiased perspective.
"What if my partner & I disagree?"
"My husband immediately agreed once we saw the before/afters."
If you can email and upload photos, you’re good.
If not, this isn’t the right fit.
"What if I'm not tech-savvy?"
We'll revise it until you love it!
"What if I change my mind after seeing the design?"
"One of the best experiences we've had as homeowners."
Anything you'd like changed: colors, materials, lights, doors, combinations, or a new direction.
"What counts as a revision?"
"I was floored by her support & creativity, and impressed with her responsiveness. So worth it."
Lesley in North Carolina
"Don't hesitate! My only regret is not doing this sooner. If you're even contemplating a remodel, this is the first step."
Sarah in California
"Working with Mel was the best money I've ever spent. I'm feeling so much more confident."
Stephanie in Utah
"Mel's professional direction was a game changer for our renovation."
Pick your package and let's get your exterior sorted.
Ready to make confident decisions?
