Custom Exterior Design Help
Struggling to
figure it out?
See exactly how your exterior comes together with complete, contractor-ready plans showing real colors, finishes & furnishings professionally selected just for you.
View Packages
Too many options,
with no way to see which ones work together.
Every choice feels irreversible,
making every choice feel impossible.
Lisa in Colorado
Carolina in Washington
KAT IN TEXAS
KATY IN TENNESSEE
CAROL IN FLORIDA
Dale in Colorado
Traci in N. Carolina
SARAH in N. CAROLINA
You Can Feel
Confident
Again
Know Your Design Can Be Built
Real materials, real colors, real sources. No more AI guesswork. Every finish selection is something you or your contractor can actually order and install.
See Everything At Once
No more visualizers, trying to piece everything together. See it all together, on YOUR house, and revise it all until you love it.
Avoid Expensive Re-Dos
Protect your investment by understanding exactly what you want (and don't) and how to communicate it.
Stop Stressing & Relax
Professional guidance, expert answers & organized tools mean you can actually enjoy the process.
"We don't have to spend more money later re-doing something..."
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!
Katy in Tennessee
"Mel has saved us time, money & conflict."
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!
Kat in Texas
"Mel was so insightful, so thoughtful and so informative."
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!
Sarah in Missouri
"The entire experience was exceptional."
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.
Traci in N. Carolina
More than just a rendering, this is
the expert guidance you need
to navigate all your options, make crucial decisions, & see everything your exterior could be.
How It
Works.
01.
Share Your Vision
Fill out an online project questionnaire, including any photos, plans or inspirations that show your home and what you love. No calls or meetings necessary.
02.
See The Potential
Watch your exterior come to life with a pre-recorded video presentation. View multiple options with human-crafted designs using real colors & materials. Then revise via email until it feels just right.
03.
Feel Confident
Once you love your design, have real samples sent to you and contractor-ready design info ready to hand to your team. Fully understand the next steps, and make every final decision with confidence.
What's
Included.
Direct Finish & Product Links
Click to order. Sourced, organized & available now.
Cohesive Digital Mock-Ups
See it all together before you build. Visualize exactly how every color & finish looks on your home.
Clear Installation Guides
Zero confusion with a clear breakdown of where everything goes.
Revisions Until It's Right
During your consultation, tweak the designs until you're completely confident.
Fast, but Thorough Turnaround
No time wasted. Materials in 7 days, paint colors in 3 days, patio styling in 4 days, or answers same day.
Professional Design Package
Not just ideas. Complete, polished deliverables with every decision documented.
What's
Not Included.
Structure Changes. Rooflines, dormers, balconies, decks, staircases, major additions, window moves (unless you already have prints)
Landscaping. Plant layouts, pools, pergolas (unless you already have prints)
Hardscaping. Driveways, pavers, walkways, retaining walls (unless you already have prints)
Real
Results.
"Her suggestions are transformative. The end result is a clear plan that I am excited about. So worth it!"
Lisa in Colorado
"I feel like I'm much better equipped to make design decisions on the house moving forward."
Carol in Florida
"We got exactly what we wanted and needed. I’ve sang Mel’s praises to everyone."
Sarah in N. Carolina
"If we had a change request or an idea, we had new renderings within hours. We LOVE the results!"
Dale in Colorado
Recent
Designs.
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VIEW
Renovations Before & After
All Renovations
New-Builds
Paint Color
Patio Furnishings
Design Rendering
Finished Build
Meet
Mel.
Your designer, collaborator & guide.
Since founding West | South in 2018, I’ve helped hundreds of busy homeowners nationwide design real, contractor-ready finish plans for their exterior renovation or new build.
No matter your style, location or scope, I'm here to help you:
See your home's potential before you begin.
Make the right decisions the first time.
Avoid trends that feel dated or choices you'll regret.
Communicate clearly with contractors.
I don't believe in commission. So I'm not here to upsell you. Just helping you decide on what's best for your home, climate & budget.
Common
Questions.
"Why is this better than an AI rendering?"
AI renderings are helpful. But risky. Because what paint color is that? Is that siding available in your region? Does that physically fit on your actual patio? And what does it really cost?
West | South is set up to help you explore with expert help, make decisions with a professional rendering, and also ensure you're covered for all the next steps, too.
"Engaging Mel and collaborating with her was well worth the investment. The value we gained was focus – being able, with her expert guidance, to distill down choices. At the end of the engagement, we had a roadmap for finalizing our project with the help of a contractor."
Andrea in N. Carolina
“Her design eye is superb, but it's her thoroughness and how she ensures you are equipped to execute the concept yourself that is really special.”
SARAH IN CALIFORNIA
“Mel’s initial presentation contained not only design ideas, but also information regarding the style of the house, the influences of the design. I was delighted with the care that Mel took."
LAURA IN TEXAS
“It has been fantastic to have a trusted advisor with the experience to help me make better decisions and avoid mistakes. Mel definitely shared some things I didn't know and never even would have thought of.”
SHAARE IN FLORIDA
“The entire experience was exceptional. Mel is extremely well-rounded in design, 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. Her commitment to our project was felt at every turn.”
TRACI in N. Carolina
"Will my contractor actually be able to use this?"
Yes. Designs include contractor-ready info sheets written in their language and tailored to your materials, region, and even your HOA.
“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!”
KAT IN TEXAS
“Mel takes all the guesswork out of it. She gives you the info to then take and work with local contractors so there is no need to remember all the technical language.”
KELLY IN ILLINOIS
“After the consult, I felt perfectly confident to advance my exterior renovation with my GC.”
ERIN IN WASHINGTON
“The best part of the experience was coming away with a practical and aesthetically-pleasing plan for our home -- one that we could finalize with just a couple more decisions before taking it to a contractor.”
ANDREA IN N. CAROLINA
“We showed the final render to one of the bidders for the work - he was very impressed.”
WAYNE IN CALIFORNIA
“What if I change my mind after seeing the design?"
We revise until you love it!
“Mel is awesome, easy to work with, very open to lots of feedback. She quickly gets a new picture if you want to make any modifications. Highly highly recommend!”
KATY IN TENNESSEE
“Mel incorporated my feedback perfectly and responded so quickly.”
STEPHANIE IN UTAH
“If we had a change request or an idea, we had new renderings within hours. This process was so efficient, and we LOVE the results!”
DALE IN COLORADO
“The best part was exploring many options before settling on a plan. Now I feel assured that I won’t be making a mistake.”
Gilbert in Florida
“I felt incredibly supported throughout the entire process. I loved being able to ask questions as they came to me.”
JENNY IN GEORGIA
“I loved hearing her thoughts on the project. I was also really glad to be able to go back and forth and tweak small details until it felt just right.”
ANNA IN ILLINOIS
“I loved how quickly we could give feedback and iterate on the next steps. Replacing our siding has been a months long back and forth between the contractor and architect. To get close to a decision in three days was a breath of fresh air.”
CAROLINE IN WASHINGTON
“The best part was the unlimited questions and carefully thought out answers I got during my consultation.”
LISA IN CALIFORNIA
“What counts as a revision?”
Anything you’d like changed, completely new directions, or as many questions as you have.
“Mel is awesome, easy to work with, very open to lots of feedback. She quickly gets a new picture if you want to make any modifications. Highly highly recommend!”
KATY IN TENNESSEE
“Mel incorporated my feedback perfectly and responded so quickly.”
STEPHANIE IN UTAH
“The best part was exploring many options before settling on a plan. Now I feel assured that I won’t be making a mistake.”
Gilbert in Florida
“If we had a change request or an idea, we had new renderings within hours. This process was so efficient, and we LOVE the results!”
DALE IN COLORADO
“I felt incredibly supported throughout the entire process. I loved being able to ask questions as they came to me.”
JENNY IN GEORGIA
“I loved hearing her thoughts on the project. I was also really glad to be able to go back and forth and tweak small details until it felt just right.”
ANNA IN ILLINOIS
“I loved how quickly we could give feedback and iterate on the next steps. Replacing our siding has been a months long back and forth between the contractor and architect. To get close to a decision in three days was a breath of fresh air.”
CAROLINE IN WASHINGTON
“The best part was the unlimited questions and carefully thought out answers I got during my consultation.”
LISA IN CALIFORNIA
“What if my partner & I disagree?”
I provide multiple options, and an unbiased perspective.
“Mel has saved us time, money & conflict. She was able to design a plan that brought us into agreement (no marriage counseling needed).”
KAT IN TEXAS
“I'm confident and have very clear directions on what exactly to do and how to ask for it. It feels so good! And my husband is so happy, too. He can SEE the plan.”
KATHI IN ARIZONA
“When I first told my husband we were going to spend (more) money on design, I could feel his stomach drop. After showing him your before & after pictures, he immediately agreed with my recommendation.”
KATY IN TENNESSEE
“My husband and I are more aligned now that our vision has been put on paper/PDF with actionable info.”
CAROL IN FLORIDA
“After going back and forth about what to do with the exterior of our house, it felt good to have a plan that both my husband and I are in agreement about and are 100% happy with.”
SAMANTHA IN NEW JERSEY
“What if I’m not tech savvy?”
If you can email and upload photos, you’re good. If not, this isn’t the right fit.
“The process was easy; answer a questionnaire and provide photos. Mel was a pleasure to work with.”
KIMBERLY IN ARIZONA
“Easy peezy process and very satisfying experience!”
SUSAN IN CALIFORNIA
“Mel made this such an easy, fun and exciting journey.”
SHELLEY IN MICHIGAN
“This was easy, thorough and well worth it.
GILBERT IN FLORIDA
“This process was easy, focused and cost effective beyond my expectations.”
LAURA IN TEXAS
"Don't hesitate.
My only regret is
not doing this sooner!"
Lesley in N. Carolina
"Mel's professional direction was a
game changer
for our renovation."
Stephanie in Utah
"Working with Mel was the
best money I've ever spent.
I'm feeling so much more confident.
Sarah in California
Make confident,
real-world decisions.