James Hardie
With a multitude of inspiration for renovations and rebuilds available, it’s hard not to daydream about the day you might refresh your own home. But sometimes the home you want doesn’t require a completely new address. It requires seeing the one you have differently.
The ideas-to-reality part can quickly bog down momentum, motivation and the budget, too. But before you start pulling up Pinterest boards or pricing a complete rebuild, take a fresh look at what you already have.
Think beyond paint
One of the most effective home ‘refresh’ could be the exterior. After all, first impressions last and curb appeal can hold incredible value in how your home looks and feels.
When it comes to exterior, often paint is the first port of call. But changing the colour of your walls isn’t the only way to change how your home looks from the street. Cladding such as that from James Hardie, can introduce texture, contrast and architectural interest, while giving a dated facade a distinctly more contemporary feel. It can also create cohesion between an established home and a modern extension — making additions feel intentional rather than simply tacked on.
The trick, says renovator duo Kyal and Kara, is to consider the facade as a whole.
“In any build or renovation, we complete, we put a lot of time and effort into ensuring the front facade has wow factor. We want people to stand at the front of the home and really want to take a peek inside!” — Kyal and Kara
3 ways to unlock your home’s exterior potential, according to Kyal & Kara:
After completing multiple renovations of homes that many people wanted to knock down, Kyal & Kara know the importance of looking for potential first. Sometimes the biggest transformation comes from identifying what’s holding the home back and knowing where to intervene.
- Don’t just think about colour: Profile, texture and shadow lines can all influence the character of a home. The Hardie™ Architectural Collection cladding offers a curated collection of profiles and textures for different styles of home.
- Work with what you’ve got: Before ripping everything out, look at the features worth keeping — whether that’s original architectural details, rooflines or existing landscaping. They can become the starting point for your new exterior palette.
- Think about the whole façade: Cladding isn’t something to choose in isolation. Consider how the facade, roof, windows, landscaping and other exterior materials work together before committing.
See it to believe it
One of the trickiest parts of an exterior renovation is visualising the finished result. A material or colour can look completely different on a screen or sample board to how it will work across the facade of your own home.
That’s where visualisation tools can help. Unlike generic AI image generators, the Hardie™ AI Visualiser is designed for homeowners ready to transform their home with real Hardie™ exterior products, colours and modern home styles — helping to take the guesswork out of decisions around your facade direction.
A real-life lesson in potential
Last year’s James Hardie Exterior Transformation Competition winner, Georgia from Betty’s Bungalow, knows firsthand what can happen when you look at a dated exterior differently.
What began as a 1970s red brick home became the starting point for a considered exterior transformation — demonstrating how materials, colour and design can completely shift a property’s character without starting from scratch.
“I love old character homes that tell a story” — Georgia, Betty’s Bungalow
Her experience is a reminder that an exterior renovation doesn’t have to mean erasing everything that came before — it’s about understanding what your home could become, then making the right design decisions to get it there.
Now, it could be your turn
If you’ve been looking at your own facade and wondering what could be possible, James Hardie is giving two homeowners the chance to find out.
The James Hardie Exterior Transformation Competition is back, with two prizes worth up to $40,000 each. Each winner will receive a comprehensive exterior design package from Kyal and Kara, including a digital mood board, cladding and colour recommendations, landscaping and exterior design advice, consultation sessions and a custom render, plus up to $10,000 of Hardie™ Architectural Collection cladding, a $15,000 Digital Prepaid Mastercard and a Digital Twin scan to help plan and visualise the project.
There are two ways to win: one winner will be selected by Kyal and Kara, while the other will be determined by public vote.
Whether your home needs a subtle refresh, a complete facade rethink or simply a new perspective, this could be the opportunity to stop wondering what if? — and start seeing what your home could become.
Entries open 14 September and close 18 October 2026. Voting runs from 19 October to 8 November 2026.
As a trusted innovator and industry leader, James Hardie empowers homeowners and building professionals alike to achieve their dream home with premium quality solutions that enable endless possibilities for design and aesthetics, while also delivering trusted protection and long-lasting beauty.
