At our Beaucatcher Heights project, every exterior decision was driven by one central question: How do we achieve a clean, modern look without sacrificing durability or adding long-term maintenance? The answer came through a carefully selected siding package that blends premium materials, thoughtful detailing, and performance built for Western North Carolina’s four-season climate.
Designing the Look First
This home has a distinctly modern architectural style, so the exterior materials needed to reflect that – clean lines, depth, and consistency. From the start, our team focused on how the siding would interact with the architecture rather than simply choosing a standard product.
James Hardie Artisan Series: Clean Lines and Shadow Depth
For the primary exterior siding, we selected the James Hardie Artisan Series. What immediately sets this product apart is its thicker profile compared to traditional lap siding. That added thickness creates deeper shadow lines, giving the exterior a more dimensional, high-end appearance.
One of our favorite design features is the ability to use mitered corners. Instead of relying on trim boards at transitions, the Artisan Series allows the siding to meet seamlessly at corners. The result is a sharper, more modern aesthetic where the architecture feels intentional and uninterrupted – exactly what this home called for.
Beyond aesthetics, the Artisan Series is a fiber cement product, meaning it offers excellent durability, weather resistance, and long-term performance – an ideal fit for a rain-heavy climate like Asheville.
Nichiha VintageWood: The Warmth of Wood Without the Work
For the soffits, porch ceilings, and carport patio, we turned to Nichiha VintageWood. The homeowners loved the warmth and richness of wood but didn’t want the maintenance that comes with natural materials – no staining, no fading, no visible knots over time.
VintageWood delivers a consistent, darker wood tone with a refined finish, all while being a low-maintenance fiber cement product. It provides the visual warmth of wood while eliminating the upkeep concerns that often come with cedar or other natural options. Installed throughout the ceilings, it creates a cohesive, polished look that carries from one exterior space to the next.
This was a product we already trusted – we’ve used it across multiple homes and even in our office – so we knew it would deliver both visually and practically.
A Mid-Build Pivot: Wrapping the Posts
Like many custom homes, this project included a design pivot mid-build. With multiple posts supporting the carport and deck, we needed a solution that felt intentional and complementary to the siding package.
We explored several options – from pressure-treated lumber to Douglas fir – before landing on cedar wraps. Using simple 1-by material, we wrapped the posts to soften the structure and visually tie them into the VintageWood ceilings. While the cedar will be stained later, even in its current state it bridges the gap between modern fiber cement products and natural material accents.
Built for the Climate
Western North Carolina brings a mix of rain, sun, and seasonal shifts, so resilience mattered just as much as design. Both siding products are fiber cement, offering:
- High durability and weather resistance
- Low maintenance over time
- Compatibility with rain screen systems for added protection
With proper installation and detailing, these materials should perform beautifully for years to come with minimal upkeep.
Two Products, One Cohesive Vision
Sometimes the best exterior designs don’t rely on a single product. In this case, combining the James Hardie Artisan Series with Nichiha VintageWood allowed us to use the right material in the right place – modern, clean lines where it mattered most and warmth where it enhanced the experience.
The result is a home that feels intentional, durable, and distinctly modern – exactly what our clients envisioned.
