What kind of budget do you have allotted for the exterior?

Cute house, I love little colonials. I would paint the garage door (obviously I'm sure) and you will probably end up needing to change the shutters but before you do any of that, I suggest you give the siding and brick a good power wash. That way you'll have a clean slate to work with. After the power wash, you may find that the biggest impact will be by adding some simple landscape like a curvy flower bed of perennials or some layered greenery to frame the bay window. After you get your landscape in, then it will be easier to see what else it may need.

I think a pot of flowers on the porch could go far and then I might landscape along the driveway and up toward the stairs to add some color and interest.

I wonder how the bay window trim would look in black with black shutters? And a white garage door.

I would add a flower bed

Pal, obviously we want to keep cost as low as possible but I have a contractor DH who can do just about anything so it would just be materials we would need to buy. What did you have in mind?

Yes landscaping we are going to do for sure as well as add some curbs to the driveway. We would also get a new garage door and front door and lose the screen door.

We arent liking the bay window the way it is. Would a metal roof above it help?

Not sure about the black trim, the roof shingles are a midtone brown, its hard to tell from the picture.

Maybe make the entry more inviting with a more substantial column or two, brighter front door, and some landscaping that leads to the door. Wouldn't fool with flowers much if you plan to sell it in the winder... more everygreens?

I would:

*Paint the siding to match the brick. The two stories look disjointed to me, otherwise.

*Replace the metal railing and metal post with wood.

*Widen and clean up the flower beds around the house

*Paint the shutters to match the garage door and front door, probably with similar tones of the overall paint color (just darker)

If your DH can increase the upper two windows to fullsize I feel it would help both the exterior appeal as well as interior light. This is a more costly option but I think the small windows might deter me from purchasing a home but lack of shrubs would not. I also think the bay window seems out of scale with the little uppers and maybe it will look fine if you change the two tops and add shutters and a window box.

As far as a metal roof they are not well used in my neck of the woods but if they are popular and the roof is due to be replaced then it is an option.

I think that the bay window is way too small and looks very 'tract housish' and that if you increase the size of the upper windows that it would just make the bay seem even more out of scale w/ all of that brick.

Either replace the bay w/ soemthing larger or fudge the scale by hiding the mass of brick w/ landscaping. Something taller on each side of the bay sloping down to plantings that will fill up the space underneath the bay and spread out.

Paint the gutter and trim along the roof to match the roof. it will give your roof a thicker, more expensive appearance.

One thing that our colonial has that I love is a little sitting area across the front. Since your husband is a contractor, I wonder how hard it would be to just put the window back to it's original form, extend the over hang across the front and put in a porch of some type.

Great suggestions! Please keep them coming. Obviously we will have to see what will give us the most bang for our buck. One idea we are toying with is perhaps lifting the roof off the garage and adding an extension, masterbath and walk in closet for the master bedroom.

luk, we are thinking about extending the hang across the front but adding the porch might be too costly, will have to crunch the numbers, would be very nice though.

Anyone willing to photoshop the roof above the front door
all the way to the end of the front?

I noticed that there's a basement window below th bay window, so extending the porch might not be a good idea, however, giving greater prominence to the porch and stair rqailings would be an improvement.

As for photoshopping the roofline across from the garage and adding a room over the garage, here's a somewhat messy example. I also would paint the siding over the garage and the garage door to blend with the brick color.

suero, thank so much. It helps alot. Could I ask you to give me two more. One without the garage extension but leave the roof line going across the front as you have it.

Second, not having the roof line going across the front but adding just a small roof over the bay window.

Yes, your are right there is a basement window in the front. I love the idea of giving greater prominence to the porch and stair railings, that is definately something we will do for sure.

Wow sue are you quick and good. Thanks so much. DH says thanks too. I think now that I see it, I am prefering just the the roof above the bay window instead of extending it all the way across.

You're welcome. Looking at the two, I also prefer the bay window roof.

I do not know how to photoshop so this may take some imagination. I would
a.get a wider front door and nix the side light
b.get rid of the roof extension from garage.
c. paint everything one color, lets sat white since the siding already is white.
d. portico over front door. Here is a tip if you are DYI'ers, rip 2x4's in half to get a perfect 2"x2" rail post.
Saves $.
e. 2nd story window boxes
f. mulched flower beds lining driveway and new walk to front door from driveway. Also under window.
It will look like a million but cost much less:)

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

ptamom, I thought this thread had ended, I am glad I logged on again. That's a great suggestion about getting rid of the side light. I never liked only 1 sidelight, always looks off balance to me. We will give the portico idea some thought, I like it, DH has mixed feelings about it. If we add the extension above the garage, we will be replacing the white siding with a color that blends more with the stone. I dont like the white myself. We are defiantely going to improve on the landscaping.

What style of front door would you do? I am considering one that would have some glass in it, not quite sure though what style would work for this style house.

I missed the part about adding an extension. I also am having a hard time seeing the base material. O'kay. I would aim for a monochromatic look and add white for all trim. I think your house started out as a simple post-war two story. It's hard to define. With the portica and window boxes and squared railings. You could turn this home into a cottagey colonial with great curb appeal. Wide molding around the front door, too. I don't know if you will get you money back on an addition. Be careful there. Are you keeping the current roof? Old roof is a buying deterent. I have flipped two homes. Speaking from experience. The door, I would go with one that lets in abundant light. Paint it a showcase color. Or go with beautiful wood.Depends on budget. Paint is cost effective. Use a large molding around door to frame it.

Here is a link that might be useful: loose idea on door

The house was built in 1969. The base of the house is sandstone brick. The roof is better that what it looks in the picture, the shingles were replaced 10 years ago, so they are still in good shape. It is a 4 bedroom home, so we are considering making it a 3 bedroom up stairs, and make the master suite larger and add masterbath and walk in closet. We would add a fourth bedroom in basement. We will make a final decision once we get the house and open some walls to see where we go from there. We will be doing 99% of the work ourselves. I would definately paint the door a bold color, I would pick a shade that is in the brick.

Is this a split-foyer house? The size and position of the windows and the basement windows makes it look like one.

I see what you mean, but no it is a two storey house.