More trees!

What a story....

Love your photoshop ideas!
Best of luck!

I don't know, there's something "out of whack" about three totally horizontal rooflines in the mock up...

Odd not to have any ground floor windows; try photo-shopping in a big bay window - or two large windows - to balance off the garage door. Or move the front door to the middle with large windows on either side.

Bulk up the front door with pilasters or some kind of casework - ditch the dinky awning in favor of a simple pediment (a low pitched triangular gable).

I think I'd take that front addition off and work from there. How are those interior spaces that were added along the front being used (long and narrow, extending previous rooms ...)?

I agree, if possible, take off that front addition and I think you'll find instant curb appeal.

What the OP didn't include is what's behind the front facade. Is it a basement, somewhat finished or otherwise? Do you walk in the front door and up a flight of stairs to the living areas?

With two mailboxes, driveways - is the OP sole owner of a duplex and renting out part? If so; still keeping a rental apartment? Are makeover plans going to include and impact all the interior spaces?

I haven't really doped this out since I have an oversized two car garage, but I figure that you need 3 feet of space on each side of the car and perhaps an additional 6 feet of depth in front of where you park.

For a single car garage, the width of the structure would probably be a minimum of 22 feet and the length of the garage would be close to 26 feet. With the pulled forward garage and porch structure, you'll be giving up lots of front lawn.

I know it's a mock up and it's not my intention to throw cold water on someone's creative juices, and your plans are in the thinking about stage and tinkering around is the best way to come up with ideas, but there are an awful lot of basic realities to consider and resolve - and probably with profssionals this time around. (Especially since 70k worth of stolen materials in the hands of someone with a hammer... well, you get my drift.) :-)

Maybe the OP will come back with more information. It looks like the front addition is a closed in front porch - from the picture with her mockup showing a bit of the side.

I was hoping Squirrel would find your plea and help, but she must be busy elsewhere. She's the pro at this. Anyway here's my attempt at bringing bit of style to your rather unusual home. I thought instead of plowing down your beautiful garden that I'd add a second floor covered porch. I know I didn't add a door to it, because I wasn't sure where your interior walls are. However I did extend it to include the side entry deck. I hope it helps you in some small way at the very least.
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Great photoshop ideas! How about a double front door with oval windows like the door justgotabme put in - maybe even moved to the right if you can...and french doors on the second level. Rachel

jay
interesting story behind the house

I would agree if budget permits take off the entire front addition - obviously this is not a skilled craftsman that put that on and certainly no architect was consulted. The entire front is totally out of whack which leads me to believe that the interior of that addition may be as well.

If it is not possible to take it off - I think ALL new windows totally differently configured are in order adding more windows to the ground floor, while in order, are not going to bring the balance that is necessary

Good luck

You know, in our neck of the woods, there are lots of architects (and architecture students) who are out of work and willing to do cheap 'gigs' by the hour. If you've got a few hundred dollars you could spend on design work, I bet you could get a few really good ideas for what to do. Just put a listing on Craigslist under 'Gigs' -- Maybe post a picture and some simple terms. Free to try...

I'll admit - I'm pretty stumped other than "take down the front and try again..."

Wow, I cant beleive what a great response I am getting being a newbie here. What great advice and comments from everybody!

Thank you for that first photoshop of my house. I like your ideas. I like the shutters and the deck thing except I dont think my budget calls for anything that extreme. Love what you did with the garage door also!

Just to let you know the set up on the first floor, that is actually basement level that is finished Completley. When you first walk in the door there are stairs to the right that go to the main floor. There is a room on the right side of the house first floor that is a huge clost now becuase there are no windows. I have room for 2 normal size windows on the right and there has to be a little bit of space from the door because there short set of stairs. Then I am going to put a room on the first floor front right. I am going to keep the addition on the front. would cost too much to take it down.

Thank you for the feedback so far, I look forward to more input so I can plan this out better before I start this project.

You'll be spending a fortune on the facade reno. I really think you'll be wasting your money, if curb appeal is important to you. You need to fix the bones of the house first.

I hope you'll have the construction checked over, as well as any electrical or plumbing they may have done on the house.

Good luck working things out.

I agree with the other posters that my first step would be to make sure everything meets code. Safety first.

Is this the original front of the house? The shed roof on top and the fact that the basement is at ground level make me think this was originally the back of a saltbox house. Is there any street access to the other side? Can you flip the entrance to the other side?

Next, what is the material on that addition? It looks like corrugated metal to me. Do you plan to replace that siding? If the siding really is metal and you can't/won't remove it, I think the best you can do is hide it. I'd plant something tall on the right side of the door (maybe 3 crepe myrtles or better yet, something evergreen) to hide that windowless expanse.

I agree with the others that the addition is odd and would be concerned about if it was done up to code and if the construction is of decent quality.

That being said I played around with photoshop- I went with a simpler and a less expensive make over and keeping some of it's uniqueness. Bring the same color siding down onto the addition and add stacked stone veneer panels (easy DIY instead of veneer with mortar). It was a quick render so there is room for improvement, but I think it gives a visual example of a few more ideas.

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I can't see trying to make it a traditional home. If you must keep the addition, maybe do something funky and modern. All I can think of is wrapping glass around that upper level. Or maybe making the area on the right, with only two windows, a deck.

Jay, on a low budget maybe you should just paint it a soft leafy green for now to kind of be part of the scenery and DIY what you can as time and your pocket book permits. Maybe a trellis or three behind the current beautiful garden on the right front side with some climbing flowers (morning glories, roses etc) to add some interest.
Good Luck!

Think you should save up your money for a consultation w/ an architect. Tacking on decorative features will just look, well, tacked on. Agree w/ squirrel that perhaps you should go contemporary with it. You're starting out with clean lines that could segue into modern.

I agree there's no sense in attempting to make a "silk purse from a sows ear" until you ascertain if it's of sound construction.
For a very quick fix I'd love to see a P.Shopper add a large, leafy tree smack in the middle of the white expanse, a trellis over the garage and tall, narrow shrub on right corner.
Or, leafy tree, trellis over front door and matching corner shrub on left. Total cost under 1K.

I like the idea of modern, the odd window placement would make more sense than with a traditional look-orginally I was thinking of doing something with a stucco texture or stained concrete and wood look in photoshop- but the siding on the front and the sides wouldn't look right with it.

The straight lines on the front are giving the house a contemporary look but the siding material suggests a different style-Removing and replacing all the siding with a different material I'm guessing would be really expensive but would improve the house greatly.

Wow, I am really liking that last photoshop job. The triangle roof over the door is exactly what I had in mind and would be rather inexpensive. I dont think the big bay window would work with the set up inside the house there. I think 2 normal windows with shutters in the first floor is what would work. However I love that window just wouldnt work in my case, the stone helps break up the front nice. Thank you for keeping budget in mind. I think your idea's are very doable. I really like what you have done. Thank you so much roobear! Anybody else wanna take a shot with photoshop skills?

It would be really worth your money to consult an architect instead of trying to photoshop.

Here's something not so elaborate, to dress up what you have. Some grayish, low contrast trim to beef up the windows a bit. Gutters painted gray on upper stories to ground and de-emphasize those lines, and a strip of gray trim across the front. Some gray on the porch rails and maybe a light gray on the header. White on the porch gutter, though, to emphasize that area.

Romantic weeping willow or cherry, 30 years forward.

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Hey Photoshop Pros!
What about changing the upper right window into 2 smaller ones, that BIG window just glares at me....

Wow! Those last couple of photshops look great -and I think it would be very budget friendly.

Wow, Those last few photo shops are amazing! Thank you so much for doing those for me. I am really liking everything you did and doing those things shouldnt break the bank too much. Thank you!

Here's messin' with the picture window on the upper level:

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I was thinking it called for one of those wacky screen doors : )

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage Screen Doors

I'm not unsympathetic to desiring to effect change on a limited budget, but for someone with a limited budget, this wasn't the house to buy. It has incurable defects that will only be remedied by throwing a LOT of money at it. Your #1 priority should be whether or not it is actually safe to live in. As none of the (poorly thought out) remodeling was done with permits, you have no idea whether or not anything is to code. Frankly, I'm surprised that the muncipality would allow the addition to stand and not force you to remove it. You should employ a licensed electricial and structural engineer pronto to see if it's even structurally sound and safe to occupy. After those concerns are met, then and only then should you think about the cosmetic issues that the home has. Those are so severe as to need the talents of a mighty talented architect to remedy with any success. Strangers on an internet site won't do it. You'll need building plans to go in front of your permit office to do any of the proposed changes, and given the past history of the dwelling, I'd bet they'll scrutinize it doubly so for any changes now.

Save your money. Lots of money. Don't waste it on awnings and other cosmetic minor efforts that don't address the major problem, which is the quality of the addition, and the unholy design mess it created. Enlist the services of a qualified architect to help clean up that mess in a structurally sound manner.

Pretty Sponge Bob bandaids won't help a bleeding artery.

I completely agree with nanbella and live_wire_oak. There is no way you can (in your words) plan "a major face lift for the front of the house" without consulting some kind of structural engineer and spending some "major" bucks!

Live Wire, did you read the above posts? If the addition is deemed to be sound, he cannot afford to take it off. But he can afford to make some minor changes to make it more homey and easier on the eye. Something nicer to come home to.

We can't all live in beautiful, well-designed homes. This place reminds me of many a family home I've seen, often out in the country, where some permitted contractor or handy homeowner has slapped some additional living space on to a house, only addressing their functional needs. Plenty of people are happy with that. And some are happier with a decent sized home, even when it isn't a beauty queen.

If this were my home and the addition passes inspection, I'd try to make it look better, too. I wouldn't spend a fortune on it, though (or try to make it look like a formal traditional home).

Good luck as you wrestle this rascal, Jay.

The addition is sound , it was inspected. Just poor planning with the layout.

squirrelheaven, Thank you so much for the different designs. Its giving me alot of good input for me to give to the contractor before I plunk down the bucks.

I have one request. Could you take out the 3rd window on the bottom level and only have 2 normal size windows with green shutters on the 1st floor right side, then position 2 normal size windows with shutters that match directly above on the 2nd floor right side.

Not sure which version you want on the upper floor, so I did what's there and then the double.

I think this looks unbalanced on the right with shutters above. Kind of like two different houses. It looks better to just dress the porch and keep the eye there, imo.

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Thank you, I kind of like that but your right about it looking like a seperate house on top maybe I can do something with the top afterwards.

Last idea, how about shifting the single small window on 2nd floor in the middle just a little to the right, and make it the same size as the other four windows with shutters and have them all match. Then replace the 4 windows that are in a row on the left with this style window pictured below and place it directly above the garage, and put shutters on each side of the window. Then I think it will be exactly what I was going for, however I think it will throw my budget in a wirlwind. Maybe it will be worth it? Last request, thank you!

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That's a good idea for balancing the windows, but I really think you'd be better off accepting the house for the simple structure that it is, working with that and not trying to make it something it's not with fancy or traditional elements that don't connect with its bones. You can't hide the house itself that way.

Remember, too, that this is only a front elevation. Other views should be considered, as well.

Here are some things to look at with your ideas in place and the original photoshop that you posted:

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I think this one is the winner! This one is perfect. I know I am prolly better off just jazzing up what I have than changing all the windows. But I really like this one. Would you be able to add one minor tweak by just adding shutters to the window on the left, and maybe the 3rd floor too? Thank you so much, I am amazed at your photoshop work. I wish could learn to do this some time.

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Impressive photoshopping Squirelheaven.

It's more than just photoshopping skills: squirrel has a terrific eye for detail & color and a fine sense of architecture. I always learn something from squirrel's mock-ups.

I couldn't agree more about Squirrelheaven's skill. I have been secretly hoping she sees my post regarding my front yard too, guess my secret is out there now. SquirrelHeaven, it is truly amazing how you transformed it with so many different options! I'd love for you to look at mine, please.

Thank you ladies : ) but these last images of the house are Jay's vision for his place.

Awm, I especially appreciate your acknowledging my input and ideas, as the photoshopping is simply a design and communication tool. I always wonder if anyone notices, or appreciates more than the shopping! The creativity and challenges are where my heart is, aside from loving to help people solve their problems or achieve their vision. And, of course, I want to be good at that, too! I'm glad you always learn something. So do I! One always needs to learn more, and it makes the process all the more fun. So, thank you, again, for your compliments and encouragement on projects : ) It is very much appreciated.

I'm sorry, pmartin, I did notice your thread this morning, with my name in it!, and clipped the image of your house. Will see if anything comes to mind. It was too early for my brain to work and digest anything, lol. (It's not doing too well right now, either

Well, since you're going to be going ahead with big plans, how about throwing a peak in, so is isn't so horizontal and elongated. Maybe throw some curves in there to break it up, also.

On the last two with the curves, I also raised the pitch of the porch roof, and lowered the porch rail.

I think a big, strong tree is needed, though they take a lifetime to grow.

Not sure what the siding is. It looks like either a beadboard paneling or metal. I hope you'll be changing that out, also, being left only with the shape, because when you start adding nice materials to the house, it will look more odd and even worse by comparison.

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Squirelheaven Rocks!

Those look great!

Ok, those are just ridiculously good! Amazing transformation!

Thank you so much for creating this vision for me squirrelheaven. I am in awe of how you transformed the look of my house to be so beautiful. You really have skilled and creative talent at doing this. I'll be sure to post pics when and if this becomes a reality next year.

You're welcome : ) We'd love to see how it all turns out.

I'm getting in late on this, I've been away camping .. but I agree Squirrel rocks!

Awesome Job! :)

I haven't read the entire thread...but would like to steer you away from the weeping cherry. Beautiful decorative tree, but short-lived and prone to disease. There are lots of other trees that will give a nice effect without the headaches of a cherry, but I can't make specific suggestions without knowing what your ag zone is.