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Home Decorating

60's ranch - now painted - new door color? light fixtures?

13 years ago

Hi all -

You helped us SO MUCH on the my thread

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/decor/msg1016454416887.html?20

So -- I wanted to share some in progress results. Paint and gutters are done, windows are cleaned up, brick is powerwashed. Door is painted.

Now we're thinking -- shutters or no? Any suggestions on light fixtures? The front door is still very dark. Also -- thinking too much purple in the door, should have gone rust. Thoughts?

On the landscaping, we're going to take out some of the boxwoods and do something interesting in front, I think, and the one sunny corner in the front semi-circle we'll plant with sun loving perinnials.

House faces west. Here are some pics after paint, you can see the before's in the other thread:

Thanks in advance!!!

Comments (7)

mclarke
13 years ago
Shutters on the smaller windows... I vote yes.
les917
13 years ago
No shutters - wrong for the clean lines of your lovely ranch home, imo

I think it is a great idea to take the bushes out of the planters. That will open up the full height of the windows, which will make the body of the house feel taller and work better with the strong roof line.

A trellis mounted between the two windows on the left, filled with something climbing and pretty, would be a nice way to break up the long expanse of brick there.

The door color does seem a brighter red, and perhaps something rusty would be better. Hard to tell what the real effect is from a distance, tho, in the pix you have posted.

I would look for a more modern light fixture for the front door. The carriage light says colonial to me. How about something like this?

kichler transitional bronze wall light

I think the light has a cleaner line, but not too modern, and echoes the multiple panes in your windows, not fighting with the circles in the front door glass.
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mjsee
13 years ago
Can you take a pic when things aren't backlit? Maybe later in the day? I DO think an orange-based red would be a better choice for the door.

texdal...I am nothing if not opinionated. Do NOT put shutters on those windows. They are all wrong for that house.

I've got some ideas on lights...but can you take a picture of JUST the front-door alcove for me? With the door? And what color is the hardware on your front door?
texdal23
Original Author
13 years ago
I should have posted the color - it's BM Currant Red in Gloss, 1323, and we made the mistake of rushing in our selection. We had decided on a red, had a decorator out, and went with the red she picked without reflecting on it too much ... Ahwell, out a gallon of paint. Could be worse :)

I am thinking the same on shutters. On the bushes, I think we take everything out except some of the small boxwoods not covering the window. The question is, would it look better with nothing than with what's there now? Or, can I rip them out now, before I decide what to plant, and will it look okay?

That's an awesome light fixture -- we had no idea what to look for. I think that's perfect. Do you think we should add an overhead light as well for more light? My only hesitation is the low roofline -- but I do want more external light.

Thank you again.
les917
13 years ago
Once you get rid of the bushes in the planter, consider adding some landscape spotlights hidden along there Those will wash up the wall, make it feel taller, and add more light to the whole front area of the house.

Could you get us a front shot of the front door area, perhaps standing back on the sidewalk about 20 feet? That would help with suggestions for that area.
mjsee
13 years ago
I think a pair of sconces will work better than an overhead. I think I'd rip out ALL the little boxwoods...but you can try just getting rid of the boxwoods in front of the windows. I think it will look better with nothing than with what is there...but I have a fair amount of tolerance for unfinished work. Only you will know if you can live with the bare.

I really like the kichler light...but I'd be tempted to go even more retro/modern...perhaps something cylinder shaped? Finish to match the hardware on your front door? To be fair...I've got cylinder lights on either side of my front door... ;^)

As to uplighting...generally I'm opposed (I've got a physicist in the family---darksky and all that) but that tree would be wicked cool uplit at night...

Here is a link that might be useful: lots of outdoor cylinder lights
stolenidentity
13 years ago
shutters, NO! Trellis and climbers in the open spaces as suggested by les917 is right on. I'd add others where you see open space too once you are done with removing the shrubbery. I don't know about lights, the one there seemed okay to me. Lovely home :)

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