Wow...that is a nice house for her first...congratulations!!!

I agree that the same-same paint is not adding much character. Everyone's monitor sees color differently, so wonder what color the house is? I see the white above the garage and that does look good.

I think a cover over the front door would be nice too. What about a simple porch? Then she could put a couple of chairs or a porch swing there with a potted plant.

vampiressrn-Thanks so much for responding! The color of the house is a cream to yellow color. I hadn't even noticed how poorly it came across on the monitor. The wierd thing about the front porch is the concrete stoop doesn't go all the way to the garage wall. It stops about 12-18" away. Very strange. What do you think about that rectangular trim above the picture window? The trim has rotted and needs to be replaced, but it seems like a strange element in the first place. Any suggestions of what else she could do with that area?

Wow, what a clean slate! I would go crazy with color. I photoshopped the attached pics using the Cottage Wood gallery at kylehuntpartners.com.

{{!gwi}}


{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Cottage Wood Gallery

Oh my gosh, kellyeng! I can't wait to show DD what you've done. It doesn't even look like the same house. Thanks so much! Anything that's done has to go through the HSA, which after growing up in the country is something she isn't used to. She's getting married next Saturday and between the decisions for the wedding and the new house has been a bit overwhelmed. Any ideas will be a great help!

Great photoshop...I love that green.

I suggest she concentrate on the wedding for now, she will have plenty of time to decide about the house and not have that be a stress in her life.

If she does a porch, I would take it all the way from the garage over to the edge of the house, just get rid of the planter and make the porch deep enough to take some furniture with 2 steps running the length of the porch. This could certainly be added later.

How is the inside of the house?

If she's not used to a HSA/HOA...boy is she in for a surprise LOL.

Assuming she wants to keep the original vinyl, I think white would look nice and fresh. A forest green would actually look pretty decent too. The options are endless! I personally would use a dark brown of some sort.

Something needs to go above the garage door! I don't know what though.

What a beautiful house! Congrats to your DD! We just bought our first house last year. It's a GREAT time for first time homebuyers...houses that I could never haved afforded are on sale for cheap cheap cheap.

I just had to share this. DD went for the final showing before closing this morning and the people are still in the house. They promised they'd be out by this afternoon, but there was still a lot of their posessions in the house. The house is a forclosure and the people have been in the house each time DD went to see it. Which was a bit nerve wracking. The house is in very good shape except it needs all new flooring and will need a new roof in the next couple of years. She's very excited. I agree about something needs to be above the garage door. DH suggested a large eagle like we had in 1971. He thinks he's pretty funny.:) We're open to suggestions, though. And yes, krycek, they are very nervous about the HOA. It's a whole new experience.

We had the same situation with our concrete steps when we added our porch. Our carpenter simply constructed a wood floor over the concrete spanning the length of the porch floor. Turned out great. Front porches add a lot to the look of a house but will the HOA allow? That will be the biggest question.

Congrats to your daughter on the wedding and the house!

JR

Wow- very nice home! Congrats to your daughter! Hope everything goes smoothly.
Kellyeng...great job- love the green~

The people were still in the house when she went to see it before closing? OMG! Is it still standing? Did the closing go ok and are they gone now and what condition is the house in? Holy moly. I hope it all went well and congratulations to her on the new house and new husband! What a week!

Did the closing happen?

I ask because I know many aren't being closed right now.

We were supposed to close today on a foreclosed home, we are on a 30 day extension (knowing it may be months).

ML

Yikes ... the foreclosure thing is scary if the people are still there. Often people strip the house of anything of value, including trim, doorknobs, etc. I hope all went smoothly.

When we bought our house the owner was in denial. She had changed her mind and didn't want to sell. We had to drop some hints about lawyers to make her think twice about it. We closed on a Monday morning and showed up at 11 to start moving in and her moving truck wasn't even there yet! We had family who took off work to help and my now-husband was leaving the next day for six weeks and we had to get in, so we started moving our stuff into the basement while the PO's stuff went out the front door!

Your daughter's house is beautiful!

Well, it's finally over. The house is officially hers! This week has been a zoo. The lender kept asking for more and more information. (We found out later that while he works for a good company, he himself is apparently incompetant.) Closing had to be today at 10AM or the deal was off and the house goes back for a short sale and all that implies. The closing happened, but then they found out the money transfer had not happened. The bank who owned the house says to DD's lawyer, "If the money doesn't show up this afternoon we may have to evict the buyer!" Gee, that's comforting. So, she has the keys, but doesn't exactly own the house? Finally the money shows up about 4PM. The PO's were out about 2 hours after the closing and left the house in good shape and also left her the washer and dryer and a beautiful huge potted palm tree. While a bit strange, the people did seem very nice had taken good care of the house and my heart goes out to anyone who's forced to leave their home. Thanks for all the good wishes. DD has been through a lot in the last few years and has worked so hard to make a good life for herself. I'm so proud of her! Now with a new house and new husband, it looks like all her hard work has paid off.

So, about the house, does anyone know what to do with that rectangle trim above the picture window? Should she just replace it as it is? (The current trim has rotted due to a poor paint job.) Or is there something else more interesting that could be done there? The house, for the time being will stay it's current cream color and they will have to decide on trim color. If any photoshoppers are out there. could someone paint the trim white and then a forest green. These are the colors they are considering. Thanks All!

That square trim should stay...the main part of the house (minus the garage) looks like it takes its design cues from a Victorian Era house, not a colonial. The somewhat steep gable there where the picture window is, and the somewhat ornate trim on the front of the house makes me even more sure of that.

If that is the case, and if you and DD agree with that assessment, the trim should definitely stay, and either be restored or replaced.

That's JMO, anyhow.

Glad to hear everything went well with the closing.

As to the rectangle...I think that a big window box planter would look nice in the rectangle area. Could be wooden, or wrought iron.

The spot above gar. door, is a good place for nice house numbers..a planter or decorative item in other area under window, and a roof over front door, with attractive/ stately columns.

Congratulations!!!

I live in a retirement community with very strict HOA rules, so following the process for submitting changes is very important. Best of luck on whatever she plans on doing.

Darling house, congratulations to your daughter! I love a cream yellow house with a creamy white (think buttermilk) trim. Not stark white, but something a bit softer.

About the garage, I agree that nice house numbers would look good there. Other ideas (assuming you could get them past the HOA) would be an awning all the way across, or a short pergola-type structure just in front of the door on columns---not fancy ionic, but simple square columns in keeping with the style of the house, painted the trim colour. Then she could use big pots at each side and grow a lovely climbing vine that would soften the front of that large expanse of garage front.

Best wishes to your daughter, embarking simultaneously on two of the greatest adventures in life!

I love this board! All the good wishes just make you feel so darn good!

I think a faux vent would provide the interest above the garage door. Here 's a link that I found that will provide examples.

Here is a link that might be useful: faux vents

Cute house! Copper awnings have become very popular around here.

{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: copper awnings