house front needs design help

12 years ago

We had new windows put in the top and bottoms will be replaced soon. Shutters are off the top and there are holes in the siding. If we leave shutters off, we would need to reside the front because of the holes. Is it worth it? Or would the house look better with shutters anyway? If so, what color? The old windows had the prairie style grills. Should we do grills in the new windows? We painted the door a brick red. The siding is sort of a cream color. I think the front pillars need something like a stone base? We took off the porch railing because we did not like the country look. We don't want to spend too much money since the windows were costly. Not looking to add gables or anything. The house just seems to be plain jane and lack symmetry. Any ideas would be really helpful!

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Comments (5)

nanny2a
12 years ago
You could beef up the porch posts by building a box around them, with a stone base, if you wanted. You could also put a different style of shutter on, instead of the more common louvered ones, that would also "dress" up the facade of the house. A panel style shutter might make a difference.
les917
12 years ago
I would put shutters on the top windows, but they need to be wider than the old ones were. They should be wide enough that they could cover the windows if they closed.

Instead of louvered shutters, consider paneled ones.

Then, box in the posts on the porch to created paneled colums that will compliment the shutter style, and be sure to add one on the far left side for balance. I would not add stone around the bottom of the posts - I think it will make them (and the height of the porch) feel shorter by visually cutting the posts.

No shutters on the bottom windows.

Someday, if you can find room in the budget, I would replace the octagonal window with a rectangular one, in keeping with the rest of the house.
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User
12 years ago
I would leave the shutters on or get different ones if you dont like those, it adds detail. I preferred the house with the railing, it also added detail..didnt look country to me.
summerishere
Original Author
12 years ago
Your comments are really appreciated! Do you think white shutters would be okay? I like the light feel the lighter colors give and helps make the house seem bigger. Replacing the octagon window with rectangle is a good idea which will be done maybe this year. Would you put shutters on that window also? I am not sure how the posts would look boxed in and with panels, do you have an examples? It is great to have your ideas!
awm03
12 years ago
Here are beefier columns, arches, wider shutters & soft black on the shutters & garage door:

Seems like the house numbers could have more decorative impact, but I don't know what. Maybe somebody has a good idea there.

house front needs design help

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nanny2a

les917

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house front needs design help

Comments (5)

nanny2a

les917

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summerishere
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