here's my concern - if the line drawings look this disconnected / not complementary to the original house, it's not going to get better in 3D / real life. I worry that there is not any nod to the original architecture in the new addition. (Which can be fine, if it's integrated well...)

The entire concept it such a HUGE mistake! These two houses were never meant to be "row houses" or "semidetached", and they just look all wrong. The shutters are the least of your problems (but they're all wrong, too).

Teeny-weenie half shutters? One shutter on a window? Two shutters on double windows? What's the point? Shutters were meant for only one thing: to completely cover a window! Entirely! As for the overall design, it really doesn't look like it grew in an organic and natural way over a period of extended history, now does it? This is what history looks like:

I appreciate the feedback. The exterior materials and shutters etc. are all up for change. Originally we had designed an addition to the old house with an attached apt for the very elderly in-laws. The current plan allows for the old house-which is essentially a knock-down- to eventually be demolished; leaving a new five bedroom house on the lot.

So any suggestions to enhance the visuals are appreciated.

Virgil- I agree! There are shutters on the old house so it was carried over to the new. What would you suggest? Other houses in the neighborhood are heavy into the gray siding with beefed up window trim and stone or brick foundations.

Birdie, I understand the design process with its forwards and backs. When it comes to shutters, from my perspective either the shutters are designed in such a way as to completely cover a window...or there is no need for a teeny shutter or a half-shutter. That's one place to begin--architectural authenticity.

As for the new addition added to the old existing house, take a look at the photo I posted and look at how new and old are added together over time. That's the way to be convincing. And authentic.

I understand your point regarding organic and authentic. If we had more space and funds, it would not be designed as it is. This is the best we can do given our current situation. We do not have the space to add on except directly adjacent to the old house, due to lot size and setbacks,etc. Do you have any suggestions to improve the exterior as it is currently?

I'd remove all the shutters, then take another look. The "one shutter per window" thing looks very odd to me, and some of them don't cover the entire window so they look very fake. Delete them from the rendering then I'd take another look

sprink1es-

Thanks. I will try to do that and post the rendering without the shutters. (The one shutter per window on the old house is original to the house. It is two narrow windows that are actually in two different bedrooms.)

Can you possibly create even a small change in wall plane between the existing house and the new construction? Even 1'-2' change in plane where the new house is either in front of or behind the existing house will be sufficient to visually show the "history" and tell the story of how the house grew over time and changes to the family. Here's a modern take-off from one classic way in which many Colonial homes grew over time, and how they stepped down and away from the "original" house. If you could achieve even a small change in wall planes it would be a dramatic improvement:

Virgil- I am trying to find the side view elevation in my emails.

There is a 2'7" setback between the old house and new on the first floor. The second floor is lined up because it is a dormer on the original house. It then steps back 1' at the main entrance and 3' from the front of the porch to mudroom/side entrance. (ground floor to the left-with no second floor).

We also need the houses to line up at specific spots on the ground floor because of handicapped access between the two living spaces.

I greatly appreciate everyone who is taking time to contribute here. I am not so technologically savvy! I have to wait for my kids to get home to upload the different images!

The biggest problem with adding on to the existing house is the difference in floor to floor heights as well as eave heights which is reinforced by the awkward existing window proportions and the undersized portico. It make the existing one look like the new one's little sister. It would have been much better if the existing house had been an authentic Cape Cod style house without a dormer or portico.

The proportion of the shutters is not correct but perhaps the builder will not take the drawing literally. The tops of the shutters should be just higher than the window opening and their bottoms should align wth the top of the sill. The inside edge of the shutter should overlap the window jamb trim forcing the shutter to be at a slight angle to the wall. This off-kilter look is what makes shutters appear real and charming.

A lot has been made of shutters being half the width of the window so you can't put shutters on paired windows but that is not true. A hundred or more years ago, when shutters were actually closed in storms and at night in warm climates, paired windows had bi-fold shutters. Paired windows were characteristic of the Colonial Revival style and so were bi-fold shutters. My house had them.

To learn more check out the old house guy.

My house in better days. All of the shutters closed and many were bi-folds. For me this is what history looks like:

I appreciate the info regarding placement of the shutters and the sizes, etc. The existing house actually has no portico, just a brick stoop and stairs. It cannot be made larger or deeper due to the setbacks. Do you think it should be removed altogether?

So, you're adding a portico to the old house?

I can't get beyond the old house being in front of the new one. Why would they overlap? Are the upper levels connected?

Birdie234, thanks for pointing out the difference in the front planes of the existing and proposed houses. The small elevations make that difficult to see and understand. The change in plane and in materials will help tell the "story" of the house. All good houses--new and old--have a story.

It seems to me that the massing and proportions of the addition, particularly the busy two story element, simply overwhelm the existing house, and the two small one-story elements to the extreme left on the elevation. Would it make some sense to study various roof elements and window elements in an attempt to reduce visual bulk and find a more harmonious and sympathetic design?

For example, what would you think about eliminating all of the gables except the largest one? The second floor space on the left might have a shed roof. Elimination of the new entry portico, and a longer porch with four columns would also help add to the horizontal proportions of the original house.

Why does the original house need a new entry portico? Will it help or be confusing to visitors as to where the "front entry" of the project is located?

What is that material on the first floor, to the left of the portico, under the windows?

We don't have a plan or other elevations, but the small one story space and the single car garage, both on the left, are so small and out of scale, compared to the two story new addition, that they look like unthoughtful, last minute add-ons. Is there a better way to do these?

On the subject of pillars, this is a Colonial Revival style house so it should have classical Tuscan columns that taper not what is on the drawings.

If you want to provide cover at the old house entrance, a small gabled roof supported on wall brackets might be better. if detailed well. A full but smaller portico would continue the Mutt & Jeff approach.

The second floor is attached because we are using the space between the dormer and the new house. Yes, the new house is open to the old house on the second floor as well. I do see how much better it looks this way, though. The dormer is set back over the first floor; so the new house is set back 2'7", but on the second floor the planes meet.

I will post the elevations that show the depth as soon as I can.

Virgil-

Would it make some sense to study various roof elements and window
elements in an attempt to reduce visual bulk and find a more harmonious
and sympathetic design?

I'd love to!

Why does the original house need a new entry portico?

It doesn't. The architect thought it would draw it all together!

The second floor space on the left might have a shed roof.

That sounds fine. I don't need gables, per se.

a longer porch with four columns would also help add to the horizontal proportions of the original house

Originally, the plan was for a longer, deeper porch; unfortunately the set backs did not allow for it. We needed the space on the interior and could not reconcile both.

Again, I appreciate everyone's help and will be uploading some better pictures as soon as possible.

What is that material on the first floor, to the left of the portico, under the windows?

I believe that is the porch railing.

All I did was make the gables taller, pulled the houses apart so they don't overlap and adjusted some of the oddly positioned windows. I wouldn't try to do more without seeing a plan and the other elevations.

JDS

Did you adjust windows on the new house or old? Did you make both gables taller?

I think the rendering JDS did looks much better. It looks as if he eliminated the door/portico on the original house. I think it looks odd to have two main entrances. Not a good flow.

I raised the pitch of both gables from 7 in 12 to 9 in 12 and pulled the two houses apart so they don't overlap. That is not only visually important but when you demolish the old house you don't want part of the new structure to be supported by the old structure. There is something strange going on there.

And I tapered the columns. Your drafter needs to learn how to draw classical columns and cornice returns.

I only adjusted the windows in the new house by putting some space between paired sets and making units of the triple sets. To do more I would need a plan.

It clarifies that the old and the new are very inconsistent and not harmonious with one another. Can you see that?

Yes. What do you suggest to make it more consistent and harmonious? I suppose what I am asking is for a way to make it better, knowing that it will essentially stay close to what is there.

Do you still think that all the gables should be removed other than the largest one? The reason why the gables were used was to break up the facade somewhat, so that it shouldn't be one long house.

Is starting over and keeping the massing in mind during the redesign an option?

(I sure hope so)

birdie234

You said, "The current plan allows for the old house — which is essentially a knock–down — to eventually be demolished, leaving a new five bedroom house on the lot."

What will support the right side of the new house when you tear down the old house? It seems like a ticklish job to reinforce the old structure to support the overlap of the new house. Will you have to support the new house while a new foundation is constructed or will you demolish part of the new house and then build it back? Will you build a new foundation inside the old house?

I would expect a wall section of that construction and a written construction sequence from your designer before trying to design the facade.

You also said, "The second floor is attached because we are using the space between the dormer and the new house." That doesn't require the houses to overlap; the houses could share a foundation and the old dormer could be extended to meet the new house.

The overlap makes no sense unless there is a zoning restriction. If the side yard setbacks don't limits the width of the house, you should pull the houses apart and save yourself a lot of headaches as well as improve the appearance of the house..

You have asked if the left gable could be eliminated. That might make sense but not if you intend to eventually tear down the old house. Your designer should be designing two projects: one with two attached houses and one with just the new house. Or do you intend to build a new wing in place of the old house?

But first find out if the width of the houses can be increased. Whether it does or not, you have a tough design task ahead of you.

Mark Bischak- no it isn't feasible at this point.

JDS- I'm not sure why he designed second floor it like this. There is absolutely no room to increase the width. That's why the garage is so small!

Make the designer prove to you that the overlap makes sense and will not cause you unnecessary expenses when you tear down the old house.

There are a lot of mysteries in this design.

If the second floors align, why are the new windows so much higher than the old windows? If the second floors don't align, how can the overlap space be shared?

Is the old foundation a basement wall, crawl space or slab? Is the new foundation the same?

When you tear down the old house will you build anything back (other than the overlap piece)?

I can see several ways to build this overlap but none of them are very good and all are expensive.

The part I would question is the one story structure between the house and the garage. That needs to be 31" smaller. Its really not possible to help you much without a plan and the other elevations.

And why don't designers these days draw sections through the house or at least a wall section? How could they know what the design issues are and how could the builder build the house without that information?

JDS-

I sent you a message. Thanks so much for your time and advice!

Select a builder to do some preliminary demolition in the existing house that is a chain smoker, heavily insured, and smells of gasoline.

Mark-

Haha! Reminds me of the old ditty when I was a kid...Once I had a candy store!

Its not necessary to pull the two houses apart, it is only necessary to make the right side gable narrower (about 2 ft) so it aligns with the rest of the new house behind it. When the old house is torn down, you would have to do that anyway at great expense so why not do it now? That requires a redesign of the second floor but if it is possible, the house would look much better and cost less to modify later.

JDS-

I think it looks MUCH better. Thank you! I will be talking to the architect and the builder about these changes. Houzz is really an amazing asset to the housing world! Thank you all for your advice.