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Design Dilemma Home Decorating

First time fixer upper in need of facelift!

6 years ago

My daughter just bought this small Cape Cod fixer upper and it's in need of a facelift! Any suggestion to make the front more appealing?

Featured Answer

writersblock (9b/10a)

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

What a darling house! Yes the bay window is very typical of this sort of minimalist traditional, and so is the porch style. I'd also go with window boxes and new paint for starters, maybe a new porch light, and nice retro street numbers mounted on the wall instead of the post.

If this were the builder's ad, it would have had a trellis at one side of the porch with something vine-y on it. Go the Building Technology Heritage section at archive.org and filter it for the years immediately preceding when the house was built and you'll find a slew of catalogs for similar little houses that you can download, maybe even for that very model, that will give you a nice idea of what the house originally would have looked like.

ETA Here's a much larger house from 1946 with a very similar bay window. Sorry, I only have a google street view of it, but it's very much the same, only somewhat bigger.just a box hanging on the wall, really:

The actual original windows in it have been replaced, alas. Note how the mounded landscaping makes it look more thoroughly part of the structure, since it conceals the bottom of the box.

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Comments (17)

Carrie B
6 years ago
Adorable! Looks like it can use a paint job (I'd repaint the steps, too, a different color from the house) and some landscaping, to start.
rakupe
6 years ago
Widen the porch, window boxes under the double hung windows, paint trim a different color, paint door bright color
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first of all, I want to make one observation that you might find helpful every empty room will look smaller than a room that's not empty that's how our brain works-we measure the distance, mentally, with some visuals to hang onto. If we see just a wall-that wall will seem closer. That's why any stager who understands about staging will put at least a flower pot or something, in an otherwise empty room. so I'd keep that simple fact in mind. It's bigger than it seems. No need to clutter a room too much of course, then at some point will seem smaller too..but one needs to really put an effort to clutter a room to such a degree)) As for the color scheme and furnishings. There are no rules (I mean, there are-they might work for house X but it's great to break them in house Y). Depends on your style, context, location even, the light that room gets..does the house have a definite architectural style? What are your favorite colors? Can you show maybe inspirational pictures that show more or less the vibe and mood you're going for? Will help with better understanding and future suggestions I'm wary with going with definite suggestions until I understand better what appeals to you, and what is the context. That room spells a potentially cozy, comfortable room. You dont always want things to seem larger as in size wise-you do want them to breathe so to say, and to feel comfortable. Is the ceiling standard height? For the illusion of a higher ceiling, if that height bothers you-choose either a color that won't be drastically darker then the ceiling, but as close as possible to it, so as not to get this white lid effect..or if going with slightly darker color make sure to tint your ceiling with that color, maybe a lot, so the border is not very obvious..or another-more expensive but works like a charm-idea-is to use crown molding. And paint it ceiling color, for example. Your transition gets softer, ceiling seems higher. And I wouldn't pass an opportunity to hunt for a cool semi flash mount light either. But add a lot of lighting -table lamps, floor one, maybe wall lights..you want to have layers of lighting, that's how any room is more beautiful. Light. That you can play with and create mood and function you need. Good luck to you!
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littlebug zone 5 Missouri
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
What a cutie! You don't say how large the fixer-upper budget is, though.

The bay window looks added-on and odd. I'd take it out and replace with what was probably original - plain double hung windows.

I agree that the porch is way too tiny. Make the porch floor (the landing) as large as the lower step is currently. Then install porch posts twice as big as what's there now, and widen the sidewalk.

Bright yellow paint with clean white trim would look great with the brown-toned roof.
shechef thanked littlebug zone 5 Missouri
Debbie Downer
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago

Besides tweaking the porch (as littlebug describes it) I would take it in a cottagey direction with flower beds all around, It needs a friendlier door:
shechef thanked Debbie Downer
chloebud
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
So freakin cute! Totally agree with a window box under the double window...really nice filled with crawling ivy geraniums.

The blue with white trim is nice but does need refreshing. This is another thought for paint colors...love this combo.
grapefruit1_ar
6 years ago
Congrats to your daughter on scoring such a sweet house!! I would start with paint and landscaping and then see what the budget allows!
shechef thanked grapefruit1_ar
User
6 years ago
Don't go too big, because this is a small house but ...curb appeal and function are both lacking.
- Widen the sidewalk to be as wide as the steps. Plant some perennials along it.
- Make the front stoop big enough that you can stand on it and open the door without falling off. That may mean having the first couple of steps outside the porch roof, but that's OK.
- Plant around the foundation with a mix of perennials and small trees to tie it to the lot.
shechef thanked User
MarleneM
6 years ago
I agree with what# been already suggested and it’s an adorable house. To me the porch roof is looking awkward because th3 pitch is different from house roof. Something like the on3 in photo below would be nice.
Toms River, 105 Green Island Road · More Info
Kendrah
6 years ago
What is the budget?
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago
Ideas
228 Pendleton Road · More Info

Berea Home Gets a Face Lift · More Info
shechef thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
deegw
6 years ago
Cute house! Working on the hardscape won't be cheap but you'll get the biggest bang for your buck and it will make the other outdoor updates easier.

More substantial porch and steps and wider, more graceful walkway will add lots of curb appeal.
shechef thanked deegw
er612
6 years ago
Are you replacing the roof? If so, I would incorporate the portico into it like this...
shechef thanked er612
reesepbuttercup SLC, Utah 6b
6 years ago
A little paint and landscaping will make a big difference without breaking the bank. The front door would be really cute in yellow or red.
shechef thanked reesepbuttercup SLC, Utah 6b
writersblock (9b/10a)
6 years ago
Just ran across this article about another house where paint and landscaping made a big difference:

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/exterior-renovation-curb-appeal-255223
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 years ago
Here is colors inspiration
Urban Beauty · More Info
tatts
6 years ago
MarleneM is right. The first thing that caught my eye was that the roof line of the porch didn't match the others. That will make a huge difference (and beefier posts).

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