MCM ranch --- keep exterior wrought iron columns or replace?
Doing some work on the exterior of my 1100 sq ft ranch. I like MCM look, so keeping the wrought iron columns is fine with me. On the other hand, I am thinking of replacing them with wooden squared columns, which I think would give the house a ''cottage'' look, which I also like. The columns do not support the porch. And importantly, if I replace the columns, I need some advice on the width of the columns, which would be in proportion to the house. The front of the house measures 42 feet total, the porch area is 28 feet. Whether wrought iron or wood, the columns would be painted to match the trim, which will be re-painted a greyish taupe. Thanks Houzzers, you give the best advice!
Comments (36)
housegal200
4 years agoYou have a lot of add-ons that aren't playing well with each other--colonial door on a basic ranch house, the curvy bay window supports, the odd shutters, the railings. None of these things say midcentury or cottage. That said, here are some things you can do to spiff up with you do have: a brick ranch with nice lines, the yellow brick contrasted with the black roof:
--Replace the wrought iron supports and railings with wood supports with straight lines and railing. Look for a similar door to this one.
Casa Corbino · More Info--If a new door isn't in the budget, just do the railings and paint the door and frame black. Add a modern porch sconce
Tristan 1 Light Outdoor Wall Sconce 12" High, Textured Black · More Info--Replace the curvy bay window support with something less obtrusive.
--Those shutters--ugh. Not sure what you can do about those. What's underneath? If they can't be removed, paint them black.
Work with a small garden center to develop a great front yard landscaping that will set off your house much more than various cottage or MCM add-ons. Perennials and dramatic grasses would look great in your beds. Extend them out and use gravel or rock hardscaping.
lake house · More Infodeb thanked housegal200housegal200
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Help with exterior paint, copper colored gutters, 60's ranch
Comments (27)Thanks live_wire_oak - I find myself agreeing with nearly all of your style points. I don't think we realized how prominent the roof was until we really spent some time looking at it from the street. I don't think changing the roof is in the budget now (it's pretty new), but we'll definitely keep that in mind. We're both really intrigued by the suggestion of a slab door - what is that? We picked up some paint samples yesterday. Old gutters are down and the house is already looking cleaner, even without the new ones up. We picked a gutter color that is called 'wicker', and had SW mix paint to match. Here's a pic of the samples we put up. It's dim - by the time the paint had dried, this area (east facing, under covered patio) is shaded - but you see the colors we're talking about, over the green and next to the brick. Trim/gutters - light tan (color matched wicker metal gutters) Front Door - BM Currant Red (1323) Shutters (if we do -- causing marital strife) - SW Umber Brick (more marital strife - not painting though!) - 6140 Moderate White. I like the green but we compromised and are currently planning on going with the tan color -- which we color matched from the gutter color we're putting up. That will be all the trim. The dark brown we were thinking for shutters, but if we don't do shutters... Clearly we won't use it :) Would you consider using that brown to paint the aluminum visible in the picture of the front? We'll replace the windows -- they're 1966 single pane glass -- but not sure when, and we don't like the aluminum lines.(could be usable) I like your suggestion on the planters and I'll consider today a success if I can get them dug up before the Rangers game :) Melanie, I believe, on the landscape forum, suggested creeping thyme -- I think we'll do something like that to try and break the planter box line. I also like the idea of semi-circle as landscape bed. My kids aren't playing out there - too close to the busy street - and having something to break up the monotony and add curves would be great. Melanie -- thank you for explaining! I'm looking at his books on ebay now. Thank you SO much for your help here and on the other forum! You've made us like our house a lot more. Summary on what we're going to do this week: Gutters (wicker above unless someone can talk me out of it in the next day) installed, trim/fascia/sofits painted to match. Paint front door Remove boxwood in planter boxes up front Pause and evaluate.... To sum up questions: If we don't do the shutters in Umber -- which my wife wants to do, and my painter assured her it was easy to shave the raised brick to install them, what else can we do in the brown to pop? The window frames? We had a decorator come to help with color selection, and she was a strong advocate of both shutters and painted brick. My wife is still on board with leaving the brick unpainted for now, but the shutters idea has come back with a vengeance. For what it's worth, most house in the neighborhood do ... But, this decorator also suggested we call a Realtor and ask for advice, which is exactly what I DON'T want to do. I want it to look good and not offend those that know what they're looking at! We were going to paint the windows in the white color, but would the brown pop? Give us some color without having to throw up fake shutters? VERY interested in learning more about doing a copper door. We're going to paint the door and frame in that red color above - more of a magenta. Finally, what are you guys thinking about the below picture? Dim again - my photo skills aren't the best - but this is an angle shot of my back patio. Same brick, which you can see. To the left is another bay window just like the ones out front, this one into the breakfast room/kitchen. The ceiling you'll see the drywall portion is white -- and then the wood portion turns to the trim color. The decorator we had suggested we paint the same color, the moderate white, so there's not a line -- opening the space up. But the problem is, if I paint that white, I think I have to carry the white all the way around the house under the roof, meaning the wood on the underside of the roof would be white, the rest of the trim tan. (We're thinking the white above) Or -- can I just tape off a logical line somewhere and transition from white to the trim color? Or .. I can just paint the ceiling the trim color, but then it all kinda blends in. THANK YOU!...See MoreDoor Color (Dark Grey or White) & Wrought Iron Columns
Comments (17)Grrr. You folks are making great points. Thank you. I am at war with those columns anyway. Mtn, thanks so much for the photos. That first one is similar to my home in front with multiple materials -- especially the siding on the garage which I have painted dark charcoal -- leading me to like a the "blackish" door. The second photo I had used for inspiration when considering brick painting. What about the "blackish" door options below .... I don't want half-half w/mutin bars as I have that now with blinds and it is wayyy too country for me. I am moving toward craftsmanship style or traditional/artsy fartsy -- maybe 3rd one?...See MoreDesign thoughts on re-vamping unique 70's ranch exterior
Comments (5)No to a carriage style garage door, and consider replacing the front door. Neither match the style of the house. Use similar brick and build out columns on each side of entryway to support soffit and roof once the horizontal beam across top is removed. Columns will be stained to match front door and garage door. You want to stain the brick columns? Somehow put a film or get new etched windows to hide the view into the garage from the tall slim windows on the front left of the house. The bottom half of the windows could be solid -- no glass, top an obscure glass. Put a horizontal board on the bottom and top of the siding to look more finished (most wood siding houses have them...ours didn't for some reason. Either trim color or same color as siding. Board on top OK, leave off bottom. Paint house trim and gutters a darker color....See MoreHow would you update this modest colonial ranch exterior
Comments (30)oh, melle..you know they now show me listings in your area, lol? probably because of these two you shared once..as an examples of what you like/dislike.. but since i didn't know your neighbourhood of preference, etc..In short I just looked at them the kitchen does look like a garage! I like the fire red, very bold of them; but layout is not easy. no countertop around the stove makes it really challenging lots of work, or so I envision bathrooms too..although it might be photos distort the places. Bathrooms are hard to shoot too they're smaller. possibilities will reveal themselves to you when there Iike the living, the backyard(possibilities!) , and the house overall is nice. I do think brick has nothing to do there. But I'd go there and feel it you know? It can be 15 things that you dislike and one you love, and that one will overweight other 15.. ah. don't mind their decor. just kinda wipe it when looking..in your mind. interesting bedroom with that step.....See Morehousegal200
4 years ago
benjesbride_misses_sophie
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoI think the wrought iron posts are charming and appropriate for the era of your house. I'd consider painting them and your door black to "modernize" them. Is a post missing that supports the corner of the roof on the left side of the front door?
Also, I'd test out Benjamin Moore muslin for the shutters and panels around your windows. I thikn it would coordinate very nicely with your brick if you're interested in something that blends in with it.
Benjamin Moore Muslin for the shutters and panels:
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fidlfreek_justice_4_sophie
3 years agoI like the new porch railings and posts. I think you should ditch the raised trim around the windows, and consider a contemporary door style. Maybe paint all windows the light taupe and let the front door be the star. Maybe a pop of greenish yellow? or bright clear blue?
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