Lava Rock Exterior Disaster

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

The exterior of this house with its pink lava rock and the red paint is so cringey I didn't even want to look at the inside- but the inside was so nice we bought it. Looking for any hints, we are on a tight budget for now but will be saving up for paint etc.

My current thoughts:

1. Rip off that awning thing

2. Paint the siding a different color (maybe a gray-purple)

3. Paint over the fake rock with a concrete stain (maybe gray?)

4. Repaint the door

5. Build a porch?

Any other suggestions to help pull this together would be so appreciated, this is our first house. Also, the tree out front and all the other perennials coming up are pink. The yard also obviously could use with a little work.

The windows are vinyl and the siding is wood.

Featured Answer

housegal200

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Here you go: cream siding; taupe trim; rusty red door, great landscaping, Just add a new portico with taupe pillars.

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Comments (17)

Denita
5 years ago
Have you considered a lime wash over the stone? The pic below is a white wash.

I agree with you about removing the awning and painting the siding a different color. I just don't think the gray enhances the stone IMO.

Painting the front door is a great idea and most of all, enhancing the landscape will be the thing that amps up the curb appeal.

Your foundation needs to be a darker color (paint) to ground your home. Widen your walkway like the pic below.

The small planting bed around the front of the house needs to be expanded. Work with a landscape designer to enlarge the beds. Again, see the insp pic below. Post in the landscape forum here too to get great ideas for your home.

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sara_ak_reed thanked Denita
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BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
Rock can be stained to allow some of the different tones to show through the stain.

Do a much smaller architectural metal canopy over the front door

Do not tie it in with the railings. Paint the railings black.
sara_ak_reed thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Creative Visual Concepts, Kevin Strader
5 years ago
I definitely would paint the siding, lose the porch awning and look at a new porch. If you did something with exposed rough wood beams that would better coordinate with the stone. I would look at doing the siding first and then see if the color that you pick "tones down" the stone so you don't have to stain it. Also, yes, paint the front door and then do some landscaping.

If you're interested in a virtual makeover, check out my web site, Creative Visual Concepts.
sara_ak_reed thanked Creative Visual Concepts, Kevin Strader
suedonim75
5 years ago
Is it real stone, or fake? If it's fake, you can't stain it. And that stone isn't going to turn out the way you think it is. I'd bite the bullet and remove it. Don't waste your time and money trying to "transform it".
sara_ak_reed thanked suedonim75
phuninthesun
5 years ago
White and Grey, no pastel colors.
sara_ak_reed thanked phuninthesun
Debbie Downer
5 years ago
Just remove it - what the hey. Probably just stuck on with some mortar mix. try an out of the way spot to investigate whats underneath.
sara_ak_reed thanked Debbie Downer
phuninthesun
5 years ago
If you only have the budget to paint for now, you could use the darkest color in the stone and white trim.
sara_ak_reed thanked phuninthesun
larkspurproject
5 years ago
First, take the awning down and replace your storm door. Change out the light fixture. Plant some flowers/foliage to hide the foundation across the front of the house. The picture you posted with the grays looked much better, have fun!
sara_ak_reed thanked larkspurproject
sara_ak_reed
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you, all! These are all super helpful, we would not have come up with widening the walk, the exposed wood, the cream paint, etc. on our own. If we could salvage/tone down the rock for now that would be best, since it looks like there is no siding underneath, it's in good condition, and we don't have the budget to re-do all the siding (and I think it's fake).

If we were to build a deck or porch, does anyone have opinions on how big it ought to be to not overwhelm the house? I will also look for help in landscaping.

Feeling much more hopeful, will post again when we have progress to report!
partim
5 years ago
You'll be happy to have that awning when it's pouring rain. And I think it looks fine. Maybe paint it a darker version of the siding color if you want to change it.
PRO
Beth H. :
5 years ago
Phun nailed it w/this one. Beautiful.

if you don't want the white upper portion, then do more of a purple gray charcoal color. the paint you picked is too easter egg colored. You can use Mythical on your new front door. (like Phun shows. check on craigslist for good deals for mid century type of doors).

the 1955 awning/railings have to go. those are just so bad. if you want to build a little portico, great. if not, leave it off like Phun shows you.

they have masonry paint that you can use on those rocks. save up until you can take them off and do more of a stacked stone or something.
sara_ak_reed
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

update: painted rock with Romabio masonry paint (nube gray color). It makes such a huge difference and was very easy, even for paint. Also ripped off the old awning (considering hiring a contractor for a new portico) and it looks so much bigger and better. Painted one side of the house but will have to wait until next year to finish. Having glitches uploading a photo but will keep trying!
partim
4 years ago
Good job on the stone!
Chris
last year
you made the house look worse. yuck!!!
Debbie Downer
last year
last modified: last year
I was going to say, just take it off the dang thing and replace with siding. Its just a veneer and often only on the one side of the house, not relating to anything else. Then do raised beds and stairway in stone in front to ground the house and give appearance of solidity. Create a good size landing in front of the door - at least 3-4 feet out, with the 4 steps going down between the raised beds on either side. The beds should extend at least 6 feet out to allow for a generous display of perennials or flowering shrubs. If room add small ornamental tree closer to the street, to the side of the house. Oh well, a project for another time maybe. IMHO small modest houses always benefit from lush cottagey plantings - - you could get geeky and choose popular 1950s era flowers like bright zinnias and red carnations
cat_ky
last year
last modified: last year
This post is almost 5 yrs old