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Porches & Decks Design Dilemma Exterior

Recessed area above our front door of our center hall colonial?

5 years ago

Can someone with architectural knowledge share with us the correct term for the inset area above our front door? We know that our home is a center hall colonial, but we are trying to find photo examples of homes like ours -- with that inset area all the way up above our front door -- and we aren't coming up with any sample photos because we aren't using the correct terms. We are starting to explore the idea of adding a portico above the front door or altering the facade of our home so that our front door area has some protection from the elements. Any advice anyone could provide would be most appreciated!

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PRO

BeverlyFLADeziner

5 years ago

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Comments (10)

katinparadise
5 years ago
bump
tqtqtbw
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I'm no expert but I would say your home is a 1980-90s interpretation of a center hall colonial. Center hall colonials typically have matching window on the first and second floor, with the door in the middle. You have two up over a single wide window down. The large blank space is also not common in this style. (My colonial house has a palladium window in a second floor room in this space.)

There are some mock up pros who can show you some nice designs if you add a picture straight on, showing the door. The entry is hidden in this picture by the large shrub.
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tqtqtbw
5 years ago
Portico -

Exterior Painting · More Info

Entry Walkway and Portico · More Info

PORTICO IDEAS · More Info
decoenthusiaste
5 years ago
Help out the installation personnel by removing the aging and straggly bushes all across the front. Spend the money to have a professional landscape architect draw up a plan you can install over time. It will be the icing on the cake!
taylorl979
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks to you all for your comments! You are correct - it's a 1978 built center hall colonial. Since we purchased the home 2 years ago we have removed the overgrown shrubs in the front beds. Where the window WOULD be above the front door on the second floor is actually the exterior wall of my daughter's walk-in closet for her bedroom (which is at the end of the center hall). We have toyed with the idea of adding a window just to create that symmetry (despite it being in her closet), but we are still torn. I can't seem to find example photos of homes WITHOUT that center window above the front door. Again, thanks for your responses.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
I happen to love my window in my closet it gives me wonderful natural light when choosing an outfit so add that for sure then talk to a pro about how to handle the portico,
taylorl979 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
taylorl979
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks so much for that feedback! It’s nice to know how that option works for someone who has it!
taylorl979
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks, BeverlyFLADeziner!
taylorl979
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago

A view of the front, head on.

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