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Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

Design ideas for front exterior of mid-century style home?

5 years ago

Hi everyone, I'm redesigning the exterior of my home in San Francisco. It's a mid-century style home. I can't really afford to hire an architect, but I do have my preferences.

Any suggestions on how I might make some of these ideas a reality? I'm sharing a link to my exterior home ideabook so that you can get a sense of what I'm looking for. I'm pretty new at this, so please walk me through the process.

Many thanks in advance.

Raul

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Comments (5)

armchairshopper
5 years ago
I love your Mondrian inspiration.

First, figure out which software you have access to that you can use to experiment with exterior ideas. If you can use Photoshop, you are ahead of the game. I can’t justify the investment, so I limp along with Microsoft PowerPoint and the free Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap.

Even if you do 20 or more experiments with color and color placement on the photographic images, it doesn’t cost much money and doesn’t take much time. Keep going until you come up with the right combination.

Since the house has shingle siding, I am assuming that you cannot just paint it to get the Mondrian look. Are you going to change out the windows to get the heavy black frames? Are you going to reside the whole house, or just the front?

To get the look of rectangular panels, you will need to find out what products are commonly available in your area. For instance, James Hardie panels are in common use. Example:

James Hardie · More Info

Drive around to construction sites. Find out what products they are using. Get the names of the contractors. You are going to need to hire someone knowledgeable for the installation.
Raúl thanked armchairshopper
PRO
Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.
5 years ago
Houzz has some nifty search tools. Here are San Francisco Bay Area midcentury home exteriors: https://www.houzz.com/photos/midcentury-modern-san-francisco-exterior-home-ideas-phbr2-bp~t_736~s_2115~r_12

Check out Atomic Ranch magazine at your local library.

Hiring an experienced architect or designer is a worthy investment.
Hone your ideas and then hire someone for a couple of hours.
Raúl thanked Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.
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I agree with Patricia that a flat roof is what this home is screaming for. If I were to do anything, and I would need a 3D rendition to know how it would work out on this home is a raised clerestory roof over the center main space of the home. Here is a street view of my parents home that had a multilevel flat roof (the lower portion over the LR is not visible here). The visible raised area is over the kitchen and our kitchen was always bathed in natural sunlight even though it was in the center of the home. I found these photos from a renovation where they restored the same type of secondary raised flat roof. Outside Inside You would not get useful attic space, but that is not much of a loss. I have a crawlspace attic in my current home with a low slung roof and have only accessed it for electrical work. Had one in my last home as well - tried storing a few things up there, but if it was used seldom enough to make storage in that space a reasonable option, I didn't use it often enough to keep it. The only thing I kept up there was a few boxes of Christmas ornaments. The tree and larger boxes or heavy boxes were too awkward to get up there, so they got stored in the garage.
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Comments (16)
it's a really cool door! a little too "flower power" for such a sleek modern exterior, but painting it will make it look better and be a nice holdover until you could afford a new door. (and keep the old one, I really do love it. maybe it could be repurposed somewhere else.) I'd suggest a new handle set too. updated but not too modern (anything too hard edged might look odd with that flowery design). such as this one from kwikset? I think it comes with a keypad version too if that's what you want. you can always relocated it to the new door when if that gets replaced.
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PRO
Creative Visual Concepts, Kevin Strader
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Raul,

Is your redesign non structural (just changing door, window styles, etc.)? If you're interested in seeing some virtual makeover ideas check out my web site, Creative Visual Concepts.

I can show you how different siding, doors, etc. can give you the look you want. Some horizontal cedar siding on either side and between the windows on the second floor along with a cedar garage door would really look good. You could use board & batten siding, stucco, stone, etc. on the rest of the facade.
Raúl
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions, armchairshopper, Bill, and Kevin. To answer your questions:

I'm completely redesigning the exterior facade with no structural change: remove wood shingles, new garage door, new windows, new gate, new front door. I'm open to materials: hardie plank, plaster, etc. But I don't want to radically alter the shape or size of the front.

Here are some pix:

- I like the color scheme of the first two pix

- The 3rd & 4th pix, I like the overhanging eaves & the square framing, but don't really like the wood (it's really overused) and I'd like more color.

- Pix 5-7 are of a home that is almost identical to mine. I like the bright colors, but not those exactly colors. But I really do like the design (except for the brick).

- The last two pix are of my home as it currently is.

Kinley Residence · More Info

Cloud Residence · More Info

Stein Residence · More Info

30th Street Residence · More Info

Mewstone Polished Conc & reverse brick veneer · More Info

Mewstone Polished Conc & reverse brick veneer · More Info
armchairshopper
5 years ago
Very doable and affordable. You are on the right track.

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