1931 Tudo looks like an A-frame.... any ideas about making it prettier

5 years ago

Our 1931 Tudor looks like a brick A-frame from the curb as it's built into a significant elevation. Any recommendations on how to make it appear less like a massive brick triangle? Should we decoratively half-timber the top half of the triangle to match the style which is featured on back of the house? Below are photos the exterior front and back. The front patio is bricked (extending out about 7-8 feet). Would a trellis work instead of half-timbering?

I'd love recommendations and if available estimated costs.

Featured Answer

felizlady

5 years ago

Your first photo shows a beautiful brick Tudor home. The beige garage-side photo shows nothing I would encourage you to imitate. The rest of your photos seem to be distorted photos of the front elevation.
Because your house is high above the street, the frontmost portion is most visible to passersby.
Believe me, people going up or down the street are not looking up and seeing a giant triangle. Your home is probably in a neighborhood of beautiful homes, and your home IS beautiful. Because it is high, there is no way to give a more open view down to the foundation, which could make the brick less prominent. I would probably plant more of those beautiful hydrangeas further down the slope and be done with it. Your neighbor across the street has the best view of your home.

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Comments (47)

sallen0126
5 years ago
Personally, I like the front better than the back. I would work on the landscaping before doing anything to the house. Remove the hydrangeas and the railing and open up the view to the house. Maybe you can relocate those beautiful hydrangeas? Is that a stone planter below the terrace? I would fill it with low growing seasonal color. Some containers on the terrace, keeping in mind correct scale, could be a good addition.

I would also paint that small tan area the same darker color of the rest of the wood exterior.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked sallen0126
Claire
5 years ago
The front of your house is STUNNING! I wouldn’t add anything architecturally! I think your planters are too small, the pot with trellis needs to be 3x the size it is and I love the lion heads and they are great up close but don’t do much from the curb shot you posted, I think you could do something bigger!
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apple_pie_order
5 years ago
Is this the same house that would have the 8 by 8 foot room for the au pair or a different house? https://www.houzz.com/discussions/murphy-bed-in-a-very-small-home-office-any-suggestions-dsvw-vd~5445990?n=9
irol96
5 years ago
I love your house. Wonder if a Juliette balcony around the window on the right would break up the triangle effect you’re nervous about?
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi apple_pie_order - yes! It's the same house. All of our pipes burst in January so we've been gifted with an expected gut renovation. I've been posting lots of questions throughout the renovation process. irol96 - I love the idea of a Juliet balcony!
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
Claire - I agree about the size of the planters and the lion heads. They should all be much bigger as should the overhead light. Great points.
saratogaswizzlestick
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Your house has a storybook charm. A Juliette balcony as irol96 would look nice but it is very nice as is. Love the light fixture over the door. The lion heads would look bigger if you put a plant on them.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked saratogaswizzlestick
nsc6
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Brick + dark paint like you have is nice. Some of the Trim in blue? Neighbour has a Tudor house and the colour scheme looks wonderful!
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
saratogaswizzlestick - agree about the lion planters looking better with plants. We're in a gut renovation so no plants until we're finished. Last year we had nasturtium in them, and it looked like a lion's mane. It was terrific.
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
nsc6 I'd love to see your neighbor's exterior. I was considering blue trim to brighten the exterior.
houssaon
5 years ago
You could add wood shutters to that one window to give a more horizontal line. But what accentuates the peak is the dark color on the trim and wood siding. What about a lighter color scheme? Like this:
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Or this:
McLean Tudor Curb-Appeal · More Info
I think the lion heads are the right size, but need pots with flowers over them. I also think the light over the door is fine. I wouldn't replace it if it is original to the house.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked houssaon
nsc6
5 years ago
I should clarify, it looked wonderful with some blue around windows and some blue with the dark on the slopes trim. They unfortunately decided to update their wood windows so the trims are black or dark gray, now, not as pretty as before. All the blue is gone now, and looks not as uplifting as before. This house is in a nice neighbourhood, value about $4 mil.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked nsc6
felizlady
5 years ago
By the way, you want to keep an eye (and maybe call in an arborist) on that giant tree so close to the back of the house. That could be a real problem.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked felizlady
Guy Merritt
5 years ago
I think tampering with the existing front would be a crime. An unattached pergola along the front of your terrace would provide the visual break I think you are trying to achieve. Once your start messing with the original facade, you can't go back when you realize you've made a mistake...
Gabrielle Gustaf
5 years ago
What a beautiful house. It is similar to mine and when I moved in, I painted the trim a deep green to compliment the red brick. If money were no object, consider taking the dark paneled side of the house to half timber. I plan to do that, remove siding and put up half timber to emphasize the Tudor look.
I love love love the brick but adding curves to it may lessen the steep aline look. Maybe a simple curved pergola over your front door as a way to punch up your entry, shutters on the lower window and a curved bay or Juliette window on the top.
apple_pie_order
5 years ago
Beautiful house. Sorry about the burst pipes and gut remodel. If you need to reconfigure rooms to accommodate more people such as the au pair, this is the time to consult an architect who can find a solution that respects the architecture. There are probably already 1000 code-related upgrades on the remodel list.

I'd go with white hydrangeas when you are ready to landscape.
D M PNW
5 years ago
You have a nice looking house. The fan trellises I find distracting, particularly the one that overlaps the door surround. Larger pots with a topiary or narrow shrub like a sky pencil holly would complement the house style better than the cottage style fan trellis.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked D M PNW
H D
5 years ago
As someone else mentioned, please have an arborist look at those two trees that appear to be encroaching on the house. Otherwise, you have a gorgeous home.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked H D
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
We're well aware of the trees. Thank you for the concerns. We're seeking affordable solutions...
palimpsest
5 years ago
I don't think this is terrible, but I don't think it adds anything
palimpsest
5 years ago
This doesn't really add much:
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
Palimpsest - thank you!! You’re right. Maybe just a balcony under the upper window? What do you think?
palimpsest
5 years ago
And neither does this...I think if I saw any of these, I would think, okay. But I think the powerful exaggerated gable is one of the characteristics of deco period tudors
palimpsest
5 years ago
I honestly don't think it needs anything. A small balcony, a trellis any of those things aren't really appropriate. I think the only thing that would be close to appropriate would be some sort of well-designed half timbered bracketed canopy over the door

but I think that would detract from the door itself. The pitch of the roof isn't right and the canopy would have to be so pitched it would look goofy.

I think the only thing I would do is add a larger lantern.
Anna (6B/7A in MD)
5 years ago
Haven't read the comments, but I wanted to tell you that I love your home. I actually really like your brick façade as is.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked Anna (6B/7A in MD)
Tems
5 years ago
Lovely house. I would just improve the landscaping.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked Tems
nsc6
5 years ago
About 5 years ago I had a big tree removed and it cost over $1K, but well worth the peace of mind.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked nsc6
PRO
Hanover Custom Homes, LLC
5 years ago
What a gem of a house. It's not a tudor. It's a romantic revival with a minimalism twist.

A considerable talent designed this house. Please leave the design alone.

I would just power wash the brick. New coat of paint the same dark color front and back.
User
5 years ago
I know this isn’t helpful but I wouldn’t change a thing :) I love your house. The front brick patio is so great.
lake lover
5 years ago
Your home is gorgeous!
nsc6
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Btw what prompt me to take my big tree down was the last windy storm we had, my next door neighbours big tree on the other side of her front lawn, topple over and fell cross her front lawn and my front lawn, which means 120’ tall as our lots are 60’ wide each, just missing both our houses! This is on the west coast and our storms are not big or frequent either.
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
Ok. Well, I’ve once again been schooled by the Houzz hive. Thanks all for contributing. I value your expertise and experience. We will reconsider removing the trees. Breaks my heart but they could break the house. Last question - the lantern above the door is way too small. Any suggestions on replacing it? Is there a correction proportion? Please send suggestions!

Thank you!
User
5 years ago
Consider photoshopping out the bushes in front and the wood trellises. The bushes make your home sink into the landscape. Show off your beautiful brick front. The trellises are distracting. Others have made great suggestions. Try photoshopping FIRST, before you make any final decisions. I own a 1937 red brick and new landscaping was all it needed to show off its architectural beauty. When I bought it, the entire front was overwhelmed and hidden by massive shrubbery.
palimpsest
5 years ago
How big is that one? You could probably double it in size.
palimpsest
5 years ago
https://www.tudorfurnishings.com/Tudor_Style_Lighting/2nd_Ave_Tudor_Style_Lighting/2nd_Ave_Exterior_Wall_Mount_Lanterns/4242
palimpsest
5 years ago
https://www.tudorfurnishings.com/Tudor_Style_Lighting/Tudor_and_Cottage_Style_Lighting_by_Americas_Finest_Lighting_Company/Brinley_Series/5816
RedRyder
5 years ago
Your House is beautiful. I think landscaping will change it a lot. I agree the light needs to be more substantial. There are tons of great iron outdoor lights that would enhance the front area.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked RedRyder
Lyndee Lee
5 years ago
Removing those trees will be quite expensive, in the thousands, not hundreds of dollars. I would have a certified arborist, not just a tree cutter, come look at your trees and see what he recommends. In fact, I would probably suggest talking with a couple different guys and see if you get similar advice from both. You might be advised that lightening the load and balancing the tree would significantly lower the risk of a damage from a windstorm. In the long run, it might be just as expensive to have the trees trimmed every 7 to 10 years as to have them removed but you would keep the shade.
Marybeth Bentwood thanked Lyndee Lee
Marybeth Bentwood
Original Author
5 years ago
Lyndee Lee - the estimates to remove the trees range from $12K to $20K. We've explored this option with several certified arborists. The hefty fee is why they are still there. It's a challenge as not only are they HUGE but they are elevated so it involves renting hydrolics just to get the equipment to the tree.
nsc6
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Perhaps get estimates from just tree cutters as well. Should be cheaper then an arborist.

The danger from wind storms are if the roots are weak or the soil is unstable. Only solution is to cut down the tree then.

The third danger is if wind can not pass freely when the wind blows.....remedy for that is to make sure the branches are not so dense, ie there must be plenty of hole spaces in between throughout the tree for the wind to go through. Solution....trim the tree strategically for that, should be much cheaper. A tree trimmer climbs, so no need to get equipment up the slope.

i have seen a tree where all the branches were trimmed off, then there would be no swaying from the wind. The large main trunk is left standing but do not know if this tree is still alive, but think so bc can see small growth here and there on the trunk.
niccidhg
5 years ago
Marybeth, the facade of your home is lovely . It has so much charm and character . I don’t think it needs any large changes for ornamentation purposes alone. HOWEVER, if your goal is to lesson the visual impact of the A frame portion, I think what is needed is more DIMENSION. Consider adding a portico type awning with chunky brackets over and around the lower- level front WINDOW to the right of the front door. I would leave the front door with it’s interesting shape as is, except to add a much larger lantern . The window is more central to that part of the structure . The balance of having something dimensional there will have more impact. The larger entrance lantern, the more dimensional window and possibly, ( not essential, imo,- but nice ) a Juliette balcony ( which would tie in with your iron railing at the patio ) above would all break up the flat a frame portion and de- emphasize that. — pics. below are for inspiration only - not color or material.
niccidhg
5 years ago
Marybeth, your homes facade is lovely - so much charm and character. Not for ornamentation , but in the interest of lessening the A- frame effect , I think what is called for there is DIMENSION. I would leave the interesting shape of the front door as is - with the exception of adding a much larger lantern. However the window to the right of the door is more central to that part of the structure. Consider building a portico type awning with big, chunky brackets , over and around that window . Changing that flat portion to include more dimension would have more impact there. Not essential, but as was mentioned , a Juliette balcony above would further develop the dimensional aspect, tie in with your iron patio railing and look beautiful, too.—- The pics. below are just for inspiration - not as an example of color or materials.
niccidhg
5 years ago
So sorry - that did not show as having posted the first time , so I started over.
Lyndee Lee
5 years ago
I understand the challenges of big trees as my house has two huge trees, both over 100 ft tall, and the sycamore tree towers over the house. The tree is so large that the tree climbers had to use an extension ladder to get high enough to start climbing. They were able to remove some load from the tree but to remove the large branch over the house would require a crane. As long as the tree is healthy, just being close to the house is not sufficient reason for me to want to remove the tree.
nsc6
5 years ago
I was not concern either with my neighbour‘s tree before it fell. If it had fallen about 3 feet closer to the houses, the people in the bedroom there at that time would have been crushed to death.

my neighbour did not know their tree was a problem, it appeared healthy so we don’t know what the problem was. But that experience was very scary for both our houses here. Maybe my neighbours house insurance had paid for the cut up and hauling away of the fallen tree.
Rosefolly
3 years ago
I was wondering if the OP ever decided to take out the two giant trees. In addition to safety, it occurs to me that taking out the trees could do a lot to alter the appearance of the facade. Of course, as others have said, the house is quite beautiful as it is.