Barren Colonial Exterior Facade
Hello all!
My wife and I recently completed a large renovation to a home and just moved in. We pretty much gutted the entire interior of the home, opened everything up (including enlarging windows) and just moved in a few weeks ago.
We are really struggling with what to do in the empty space above the front door. No clue why a window was not originally planned here - there was a hallway upstairs when the home was originally built in 1956.
This photo was taken after the new windows were installed. We have since removed the iron scrolls from above the first floor windows and plan to remove the white painted lintels when the weather gets a bit warmer.
What are some suggestions on how to deal with this area on our facade??
Thank you!
Comments (13)
PRO6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoI found a photo which pretty much resembles your house (I like). You can read the description of the door trim here.
It was a surprise to me, as I wouldn’t expect to find a Federal door pediment or shutters on a house of your style.I expected to find something more along this line….a porch.
slwnc3 thanked JudyG DesignsRelated Discussions
Ideas to change exterior of this colonial
Comments (14)I am sorry to be mean but the exterior of this house is a tragedy. I think you would be perfectly justified in punching the people who did this. Yes it is possible. But it is going to be a WHOLE lot of money for changes that are not going to net you any real livable upgrade. The easiest thing to do would be go with a porch, change to a better colored siding, accent the line where the siding and brick meet and live with the rest. You can get away with pretty minimal costs doing that. You are not going to make this house look good for any reasonable amount of money. You might make it look better, but I see a lot of challenges to looking good. The windows are pretty bad, on the main section the upper windows are aligned with the downstairs but are not balanced across the house. It is like someone stretched the right side of the main section. The right side addition windows are worse. The right side addition is so much bigger than the garage that it really makes the house seem unbalanced. To fix it you are going to have to find a way to separate the main structure from the right side. I don't see how you can do that without a porch or maybe a stone facade on the center. If you are willing to go roof off remodel, a couple of stone bump-outs, playing with the roof pitch and direction, adding some dormers and changing the color scheme of the house can maybe push it towards craftsman where the fact that it is unbalanced is not as big a deal but the problem with that is, it is a lot of money to make the outside of your house (the part you don't live in) pretty. Probably easier to go farmhouse though....See More1968 two story, two-toned Colonial - exterior refresh??
Comments (15)You would get more out of the forum if you limit your post to one area at a time so as to keep the discussion from becoming confusing and to get the material covered. And, if you include good photos that show whole, complete scenes. I'd start with the camera where the first photo was taken, but when the light it better. Then aim the camera left, straight and right, taking slightly overlapping photos so we can see how the house fits into its surroundings. (Landscaping is more than what only exists directly in front of the house.) There is barely a sense of "entrance" in the first photo. As that is critical to having a nice front yard/landscape/presentation of the house, that's where I'd begin when better photos show up. It seems like there's a built-in brick planter(s) and they don't look good or workable. I'd get rid of them. I'd answer the question of painting brick in this way: is the brick itself (ignoring other factors) ugly? If the answer is "yes," then paint it. If the answer is "no," then coordinate all other things (paint/roof, etc) to coordinate with the brick in a pleasing way. (I think this especially relates to the entrance which now looks dark and uninviting.)...See MoreExterior house color for a colonial
Comments (6)Just to update, we are going white with black shutters! After all the back and forth, trying many many colors (was leaning towards a dark gray), I realized I couldn't pull the trigger. Exterior paint can't be changed on a whim and I didn't want to hate driving up to my house every day! I am a risk taker with color...on the interior of my home. I also love a classic white colonial. While the stone facade throws a wrench in, I am going back to the original. Now I have to find someone that knows how to install historically correct shutters! My contractor will do it but he is trusting me to know how I want it done. I've done a bunch of research and know what I want, but I want to make sure it looks correct....See MoreRedbrick colonial - Exterior update
Comments (11)You do NOT remove shutters on one side of a window! That makes no sense. None of the items you mention are needed to improve the house, and some will detract from it. It's just change for the sake of change. If you remove the railing over the porch, how will you explain the French doors? No one would ever have French doors leading on to an unsafe balcony with no railing. Yes, I know, the doors may be fake, they may never be used, the roof may not be able to be walked on. But it has to LOOK as though it could in order for the French doors to pass as real. If you remove the railing, the house looks stupid and dangerous. So...tread lightly. You're new to the house; live with it a while. Cat_ky is right. Spend some time nd money on landscaping. The house looks barren and baked sitting like that. I'd like to pull the driveway away from the front of the house to give some room for a couple of ornamental trees; that may not be possible. But certainly rethink those tiny ball shrubs....See MoreRelated Professionals
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PROslwnc3 thanked Dig Doug's Designs- PRO6 years ago
6 years ago- 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
6 years agoI wouldn't waste money adding a peaked roof.
Spend the money instead on enhancing the entrance. They windows are not suited to a Colonial house and it will more easily conform to something modern. Just my opinion and I am not professional.
I would add a portico but not one in Colonial style.
I like the widened steps and awning above.
I like this one too.
Your landscaping is basic to put it mildly. Money spent on a pro design would be worthwhile.- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
What if you extend the portico vertically? See image. And place a black down cast light on the portico so it stands out.
Better landscaping would enhance the look of the house. I would first landscape the front yard,
see how that affects the whole facade and then decide if I need to change the Portico or any of the exterior.
mindshift