There is no such thing as a "flat-roof colonial". It's not really a Four Square either. Call it a hybrid.

It was built midcentury--1959--and has some of the MCM vibe due to roof, yellow brick, MCM light sconces; and great orange front door. Is it midcentury style inside? Something to think about instead of trying to make it colonial is to do an MCM flat overhang for the front.

I'm really curious about this house, which is obviously not a colonial and at two stories not the most common midentury style. Can you describe what it's like inside? Did you just buy it? Have to confess when people show a house in one style and want it to be something else, it often turns into a "remuddle: which is neither. If you haven't bought it yet, have you considered holding out for a real colonial or four square if that's what you truly want? The expense and maintenance of painting the brick, which allows the house to breathe and gives it texture and color, plus doing a new roofline and entry may hit six figures altogether, plus the hassle. Or embrace the style you have.

That yellow brick is great, so's the trim, door choice, etc.

Thanks for the great reply. It is actually my wife’s family home, built and lived in by them. It was built with a flat roof to save costs, on a teachers budget in the 50’s. The style inside is very...plain.It has never seen a remodel, but there is no charm or anything modeling mid century unfortunately. It is broken up into 4 rooms downstairs, small living, small dining, small kitchen and a bathroom. The front door opens with 1 inch clearance of the staircase you practically fall into.

It is a well built house, and we like the area which is why we want to try and update it. The problem is it doesn’t seem to have ever had a style of its own. Luckily we still have the original full size architecture plans detailing it all, which helps determine what wall can come down etc.

Why not post the plan?That and photos of the interior will elicit lots more positive input from Houzzers.

Good idea! No pictures of inside for now. Original hardwood in most rooms under 1990 blue carpet ;)

Do you have a budget range in mind for this phase?

We have a budget of 80-100k for renovations. I’ve done several bathrooms and kitchens over the years so I will be doing all the non structural work such as demo and cabinet building etc but the pro stuff leave to the experts. In all we want to update the kitchen and take the wall down to a bar between dining and kitchen. We want to update the upstairs bathroom and finally the exterior.

It doesn't look 1950's to me so much as 1930's. That is where I'd start looking for design inspiration, particularly for the exterior.

Thanks for info. I suggest getting an estimate for a new pitched roof from a general contractor. Keep in mind that there will be zero functional payoff from a new roof as long as the old flat one has been working fine. Same for painting the brick. I'd prioritize spending the money on the interior and all new landscaping. Anything leftover could go toward exterior changes.

Okay. Thanks for the information. Apple pie's suggestions are good ones, i.e. Prioritize the interior. The exterior is unique but not awful. It would be worth paying a fee for a designer to work on the inside than later on someone to come up with a plan for the outside. Good luck!

I really like the look of your house.

I think this style you colud get from that house without the expense of a new roof. the first thing I would be adding would be a proper entry where the front door can be moved into the new entry instead of hitting the stairs. The only windows that can have shutters would be the top ones so I might not bother . The biggest 50s item is the brick and as much as I discourage painting brick in this case if you really want to have a colonial look that brick needs to go. IMO I would embrace the house as it is except for a new entry and if it is a solid build with a good roof I would spend the money elsewhere since your budget is not huge for a renovation inside even if you do the work. I think the interior will be full of surprises like the asbestos flooring in the kitchen which for me I would cover it instead of spending a silly amount of money have it remediated. What I find when renovating 1950's housing the electrical is not adequate for todays lifestyle, the plumbing needs work and all of that needs doing before the pretty stuff can begin. Good luck with your new home and love its uniqueness would be my advice.

Keep in mind once you paint the brick exterior, you'll need to repaint it every 7 years or so (depending on where you live). Maybe you are DIY handy, but I'm not and its very expensive where I am to get the exterior painted. Right now you have a maintenance free exterior - I'd leave it as is. (And I'm not one of the 'don't ever paint brick' purists - I am fine with painting a fireplace inside, for example.)

Shed roof it with metal and go for a modern meets MCM vibe. Natural wood with that brick and a great color for the roof would get you a long way.