Exterior update to newly purchased split level home

5 years ago

We obviously need tons of landscaping. But first we want to change the look to add balance to the roofline and eliminate the natural flat look of the front facade. I want to add a large and deep front porch that starts to the left of the door to the middle of the LR and DR windows on the right. I see a roof line that run the opposite direction of the current roof, to add height to the right. Our house is the first house in Tam colors. We have taken out the large tree that is visible right near the house. No worries, we still have ten trees more out front closer to the street. I also added a picture of an all white house to approximate the size of porch we are thinking about adding. Colors are the problem. I do not want to paint the brick. I don’t want the future maintenance of that choice. I plan to match the porch eave to the existing siding. I would really love to make the house pop with dark blue. Will that work with the brick color? We plan to ditch the shutters. My husband isn’t a fan of them. Taking any and all suggestions.

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Furniture Re-born

5 years ago

I have a similar style house and put more of a deck from the door to the right. Because of the side yard I extended it about 6' past the house and it has 2 wrap around step. A pergola was put over the top with 3 round posts. In the nice weather that is where we have morning coffee taking in the sun.

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Comments (32)

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Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
Sorry but really you bought a nice house and now you want to make it look like a mansion which it will never be.By the time you finish changing this house into what you want you might as well build anew one . This never makes sense to me.
Annie McFall
Original Author
5 years ago
I understand what you are saying. I do love the house. It is solid. I just want a front porch to enjoy our new neighborhood. The porch pictured is a bit ostentatious. The picture also seems to be aimed up making it look like it took over the whole front. The picture was intended to show sizing and possible roofline. Mine would be simpler made of wood and blend into the house. The entire lot slopes to the left dragging your eye that way. We just want to anchor the right while adding a porch. Nothing is set in stone. Do you have other suggestions?
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Budget and building codes permitting, you could recreate your entry. You might ... Remove the first floor roof from above the front stoop -- everything from the brick to the garage. Create a new forward facing gable roof over that area beginning at the ridge of the upstairs -- at least at that height or even above it -- and extending the roof of that forward facing gable to a point at least twelve feet in front of the downstairs exterior wall. About six feet of this will be your new front entry foyer with your front door moved to the new exterior wall facing the road. The rest will be your new front porch. Alternately, you could extend the forward facing gable roof only six or eight feet beyond the front exterior of your home to create your new entry foyer and then add a shed roof with two hip corners for your new front porch. You'll be enlarging the upstairs room on the left by extending the floor of that upstairs room into the vaulted ceiling space above your new porch; then you can move the original window to that new upstairs exterior wall of your forward facing gable. What front door and front porch post style you use will help define/redefine you home. You could also add an arbor across your garage that coordinates with the posts you use for your new porch.
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Lower the dormers to meet the windows and not peak above the roof line - That will be pricey but worth it and a lot less expensive than removing the gambrel roof. Paint the brick with a masonry paint or lime paint. Don't do a wash that exposes the brick. The house and roof together are both busy, you need to tame one of them down and it's cheaper to tame down the brick. I know folks love to recommend a wash that shows some brick, but someone did that in my neighborhood and in person, it looks awful. Can't quite see the lower windows, but they look like they need to be freshened up. Are those storm windows? Storm windows do the job but IMO, cause too much reflection as a single plane if you're going for cottage. You need the mullions to break it up. Get good quality windows in a style you like. Black shutters Make your front door more prominent by removing the storm door. If you need better energy efficient door, get that and don't replace the storm door. If you need the storm door, get a good quality one with low profile styles so the door will show. Paint the siding the same color as the brick New handrail that compliments the overall look. Not sure what that is but once everything else is done, you'll figure it out. Landscaping. If you really want to use or maybe exceed your budget, do cedar shakes on the gambrel and roof. My neighbor has a very similar house and did cedar shake on the front of the gambrel and the front of the roof. They did asphalt shingles on the back to save money. Looks really nice. $50 - 60K seems like a lot but it will go fast once you start making changes that cut into the roof line. Plus good quality windows are crazy expensive now. Make a plan, price it out and you can make your lovely home spectacular on that budget.
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Awesome, thanks all! Yes, eventually we’ll need to get a new door on there, for now the black (used to be white, but we painted) place holder will have to stay. We’re leaning toward a single door with the side lites through. I appreciate the thoughts on the color blocking, I’m thinking we’ll go all one color now but accent the trim with the black too. Saving on that wood paneling may open up the possibility of a new door sooner, rather than later too! Ooh & zoom into the top left window to see the pups!
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apple_pie_order
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The house is a good design already. You could add a medium size porch with a pergola that would clear the windows. Making a large covered porch with a different roof would require ripping off half the current roof and rebuilding it. In that case, after gathering some ideas, an architect or design/build firm would be needed.

A good way to try out the porch size you want is to get some inexpensive pavers or outdoor rug and lay out a temporary space. Add a table and chairs with large market umbrella (you can reuse them in the back yard later). Make a point of sitting out there every day in the spring and summer to see what you like and what needs changing.
partim
5 years ago
A front porch will not look good on that style of house. It's an attractive house just as it is. Agree that the shutters should go. The downspouts should be painted a color that blends in with the brick and siding. As you said, landscaping is needed too.

I don't see blue paint looking good with the brick color.
mkritt
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I love your vision for your home and think your inspiration picture is beautiful. I don't have any suggestions, just encouragement. :)

We bought our forever home on nine acres thirty years ago. It's a raised ranch that we have added a wrap-around porch and sunroom to. Last summer we also added a screened in porch.

We covered our brick front with James Hardie siding because of the thick wood beams along the windows that was the norm of the builder at the time. We also wanted to get rid of the wings on the ends. We changed the roof line on the sides to a peak.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
You could create a raised 'tower' area where the stairs are located to make the entrance more important.
houssaon
5 years ago
Adding a porch will be a problem with the existing roofline.
Brown Dog
5 years ago
I love your inspiration photo of the big porch (except the arches, don't do the arches). That big porch with peeked roofline will look fantastic and will break up your flat looking roof and will add some real architectural pow! However, I would definitely not go for blue siding. It's too much of a colour jump from your brick. There are some beautiful charcoal grey sidings out there that would look great on your house. Then either paint your front door or replace with a light colour so it doesn't get lost in the shadows of your new porch. Good luck!
kmg11
5 years ago
I'm not sure how a porch would look on this style. I tend to agree with the others. Could be an expensive endeavor, because of messing with roofs. Someone with structural experience would know.

I like the idea of a pergola if anything, less invasive. Color wise, not feeling the blue. Aways best to match a shade in your actual brick. Landscaping will make a world of difference, along with a nice color for your front door.
mkritt
5 years ago

Before and after of my home.

Obviously, it is not the same style as yours, but just wanted to show an example of changing your home to suit your desires, especially if it's in a location you love.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
Nice idea!
Oliviag
5 years ago
my eye is drawn immediately to the big tree hiding the window next to the door. it appears to be planted very close to the home, maybe too close. .

I would talk to a landscape architect about plantings to help balance the lively home you purchased. I don't think a porch or pergola would add anything, but a nice front garden with some sesting could give you some enjoyment.
simmtalker
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Take this with a grain of salt, because this is my uneducated (in home renovations) opinion.

If you are willing to spend money, I think the landscaping is really the way to go. Coming out the front door and going to the right (as looking at it), create a professionally landscaped area with little water fall/pool type area, and use some fancy pavers for a seating area (not huge). Add a couple good quality outdoor chairs and little table for drinks.
Annie McFall
Original Author
5 years ago
The two giant trees closest to the house were removed already. They overhung the house in an unsafe way. I would never add the arches in the photo attached. I garden extensively so plants will surround the entryway and entire yard no matter what is or isn’t done regarding an outdoor space. I definitely like the pergola flat roof idea. However, I miss sitting on my front porch (in the rain) at my last house. I know adding a porch will be complicated and need a roof tie in involving a professional. I really wanted it covered. I will think over the different options. Hence why I asked random strangers for input. I didn’t think dark blue would work with the bricks. But was hopefully that maybe I was wrong. The previous color was green. The color put on by the most recent owner makes it so drab.
H B
5 years ago
We have a porch off our dining room and the extra roof there makes it really dark. I don’t know if/how a porch may affect the light in your home. Your home is very nice as-is; good luck finding a solution.
Annie McFall
Original Author
5 years ago
I was worried about making the front of the house too dark. One reason for going with a porch only covering the one set of windows. The two rooms in the front are open to one another. I was planning to add a window on the right side of the front room. We are on a corner. So there is not a house looming right there.
felizlady
5 years ago
Adding a porch along the entire right section of the house will look better than adding a porch which ends between the two windows on the right. Care must be taken to integrate the original roof and the new porch roof so that drainage will be maintained. Be aware that adding a solid roof over the new porch will reduce the natural light available from those windows.
violetsnapdragon
5 years ago
violetsnapdragon
5 years ago
How about incorporating a low-key patio into the landscaping? Also--tearing out the front walk that goes straight to the curb and putting in a more winding path,
clt3
5 years ago
It’s hard to get a really good picture because of trees in the way, but we added this porch.
CLC
5 years ago
I agree with felizlady.....extend the porch to the edge of the house. I would put a bunch of large and tall shrubs in front of the brick along the left side. The slope won’t be so obvious when filled with plants and shrubs and smaller trees. I agree to ditch the shutters
J M
5 years ago
How about a porch more like this style?
skunst2017
5 years ago
If you paint the ceiling of the front porch white , it will bring / reflect light into the house again ...I love porches also ...look at HOUZZ they have so many beautiful options !
kmg11
5 years ago
Here is a link to a split level home that added a porch. Quite the transformation! Maybe you can reach out to this poster and find out more details of what it entailed....

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/split-level-exterior-revamp-dsvw-vd~996275[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/split-level-exterior-revamp-dsvw-vd~996275)
Hansen
5 years ago
You can get pergolas with roll out covers for when it rains. My sis put a permanent clear plastic cover on hers so it protects from rain and let's the light in.
Hansen
5 years ago
Idea
Annie McFall
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for all the input and ideas. I really appreciate it.
emmarene9
5 years ago
Have you considered a porch on the right side of the house? It could follow the same roof line and could be reached through what I am guessing is a dining room. It looks like there is plenty of space on that side.

I like the look of your house and do not see a need to alter the front roof line for aesthetic reasons.
keith Dcil
5 years ago
A front porch addition like your inspiration picture could be beautiful and transform your house. I agree with the comment to avoid the arches and add landscaping. I would add front steps to the porch. As for blue siding any blue color is hard to get right on exterior siding, except if you are in Key West or maybe San Francisco. From the looks of the inspiration picture it looks like you are going for something a bit more colonial, so maybe a slate grey siding color with blue undertones. However a vibrant mediterranean blue front door and sky blue on the ceiling of the new porch would look nice. I also would also reconsider your aversion to painting the brick or cladding with siding - from the pictures your multi-colored brick would be hard to blend in with any color but the tan you already have.
Annie McFall
Original Author
2 years ago
Just found this old post I created. So far all our exterior changes have been hardscape/landscape changes: New driveway, walkway, and buckets of landscaping. House projects take a long time.
simmtalker
2 years ago
Looks great!!