Exterior design help! I live in a sad blue box.

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I am desperately in need of so exterior design expertise. I have a contractor set to begin work next week, and I don't know the best option is to improve the look of my house.

TLDR--I need help with fiber cement siding ideas and a portico over the porch.

Here is some history... This is a duplex that was built in the 1950s. It used to be covered in a 14" cedar shingles which gave it more personality. The previous owner did not want to maintain them, and replaced the southern and western sides with the inexpensive vinyl siding you see here. Since the house looks terrible with grossly mismatched sides, I am replacing it. I am also replacing the exterior door with one that (I think) looks a little more correct for the time period, similar to this.

I originally had planned to replace it with a vinyl siding that looked similar to cedar shingle. However, I am worried that 1) vinyl isn't a green choice and 2) it might not hold up or age well, so I am instead going with fiber cement.

I need advice on siding exposures and styles, e.g., how I might (or might not) mix things up a bit to create visual interest. I also need help on the design of a simple porch covering. The slab porch extends just past the mailboxes. Since my house is on a small hill, it is hard to see the roof from the street, but the style of the roof is a hip roof.

I like the neighborhood I live in, so am interested in investing some money to improving to look of my home. Most of the homes in my neighborhood where built between 1920 and 1940. There are a lot of wood frame houses. Some the nicer homes are Craftsman style, but it is a pretty eclectic mix. My personal taste is more mid-century or modern--but I'm not sure how to get there from where I'm at :)

I am totally open to any and all suggestions, if anyone would be so kind as to advise. Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

houssaon

5 years ago

Here is another option.

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Comments (71)

Molly
5 years ago
I would keep it one color personally. Is the window trim wood or vinyl? Black windows would modernize the look too.
Molly
5 years ago
Similar 2 part design with black windows.
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Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
The windows are white vinyl, so the color can't be changed. The is also white vinyl under the eaves. So I am more or less stuck with white trim.
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Audto- I checked your ideabooks and didn’t see any inspirational photos for front or sides of exteriors you like. You are not ready for contractor. Postpone and settle on look/style you want. Due to the shape of your building, I think a mid century look would work best. Embrace the height and make it look great. I would not divide the house in half with different colors on top and bottom. Think about how you dress. A belt cuts you in half and makes you look shorter. Of course you have to decide what you like best but a nice combo of cedar-like wood, horizontal planks in medium gray and use of small awning over front door in black would really add personality and create great curb appeal.
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Modify this look and you will convert your box to chic home.
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Oppd
Bette P
5 years ago
I’ve always liked what they did with this home, this is the back, they put a porch on the front. Note the wider siding on the bottom, narrow siding on the upper. Nice overhang on the door.
Green House - 1152 - South Main Colorado · More Info
Laura Hill
5 years ago
You mentioned initially that you were comfortable making an investment in this home since you love the neighborhood. In addition to the changes you are considering re: awning and re-siding (lots of great suggestions so far, BTW), I would invest in expanding the porch, and the especially the stairs, to provide a wide, safe entry/landing. With the awning/portico over the full porch area, and moving the railing to the far right of the porch you will have a more balanced looking entry, as well as protection from the elements.
Audrey Hughes thanked Laura Hill
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Bette P - That is so funny, I was just about to share that same photo in a response! That house looks very similar to many in my neighborhood, and it combines many of the design attributes I am considering.
Green House - 1152 - South Main Colorado · More Info
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Flo Mangan - My ideabooks are all set to private, but I just shared an exterior one I having been building since I joined Houzz if you want to take a look :)

When I first bought the property a few years back (which is a rental duplex that I occupy), I aspired to something cool and modern. however, in the interest of pragmatism, I no longer think this is the right direction. I would have to tear out the soffits, replace all the perfectly functional windows, and the roof is a hip style. So, moving away from the aspirational to something that works with existing features and fits the style of my neighborhood, which is a mix of craftsman and generic Midwestern 1920s to 1940s clapboard.

I like midcentury styles, but want more of a vintage/traditional look for this property than the modern iterations of midcentury.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago
I would encourage you to enlarge the porch a bit (making it deeper and more of a welcoming feature) if you can.

I like using the combo of different textures and similar but different colors -- you've already got a few nice options illustrated..

The problem with the house is that it has a lot of symmetry but not balance -- so breaking up the symmetry with color/variation in siding distracts the eye, creates a different balance, and makes it more pleasing.

Could you have the porch roof built in a hip style to echo the main roof? Even if the main isn't visible from directly in front street level, perhaps it is from other angles or as the house is approached on the street?
Audrey Hughes thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
We replaced the front porch with one that followed the same footprint as the original right after we purchased the property. My husband would not be keen on redoing a feature that is only a couple of years old.

I would be open to rebuilding the steps in the near future, I think that taking them across the full width is a great suggestion. However, I'm not clear what to do with the approach to the steps. Does the sidewalk leading up to it also have to be widened to match? It is also brand new.

As far as overall investment, I do have to think about ROI since this is a rental, and aesthetic improvements do not offer the same return on an income property as they do on a single-family home.

Ease of maintenance and durability are also key considerations. This is a big part of why I am looking at fiber cement options.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
There is similar duplex I've seen in my city that has done a fair job of increasing it's curb appeal.

It has a pent roof over the porch.

I think the pergola also adds a lot to, but I don't really want to add one. I've never really understood what they are for
Mary beth Grice
5 years ago
My first impression is the front elevation is terribly off balance. The entry is dwarfed by the large windows along with being so far right it’s barely represented. If there was a way to build a portico to the right,and incorporate it into the entry door design ,it would rebalance the front. It would also lend itself to front and side of house finishes being different if you so desire. The portico could be as light as a pergola,but overlapping and incorporated into the front door. I would talk to a designer to present drawings representing this .thought. A thought, take Molly’s photo and bring the porch roofline down to the right into a roof over a portico ,using pillars and roofline to define.
Audrey Hughes thanked Mary beth Grice
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Mary Beth - I agree that a porch with a roof across the front of the house would balance things nicely. However, this is out of scope with the original request. I am committed to residing and building a portico over the existing porch. So ideas for how to work with the existing structure, in line with some of the earlier suggestions.
Kathi Steele
5 years ago
I like the duplex door gable that you are showing. I do not like the rest of it oner the window. I am not sure of its function.
Audrey Hughes thanked Kathi Steele
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
This is interesting. It sounds like you already have a fixed idea of your direction while we have been trying to help you. Wishing you the best.
Molly
5 years ago
Will the portico addition be structural or affixed to the new siding?
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago
Houssaon, could you do a mock up with the directions of the fiber cement boards mimicking the siding on the gray and cedar house above? I am curious as to how it would work on audtomaton's house.

Of the mock ups so far, I think I like the very first one best.

Audtomaton, it is fine that you like what you like and know the scope of work that you can do. Our suggestions are just that, suggestions! Hopefully one or two will be just right.
Audrey Hughes thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Molly - I think that the portico will be affixed to the house before it is resided. I don't think it would be able to supported otherwise. However, I really don't know much about how these things are constructed. I have seen a lot that look like they are falling off the front of people's houses, so I'd like to avoid that! Have you ever added on a portico?

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio- I was actually starting from square one here, and I've gotten amazingly helpful feedback that has helped me wrap my head around this project. However, I think it is prudent to establish scope upfront--design ideas for fiber cement siding and a roof over the porch to try to break up the box and balance (or at least distract from) the weird door placement. My property has a lot of structural limitations--it's a rental duplex and it was definitely built from the inside out!

I would also be interested in seeing if houssaoncould mock-up something using the gray and cedar house that Lorrie Hand Flo Manganshared, That house has a lot more dimension, so I am having a hard time envisioning how this would work but I like the idea of changing directions around the door. It seems like a pretty modern effect, and I don't know if it can work with traditional white trim--which I am locked into unless I completely tear out all existing gutters, soffits, and fascia...

I am now definitely keen on rebuilding the front steps to span the width of the porch. I think that is a great suggestion that Laura Hillmade that I had never previously considered.
houssaon
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
First here is a mock-up with that great portico you found. I would do the facade in either two sizes of clapboards or shakes with clapboard or board and batten with clapboard. I just copied the shakes from your portico house, but they are a bit small. Anyway, you can see the portico looks really good. And I really like the band up high.
houssaon
5 years ago
I couldn't really find a way to mix the board and batten with the cedar lap siding.
houssaon
5 years ago
I think 5" with 8" would be perfect. Run it past a Hardie rep.
Molly
5 years ago
..
Lorrie H
5 years ago
Houssaon can you switch the direction of the portico. I think it may look better and will eliminate the issue with snow and ice building up on the section of the driveway. I also like the shakes you used in the gray house and maybe a band of charcoal instead of white would look good. Not sure about my original example would look. Maybe the cedar needs to run farther to the left slightly past the lower window. Is there a tool on house to do this mocks up. It is so helpful that you are able to do it.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks so much for the recent mocks. I don't have much time to comment this morning since I am on deadline, but exposed cedar is pretty much a nonstarter in my climate. I like houssaon's first mockup better, all fiber cement. I think that if you are working with a unique portico design like this, you should keep the rest of the design very simple, or there are too many competing elements.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Lorrie H. is spot-on in suggesting it would need to be flipped to avoid building up ice in the driveway. Perhaps tonight I can work on a mock-up in Photoshop.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
For fun, here's a modern house that was working with a similar shape.
Cloud Residence · More Info
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Though I have to say, this house here is more what I was going for, to blend in with my neighborhood. Houssaon, is there a reason you think I can't go with a gable portico? Is it too out of place with the door style (also pictured) and windows?
Lake Harriet Foursquare · More Info

2503 Avalon Cir in Chattanooga, TN by Gary Crowe of Uptown Firm, LLC · More Info
Lorrie H
5 years ago
audtomaton I like the door style and color you posted. A gable roof could be difficult due to how close the door is to the edge of the house. For that reason I don't see it.
Audrey Hughes thanked Lorrie H
Lorrie H
5 years ago
Something like this may work
Audrey Hughes thanked Lorrie H
houssaon
5 years ago
Here it is flipped.

As far as I'm concerned it is such a small roof, I don't think ice on the driveway is an issue. But I do Like it this way.

I like doing shakes or board and batten on the top and clapboard on the bottom. I would have a wider reveal than the current siding.
Audrey Hughes thanked houssaon
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago
I actually wasn't thinking really using cedar, but just seeing the particular use of directionality around the door with a different shade of the fiber cement.

In the mock up above, I would like to see the width of the "cedar" section confined to the approx. edge of the portico posts.

This is very interesting and I will be looking forward to seeing the final result!
Audrey Hughes thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
Figure out your style (previously you stated you didn't want MCM or modern so that angled porch roof is out) before you take action. A simple style, will win the day. Keep the number of different looks on the material to 2 not including the roofing. More will lead to visual confusion.
Audrey Hughes thanked Flo Mangan
houssaon
5 years ago
Here is a house with a door location similar to your's. They wanted to add a portico and goveraxle cam up with this:

This shed roof would work. You use a water diverter to channel water to one side.
Audrey Hughes thanked houssaon
houssaon
5 years ago
Here is a cute shed roof with brackets, which I think would be much better than posts for you landing.
Beach Bungalow · More Info

You can have a gutter with a rain chain to control the runoff.
Eco Retreat · More Info
Audrey Hughes thanked houssaon
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
One final mock-up, following houssaon's exceedingly helpful suggestions. A shed roof that aligns with the full width of the porch below. The top of the house would have 5" exposures, and the bottom 8", horizontal smooth lap siding. For now, the same shade of taupe grey.

I think this is a safe choice. But will it be an improvement over the original?

Thanks all for your help!
Molly
5 years ago
..
Molly
5 years ago
Did you look at the Hardie board color choices? I like the door canopy, but there isn't much color change in my opinion.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
It will be painted, so it can be any color. I am thinking a taupe grey. I have very strong southern exposure, so I am worried that some of the darker colors that are popular now will fade. However, I am open to any color suggestions. The door is the color pictured, but it can always be painted too.
PRO
PPF.
5 years ago
Olychick
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
PPF that's fabulous!

I was going to suggest trying a mock-up (which I cannot do) with all one kind of siding on area with the windows, but use a different treatment around the door and to the left of the door about to where the angled portico stops. Then carry that treatment up two stories. Like the mock-up with the cedar lap siding, but where the cedar is, carry it up to the roof and narrow it to where the portico post is. I'd make it as wide as the area from the left edge of the window to the far corner of the house.I think that would help with the blank area under the portico to the left of the door. It looks odd to have the portico not centered over the door.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
PPF. - I agree, that is amazing and a look I didn't think it would be possible to achieve. What is the wrap portico constructed of? I'm not certain my contractor can do this sort of work, but I can show him. Also, will this still work with a white roof and sofiits? Those were all replaced in the last five years.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
I've always liked this house, which wraps shed style roof around the corner. Would this achieve an effect similar to PPF.'s rendering?
Peninsula Point Residence · More Info
Molly
5 years ago
I like PPFs rendering. It reminds me of the 3 flat I grew up in.
houssaon
5 years ago
I love that idea! Your portico, audtomaton, on PPF's color block! I think you have a winner!
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
5 years ago
I agree, that is a great design! The portico can be either traditional wood/shingle or the metal roof as pictured in the last image. Any contractor with decent construction skills should be able to do this. I have been wondering at the doubts you express about his skills. Does he only install siding?

IF you decide to stick with the previous porch roof design that is not centered over the door, you will want to be sure to get a larger light fixture to balance. Or large house numbers over the new mailboxes and move the light up, maybe over the door.
Audrey Hughes thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
PRO
PPF.
5 years ago
This one uses steel siding -- what you would think of as roofing. It's available in a variety of profiles, but not so many colors.

The porch roof I think looks best flat, or at least one that appears flat, instead of sloped.

Are you considering adding a layer of external insulation under the new siding?
Audrey Hughes thanked PPF.
Audrey Hughes
Original Author
5 years ago
Houssoan - I think that my contractor does decent work, or at least he has in the past. However, he isn't very visual, if that makes sense. Where I live is a very tight market in terms of hiring contractors, particularly if your budget is less than 100k. Also, he did not like the flat roof, though I think it worked great with the design :) He liked the blocking under the windows though.

PPF. - I looked into steel siding several years ago because it intrigued me and no one I talked to locally was working with it. I think we are planning to add additional insulation before residing. Why do you ask? I like this second rendering very much. It eliminates the challenge of determining how to terminate the porch cover as it wraps. Thank you so much!!
PRO
Flo Mangan
5 years ago
I love PPG’s rendering and the wrapped roof over porch is brilliant. It is fairly simple solution but since you aren’t overly confident in your contractor you might need a carpenter to install the framework that the siding people can sheath with your siding or metal facade. I also prefer the horizontal band in darker color over and under the windows then lighter shade of same color for remaining field with white soffit and facia. A blue gray would suit the styling.
Audrey Hughes thanked Flo Mangan