80's Contemporary needs a facelift to exterior and landscape
I need ideas to give the house an update. I have always loved this house but always felt it could be just amazing. I am open to different finishes, adding new windows, etc. The house sits pretty high on a hill so I am not sure what to do with landscaping either.
Comments (17)
ashgreenpa7a
5 years ago
Karla
5 years agoThank you. Here is another picture from a different angle that is of better picture quality. I have even thought about adding windows above the skylight on the left. The roof is new but I want a different exterior than brown. I feel like it dates it but maybe that is a good thing!
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Exterior Paint Color Suggestions for Schizo-80s Contemporary!
Comments (19)Ok folks! An UPDATE! and call for more advice! After much deliberation we decided against painting the brick. Too expensive and too much work. We sampled several different paint swatches (some suggested by you!) and opted for a dark gray with a hint of purple (I know, I know, the majority said no to gray, but we really liked it with the red brick. And we are pleased!). We just purchased modernist light fixtures in bronze https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AINJ3F2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and plan on replacing the double doors with simple, full light ones that should line up nicely with the adjacent plate glass windows. The effect will be similar to the wall of glass that is the back of the house--so you can see right through from front to back! One of the biggest changes, however, is the elimination of the stone pillars in front! We just demo'd them and the difference is amazing. So much more light and the car port roof seems less oppressive. However, we need to clad the steel posts with something. Any suggestions? I was considering something much narrower than previous and maybe painted to match the house color? Would love to hear everyone's thoughts!...See More70s or 80s contemporary paint or facelift
Comments (5)It is difficult to tell from the photo....is the roof dark brown? I am assuming so... Love your house! I wouldn’t paint the brick as I think it looks good with your cedar siding. You might experiment (via software) with really dark bronze black siding. That might make it more dramatic. SW Urbane Bronze 7055...See More80's contemporary needs budget-friendly exterior update
Comments (20)Yes, the plants are a constant work in progress with the shade and the sloped yard and deer that devour everything. Once we got the pachysandra growing densely that helped. Deer don't touch the boxwoods. We have rhododendrons, but they are high since the deer trimmed off all the lower growth. We had some rot, but the painters brought a carpenter who replaced all the bad boards. We've also had to do control for wasps and ants. Keep ahead of the bugs. Figured out we had insects when the woodpecker started on the siding! When budget allows a more contemporary front door would be nice, plus change the light fixtures, and stucco the chimney....See Moreideas for 80's contemporary exterior
Comments (12)No dyed mulch, please. The best mulch for plants and soil is natural cypress, and there should be plenty of that in FL. You need a larger light fixture; about 1/3 of the door's height. Since roof colors are much more limited that paint, I would wait until the re-roofing is done before making the decisions on color. Meanwhile, just paint the door you have with a nice pop that works with the brown, and save up for a new MCM door and garage door when you re-roof. That's when final trim and door colors can be decided....See More
tartanmeup
5 years agoI'd want a modern door. Also, have you thought of black instead of brown? The brown totally works though.
Karla thanked tartanmeup
decoenthusiaste
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoStain the brick, change the siding for a less vertical installation, and go with bronze windows. Here's a colorway that could be a serious update.
zipper house · More InfoKarla thanked decoenthusiaste
PROCelery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoI would go with lightest color from your bricks for siding.
Karla thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images- PROKarla thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
- PROKarla thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
awm03
5 years agoThe house design is pretty good as is. I wouldn't mess around with adding windows in the blank area above the skylight unless you really, really need the light. And if you need to replace the original windows with thermal windows for energy efficiency, I hope you'll keep the same design. No traditional double hung windows with muntins, please.
Seems to me a gray with a purple undertone would work well with your brick. Then add a mahogany contemporary door, contemporary lights, then let landscaping add the rest of the visual interest. Others here have done better landscape design renderings; this is just to let you see how various plant colors work to add color & to pull the sight line forward. I think working in some boulders or large rocks would be great: a natural counter point to your architectural style.
Bottom line: a great contemporary landscape scheme with dramatic night lighting would be your best bang for the buck.
Karla thanked awm03Kendrah
5 years agoAWM03 nailed the paint color and door color. A world of difference.
I think you need to add levels to your lawn so it is levels of garden rather than shrubs adorning a slope of grass. None of the pictures below are the correct garden style for your home's architecture, but hopefully the give a sense of the layers of levels you could create.
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Traditional Landscape · More InfoKarla thanked Kendrah
PROYardvaark
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoThings that would improve appearance and/or function are:
- Add cheekwalls to the steps so as to keep soil from washing onto them, make lawn maintenance easier, and give a more solid, substantial look to the property.
- Increase the size of landings above and below the steps.
- We can't see it, but likely widen the walk that extends left of the door. (There's a good chance the large tree walk is too close to the house.)
- Raise the canopy of the 'Bradford' pear tree. Dense, dark tree foliage so close to the ground is obstructive to view, yard use below the tree, and looks oppressive.
- At the right wing of the house, continue the hedge around the side to connect with the main portion of the house.
- Below the bank of windows and in front of the landscape wall, create a colorful planting of annuals for ongoing display.
- Around the large tree, create a mound-shape shrub with multi-season interest.
- Remove the scruffy growth of large tree from in front of the eaves.
Karla thanked Yardvaark
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