Split-Level Exterior Remodel - Opine on our design
So we are in the process of remodelling our split-level home and have just completed an addition over the garage so now its time to finalize our exterior design since we've decided to refinish the siding as well.
Here is a before pic of the front, it's set back on a slope with lots of green around (this picture is from the fall I think)
Here are some pics of the new shape of the house with the addition (in process):
Please don't mind the roof color, we tried matching the existing color best we could as a temporary measure but we plan on a brand new roof next year so that will change and match our new siding.
This brings us to the new exterior. We live in area where the craftsman style predominates so we're trying out how best to fit in but we also have preferences. Unfortunately there isn't enough 'architectural interest' on the front of the house for us to play with too many different siding textures and colors but we trying to maximize the design and modernize it a bit from its 70' split level origins.
Please take a look at some mock-ups of where we are leaning - we really like interesting blue colors so the current leads are 'Wedgewood' and 'Midnight Surf' from Royal building products and we're also looking at 'Pacific Blue' from Certainteed. Unfortunately I couldn't mock up the wedgewood and midnight surf colors so only have pacific blue to use in designs.
Wedgewood:
Midnight surf:
Here is the best I could come up with so far (using the Certainteed tool - Pacific blue): We like board and batten to break up the long flat front and I think darkening the bricks helps too. We added columns to mirror the front porch on the left as well (plan to change the porch columns to square from round)
If we decide not to do the columns and keep the brick original here is what it looks like:
We initially liked the shingles look on the front face, but decided that batten is a better choice.
The roof will eventually change to something dark maybe on the charcoal spectrum.
We want to give the house an updated modern look to reflect to interior (which leans on the transitional/contemporary side).
Thoughts? Are we on the right track?
Comments (7)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago- 5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
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Comments (16)You have small windows on a large house. Yes I think there is not enough light coming into the house. I will ask our architect friend about widening the guest bathroom by 6" and replacing the entry door to 36" (from the current 32"). That should create a 3' x 4' clear area between the toilet and vanity. The shower door is currently 30" wide and the shower has a 36" diameter space inside the walled area. The plan is to use a curb-less shower design. That's all fine but it's an obstacle course to get around the toilet to the shower and there is not enough room on the shower side to get in and out of the shower. A wheelchair needs 60" turning radius. And go watch people sometime who use walkers and how hard it is to maneuver. This bathroom as drawn will NEVER be friendly for those with disabilities. Look others have been treading lightly. JDS who is an excellent architect in your neck of the woods tried to say it nicely and so did Casey. I'll be more blunt. It's not a very good design as it is now. Now having said that, I will say I feel your frustration. I've been adjusting and changing my plan for a year now, partly because of zoning miscues, partly because we just decided to add more land and mostly because I started on here like you with a very poor elevation that read nothing like the craftsman I wanted. Of course my needs are different than yours. My house is in SW FL and this is our forever house in that we're both in our 60's already. Here's the thread that gives links to all my threads (second post down): Link to the Saga of Cpartist's craftsman home And here's the link to the latest since we bought additional land: Cpartist's latest saga My point being to take all the offered advice and really think through what you need and want. It can only get better if you're open to changing what is there. Also one other thought. I might be wrong but I was under the impression that underground garages are harder to keep dry, etc?...See MoreSplit Level Remodel - Design Help
Comments (35)New Houzz member here, I had to chime in on this split level renovation. We're in a split level (and I love my split level) and when we first moved in it was in original late 70's Brady Bunch condition. We did a refresh of the kitchen by removing the u-shaped work area and running cabinets/counter along the entire back wall of the kitchen. We also removed any spindles and changed the wall between kitchen and dining room to a pony wall. Fast forward about 7 years and we decided to do a major renovation and addition. We pushed out the house 7 feet along the entire back wall (behind kitchen/dining room). We also flipped the dining room and kitchen - it was the best thing we did because the kitchen had too many doorways which got in the way of most kitchen activities. Even without the addition at the back, I would flip these rooms again because it made our house so much more functional! We did build a partial wall between the living room and the newly-located kitchen to allow for another wall of cabinets and a small pantry. Here are pics of the original condition, our initial refresh, and our final "big" addition/renovation. Original condition of kitchen, dining rm, living rm: Small refresh/opening up of kitchen/dining when we first moved in (that's a not-very-well-constructed sunroom in back off the dining room that we removed in our "big reno" phase): And this is how it looks now (only have the mid-project photo of kitchen & dining room area. The fridge/pantry wall is the partial wall we built to divide it from the living room): Sorry for the long post, but I'm definitely in favour of you taking the steps tomake your split level work better for you :)...See MoreSplit Level exterior remodel help
Comments (1)I think a nice dark gray for siding there is lots of gray in that brick. IMO gutters are not design elements so best when the match the roof or the siding . I think I would do the window trim the same dark gray. Then go to work on the landscaping ....See MoreApproximate cost to remodel split level
Comments (21)I don't hate an old-school split level. But small or large, they tended to have a fairly systematic floor plan where the main public areas, living/dining/kitchen were on the intermediate level and the bedrooms half a level up, and more utilitarian areas half a level down. Once you start adding other levels onto this the interior just starts to get awkward. I know someone who lived in one with an additional level over each and it was just really convoluted on the inside. And it can get even more convoluted if you try to design parts of it that are not split....See MoreRelated Professionals
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5 years agobump any other thoughts? we've narrowed down to the Wedgewood color so the brick may or may not change because it actually seems to go nicely
- 5 years ago
- 5 years ago
Our front door is offset and obscured in the patio so it's difficult to even see it from the driveway or the street. here's a pic:
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