Ugly ranch house that needs new roof. Add peaks?
5 years ago
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Ugly Ranch needs Curb appeal ~ Advice Please!
Comments (4)I think that some fairly inexpensive things could make a dramatic difference. First I would replace the iron columns with some more substantial 6x6 supports (with some moldings perhaps) and add some railings. Also, I would not paint the porch, but stain it. I think taking out the concrete porch would be a very big project. I would also add railings and wider wooden steps to the front door. Paint or replace the front door for pop and in your individual taste. The shutters look out of place and out of scale for the picture window. Shutters should look as if they would actually work, these do not. Once this is done the right of your house would be heavy and you would need to balance this out with a nice curved bed on the left with a fairly large tree to add balance. Zone 5 maybe a nice magnolia. Fill in the large bed around the tree with some nice plantings. Towards the road cries out for a small fence with a gate or maybe some hedges with more beds. A flagstone path up to the front steps. A small tree (maybe a Japanese maple) on the right and curved beds along the walkway and driveway. I think this would take your home from plain to fantastic with the least cost and with things that you can probably do on your own. I am sure you can. I do like the idea of shutters, but think you should look at different sizes and styles. I don't like being critical, however I think that by asking for help you are probably looking for honest evaluation....See MoreNew Ranch! BUT ugly front porch awning.....exterior paint and col
Comments (34)Congrats on your new home! It will be charming. I think the awning spoils the lines of the house, and doesn't let you see the interesting angles of the brickwork. I would take it down. However, if you think it is really of benefit and you want to keep it, I would paint it the same color as the siding OR the same color as the roof. I would also paint the brown wood the siding color - it makes the front windows feel like they are sitting in a hole, and doesn't really do anything special for the house. I would also love to see you take out those bushes in front of the porch. They really date the house, and exposing that brick and stone would give the front porch more substance. A wider, curved bed in front of that with low plantings would be nice, and then perhaps a larger evergreen on the left corner of the porch. A second curved out bed in front of the left half of the house, perhaps a birdbath in the middle of the bed, and then a small tree of some kind on the left outside corner of the house, but a bit away and in the final curved planting area out even a bit more into the yard there. The ironwork is also a dated look, but I don't know if you want to replace that right now. Personally, I might take out the pieces in between the vertical posts, and open up the front porch even more. I think I would leave it white, like the rest of the trim on the house. Finally, I would think about a strong accent color for the front door. A rich navy would be very pretty, and a good transition between the cool grey tones in the roof and the warmer yellows and oranges of the brick and siding....See MoreUgly Brick Ranch with small yard needs dimension and help!
Comments (19)You need shutters and pretty landscaping. The home down the street did a nice job of dressing the home and adding appeal. I don't know how long you intend on staying in the house, but based on the neighborhood, I would be cautious with renovation dollars if this is not your forever home. Think about the cost of every renovation and measure the cost against how much joy it will add while you are living in the home or how much that same money will add to your budget for your next home. You won't get back the same dollars you spend when you sell your home. Sales price determined by the sales price of homes in your neighborhood with similar square footage and number of bedrooms. There is some added dollars for updates, but not near what you spend. On average you will recoup 50 cents on the dollar and less if it is nicer than the other homes in the neighborhood (over improved for the neighborhood). The remainder is a gift to the new owner. The shed is over sized for the yard, but you will need some type of shed for lawn and garden equipment. It looks like it is in good shape. I would see how much I could sell it for and then see how much a new smaller shed will cost and see if you can get something for close to the amount you can sell the old one for....See MoreHow can add curve appeal to my tired-looking ranch home?
Comments (86)I like a lot of the ideas that @Kathy Furt suggested. A lighter color paint for the exterior and bronze trimmed windows will "update" your home immediately. She gave you a lot of inspiration photos that absolutely relate to your cute house. You MUST get a landscape designer to at least LOOK at your property. I pulled out my entire front lawn landscaping because it was so dated and old, there was no pruning it back to life. I got ideas from a landscape designer and used some of her ideas, some of my landscaper's ideas and mostly my own preferences. Picking the brain of a landscape designer in your area will help a lot. Your house has the potential to be more than adorable. It is cute right now. And it will look updated with new color, new windows and new landscaping....See MoreRelated Professionals
Bensenville Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Struthers Interior Designers & Decorators · Waimalu General Contractors · Lansdale Architects & Building Designers · Franklin Furniture & Accessories · Florida City General Contractors · Providence Siding & Exteriors · Berkley Home Builders · West Carson Home Builders · Allen Painters · Camden Painters · East Norriton Painters · Kiryas Joel Painters · Elgin General Contractors · Renton General Contractors- 5 years ago
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