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Landscape Design Design Dilemma DIY

Potential New Home - Outside Design HELP!

Faith Chiaravallo

4 years ago

My boyfriend and I are thinking of putting an offer on a home that we love the inside (it is all redone) but I feel the outside could use some help to make the curb appeal better.

I was thinking we could paint the brick may be a gray or something to help it look more cohesive and adding various larger bushes and stuff. I also thought we could get fake wood garage doors that match the raw wood columns on the outside that I love.

I've attached photos of both the outside and inside. Any ideas you can contribute to help us see the potential in this boring facade? The red brick just doesn't do it for me.

Featured Answer

calidesign

4 years ago

Keep the brick as is, and just paint the front door. I would use a deep expresso color. See if you can get a credit for a new driveway. That is an expensive thing to fix.

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Comments (8)

yvonnecmartin
4 years ago
Don't paint the brick. Do paint the garage door and entry a color other than white. The outside needn't match the inside.

Advice to the wary, just be sure that whoever flipped this house did it with quality materials. I see a lot of on-trend decorating, but be sure that the foundation is secure, the wiring up to date, and no hidden moisture problems. I suggest that you hire your own home inspector before you make an offer.
Faith Chiaravallo
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you! Yes we definitely plan on hiring an outside inspector. We can see that there was foundation work done to the house so hopefully it all checks out clear. Thank you for your input on the brick and the outside! I knew it def needed something!
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thank you for your reply! we've decided to pass on this particular house, though it would have made for a killer reno project. if i was to buy it i'd want a fireplace in there with a big table to gather round and work at. i think lavendarlass nailed it when she called it romantic rustic,lol. the room at the top is a nursery and there's a small screened porch attached to the front of that. i'd totally make it a dining room with french doors into screened dining porch. but it's too far from town, i need to get closer for my business which is about to take off. when that happens i'll have much more of a choice so i'll wait it out.
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I don't have any pics of the interior, but I'll include more of the exterior. We took these pics before the realtor showed up. Typically they don't allow you to take pics on a walk through. The only downside is not a lot of storage space, it's a tri level, so not a basement per se, but we can always add an addition years down the road. Good to know about replacing septic systems, we were thinking of expanding the house, and now that I think of it, it may infringe on the area where the septic is, so probably not feasible in that direction. Still, there are other options. Izzie, that sounds horrible about your sisters septic situation. I don't think there are any future plans for a city system, but something worth looking into. Thanks for the heads up. I've been told by others in the area that the well water is good. I lived somewhere very briefly with well water, and I had a lot of digestive issues..I chalked it up to food allergies at the time. Immediately after moving, I had no problems. Water softener is comprised of salt, correct? I wonder if it was the water softener causing the problems, or just the well water in general? This was next to a lake. I'm thinking we'll add a small wood burning stove to the lower level, will probably help with the musty smell. I was reading about the pros and cons of casement windows. I don't think these are casement??? Are those storm windows that I'm looking at on the outside (with only exterior removal?) I think some may be up/down sliders, while others are stationary. I have pets that are a little unruly, so I think casement would be difficult since the screens are on the inside. I'm sure my dogs would love to push on the screens. I'm assuming the pipe on the driveway with the reflectors around it (the pic in my first post above) is the septic system? More pics to follow...
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This kind of thing happens in my town all the time. The wonderful local architect, Stratton Hammon, built beautiful, gracious houses, but the kitchens were small an designed for a cook in the kitchen, with the family being served at all meals in the DR. Baths were small, too, and usually only a 1/2 bath on the first floor, an ensuite for the master, and a small family bath for everyone else. Yet these houses are much sought after and lots of money spent "fixing" the small kitchens and baths and adding more bathrooms. Personally, I'd save the money and hire a cook with it and keep the kitchen as it was built!
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I’ll second that.. it’s very very unlikely you could build a house for $200 a square foot in the Bay Area, even acting as the GC. We are over the hill from you (Santa Cruz) are in the process of rebuilding (from the ground up) our house. My husband is in the trades but even with us gc’ing it and doing a lot of the work himself it’s still going to be over $300 sq foot. This is not for a mansion by any stretch of the imagination. Just an 1800 sq foot single level house with mid grade finishes and a few splurges, but nothing over the top. Just the soft costs alone (plans, permits, title 24, etc) before you even break ground will easily be upwards of $50k. Not to discourage you but better to be prepared....
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suedonim75
4 years ago
I wouldn't paint the brick either. It's the really bright white that is throwing it off. I'd pick a shade that is close to the mortar color. It's not a huge amount of space to paint, so if you end up not liking it, then you could consider painting the brick.
Faith Chiaravallo
Original Author
4 years ago
Is there a color that you would recommend that would look good with the brick the way it is? Maybe a navy blue?
Sammie J
4 years ago
I kind-of like it just as it - the white is fresh! Landscaping will definitely change the curb appeal, so start there.
Kim Oliva
4 years ago
I would possibly opt for painting the brick as well, but if you do, be careful as to the color you pick. I would probably do some type of wash on it first, to make it look a bit more natural, (if that makes any sense). Like an old world limewash for example.... However, I would make that my last option.

I would start with the garage first though, because once you get rid of that white, thou may not need to paint the brick at all. If you choose a warm color that compliments the red brick, you may end up loving it. Add in some nice landscaping, maybe a few outdoor decorative items, such as a potted plant, a bench, and some landscape lighting, and it could transform your red brick house completely simply by charming it up.
houssaon
4 years ago
Don't paint the brick. How about a bright color on the front door. I would look into a new mid-century style door with windows.
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