1940s curb appeal: Should I go modern or traditional?
It is time to change-up the exterior of my 1940s house, but I'm at a loss for whether I should go traditional touches or modern flair. In my neighborhood, people are starting to change up the traditional artwork and bring in modern, unique touches, which I like. However, I don't know what the house lends itself to.
I am looking for advice on:
Color (I hate to paint brick, but my husband loves white)
How to revamp the porch
Light fixture in the front of the house
Storm door or no storm door
"Modern" (plank, horizontal style) fencing or traditional on the sides of the house
Landscaping
Comments (13)
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoWhat a cute house! My previous home was built in 1940 and I loved it for its vintage charm. I personally prefer it when the exterior of an older home is kept true to its original nature. For good inspiration, check out the work done by the Napiers of Home Town. I admire how they honor the old houses they rehab and don't just "remuddle" them by adding in more modern elements.
This is my previous home. At some point long before we bought it, its original red brick was painted a creamy white. I probably would've been too chicken to make such a big change, but the result was quite pretty and I think it enhanced the look of the house.
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Curb Appeal for 1940s Brick House
Comments (19)Such a pretty house! I like your window trim painted darker with mullions, it lengthens the window and looks sophisticated and subtle yet friendly. Can you put a decorative metal wall hanging or two pot holders on the chimney? Can you put a planter on the stair walls? And the landscape plan looks great, the addition of golden foliage shows pretty against the house and sets off the brick. You could do Stella d'oros, too, for long summer color. Maybe a brick walk. Can you play up the drainage swale (is that what it is? Looking at it from an angle it's hard to say) with a rock garden along it? I'm not sure you can do a window box under the arched window; it get interfere with the walkway and steps, and watering it might drain water down onto the window below. For the door, how about a golden yellow?...See MoreHelp - Curb Appeal/Updates needed for Mid Century Modern House
Comments (16)Remove the meatballs and amateur garden center retaining walls in favor of one single low horizontal retaining wall. Pick a material that relates to the exterior choices. Matching brick if you could. Cot-ten steel possibly. The wall should have a decent horizontal space between it and the street where some larger scaled pots and concrete jigsaw puzzle blocking “garden” with some heavy “sculptures” can shine. Look at the standard blockade pot planting’s meant to keep vehicles from ramming public buildings. You will need an expert to design this, and implement it. Maybe Phase 1 is Design, and Phase 2 is Implement. The smaller space between the top of the wall and building can be actual planting’s, but mostly drought resistant grasses and maybe some very low growing junipers. The building is a STAR, and needs to be more revealed than hidden by landscaping. Also think about a rooftop terrace and garden if it’s flat. Would be cool to see a hint of green in the sky peeking over like a secret paradise....See Morewhat should I do to improve curb appeal?
Comments (10)Definitely some seating/styling on the front porch, like in Doug’s illustration, will help with curb appeal. Not sure about the kelly green door (maybe a darker green?) but a dark or bright color door (whichever you prefer) will definitely be a good upgrade. I’m wondering how a dark terra cotta color (pulled from the stone in your foundation) might look. Love the colorful hanging baskets too. And a small tree or larger shrub on the left will help alot. That one window on the far left doesn’t adhere to the rhythm and symmetry of the other windows of your fairly traditional home, and is creating an imbalance and discord with the look of your home overall. That can definitely be fixed with a little camouflage. Doug’s rendering of the little tree there is perfect. Note how it’s not obscuring the window completely, but it does enough to soften and balance that side of the house. Choose a small tree or shrub that does well in your area, and suits the amount of sun/shade it will get in that spot. Also be careful to select one that will not grow taller than the roofline of your house at full size, so that it will naturally stay at the right height and shape when it’s mature. Otherwise, it will require a lot more care and maintenance to continually fight against its natural size or shape to keep it looking right. Always better to start with the right plant for the right space. Possibilities to consider are crab apples, flowering plums, Japanese maple, dogwoods, etc. Consult with your local nursery for recommendations, and to get proper instructions on how to plant and care for it. Native shrubs and trees are also worthy to consider, because they frequently are more water-wise and disease resistant. I prefer to plant small and let things grow into place, but if you’re impatient and have the budget available, you can buy a larger specimen for more immediate impact, or you can look into options that are faster growers. Beverly’s idea to lighten the shutters and tone down the contrast with your siding also helps make the asymmetry of that far left window less obvious. If you like that idea, you can combine it with the tree/shrub suggestion. For your front beds, lots of possibilities... What kind of garden styles do you like? Formal, English cottage, low maintenance? What suits your tastes, and the amount of time you’re willing to spend on it? Knowing those things will help inform your choices. I would be inclined to create larger beds with some curves, for example, because I don’t like to feel boxed in. And maybe consider replacing at least some of the lawn with a ground cover or additional planting beds. Sloped lawns like yours can be a pain (or even dangerous) to mow. And grass is definitely a water hog. Maybe worth consulting a garden designer for ideas. If you don’t have the budget for a major landscaping makeover all at once, and/or want to do some work yourself, a lot of garden designers will create plans that you can implement over time....See MoreHelp need ideas for curb appeal for my modern midcentury ranch
Comments (15)I would change the siding to horizontal (to echo the lines of your house - I think vertical just would not look right except a small area around the front door to set it off) When you re-side, look at adding a little bit wider framing around the door and windows. You will want to paint the trim, downspouts, gutters all the same color - black would look good, white will work also. Pick a bold color for your front door (storm door too) although black is good there also. For sure, take out all those shrubs. It looks like you could keep the stone walls, but perhaps add a smooth top, like large cement look pavers. Or if it is even possible, once all the other changes are made and then you don't think the stone looks right, add a cement paver facing to the front of the wall. Low growing, ground cover juniper or similar evergreens would look good behind the wall. What am I seeing at foundation level on the house? Are those windows?...See MoreRelated Professionals
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PRO4 years ago- 4 years ago
What a lovely house! I would definitely not paint that brick. The current looks is classic and cute and requires no maintenance.
I'm not an architecture expert, so I'm not certain if these are appropriate to the style of the house, but here are some ideas for a new light over the front door.
Hopefully someone with more skills than I could suggest some landscaping changes to wake up the exterior. Right now you have mostly lawn and two little shrubs. Adding flowers and some interest to the landscape will really help add some pizazz.
I would do away with the storm door and let your front door be more visible. If you need a storm door, paint it the same color as the front door.
I would go for a simple and classic style railing around the porch. The house is cute on its own and has simple architectural interest. To me that suggests that a cute, classic, simple railing would work best.
Hope you'll share when you finish. It's a really cute little home! 
4 years ago
4 years ago
PRO4 years ago- 4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
Your house is charming, I would absolutely play up the 1940's element. Do NOT paint the brick, it's a nice brick and makes the house charming as it is.
1. A nicer walk (4' wide at least).
2. Change the railings on the porch.
3. Paint the storm door to match the front door.
4. A new, LARGER light over the door.
5. House numbers to the side of the front door.
6. Landscaping. Landscaping. Landscaping. This is the key element to bring all the rest of the changes together. Hire someone to help you come up with a plan. You can pay for the plan but install it over time.
Storm door painted same color as front door to avoid the "white rectangle" effect.
This is good resource for ideas: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/
- 4 years ago
- 4 years ago
4 years ago- 4 years ago
PRO4 years agoWhite is classic and can be accomplished with Limewash instead of acrylic paint.
Sabrina Alfin Interiors