What would you change to make the exterior more interesting/appealing?

4 years ago

Hello!

I am trying make the exterior of my home more appealing. The driveway is situated in that you drive up to the side of the home. So, I would like to find a way to make the side of the home more appealing or interesting looking. I am open to all advice. My thoughts were adding windows to the section of the home with the gabled roof and shutters and/or painting the brick white to match the siding. Please share any advice you may have! Thank you!

Featured Answer

ourfarmhouse

4 years ago

Here are some suggestions...

1. Situate the door so that it faces the driveway, remove the deck on the right side and replace the existing door with a matching window.

2. Build a small porch over the door, and change the siding underneath the porch and to the left side to be millwork and/or board and batten. The change-up in siding is for visual interest. Make the stone steps and floor extend to the left beyond the porch.

3. Add windows to the side of the house facing the driveway. Make sure they are large enough. Black windows would look nice with a mostly white house...kind of gives it a modern farmhouse feel. Make sure the millwork around the windows is generous and matches the style of the house. The four in the back of the upper storey line up on the leading side of the three on the first storey. The windows to the right follow suit, but in reverse. The matched off-numbered windows add architectural interest.

4. Add larger windows to the right upper storey of the house.

5. Landscape. Define where the driveway stops and the sidewalk to the door starts. Add a stone planter...it complements the brick. Build a boulder retaining wall to help manage the hill to the left of the driveway. Add greenery to soften the amount of pavement. Replace the driveway with pavers and pea gravel.

Of course these are all suggestions, and this could be accomplished over time to spread the spend.

It could look like this...

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Comments (14)

richfield95
4 years ago
Can you post a picture of the front of the house?
misecretary
4 years ago
Is the bricked area an enclosed porch ?
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The house as built has a low profile. The odd retaining wall/planter makes it look even shorter. That is not the only issue. The wall is rustic while the house is classic. I would remove it first thing. The brick in nice, let more of it show. The house is dominated by horizontal lines. You do not need the addition of shaped hedges. I would remove them. Leave the shrubs on the corner. Nice natural shaped shrubs can be nice at the foundation. BTW, it looks like most shrubs are planted much too close to the house. When you replace, bring them forward more. No need to replace the path as it is not broken. If you have extra funds to throw around you could widen the steps a bit. There is little contrast between the roof and the brick. For that reason I would paint the fascia much lighter. Deeper beds will make the house look less confined. The roof looks new but if you stay in the house long enough I'd suggest darker. What is your growing zone?
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Thank you all so much. I appreciate the input. Celerygirl, seeing the colors imposed on the house is amazing. I like them all. Probably favor the top one. Can I bother you for the paint name? Love the door, would never have picked something like that! Houssaon, The belly board is the the strip that separates the bottom brick from the upper siding? It really does make a difference in the sample house you posted. It would run from the left side of the house, over the garage doors, little porch area, over the first floors windows and then ends at the right side of the house? I really like that idea. Thank yo so much. Ohio, Thank yo for you recommendation. Is there room for taller windows, which I far prefer, and if so, would you install windows with or without mullion? K Laurence and Decoenthusiast, I agree, however, we listed our house, expecting it to sit a while and it sold in 2 days. Our rental has fallen through and our timeframe for remaining in the area lengthened longer than anticipated. We have a trusted contractor who can supposedly do it all in 2 months (fingers crossed!!!!). If this falls through, we have no where to go :( Thank you all so much!! p.s. what do you think about the little porch area? can anything be done to enhance/change the railing.
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Really nice house. There is some white from the fascia on the underside of the shingles of the porch roof but that's not noticeable from a distance. If, however, you want a bit less white, you could paint the fascia the same gray as is dominant in the roofing but leave the window and door trim white. Where is the driveway? is the building behind the house your garage? Really like the Hydrangeas. Grass seems a lot healthier with the season change and your care. Did you do anything to upgrade the steps and/or sidewalk? If not, you might consider cladding the steps with brick or stone pavers and outlining your sidewalk with stone as well, leaving the tops of the outline material ground level. https://www.google.com/search?q=facing+concrete+steps+with+stone&client=firefox-b-1-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiAs_qlwt_qAhXllHIEHUWkB3YQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1366&bih=654#imgrc=5zN--r55-XLfwM You could then create a planting area along one side or both sides of the sidewalk or just outline the wider sidewalk with a planting of a low growing plant you like that grows well where you live (?Liriope?) . https://www.etsy.com/listing/804693762/liriope-flowering-grass?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_low-low_d-home_and_living-outdoor_and_garden-garden_decoration-yard_art&utm_custom1=ee26f8df-d4da-4642-96a7-2daebcf72e89&utm_content=go_6721326423_78897197949_388267833987_pla-310643597252_c__804693762&utm_custom2=6721326423&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjaXg9cPf6gIV1MDICh2EPgheEAQYASABEgIzXfD_BwE
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Your house is very nice. I do agree that, since your garage door is so prominent, a door with more personality would be a nice addition. Then a change in color for the doors and trim. Instead of wanted to lighten the darker bricks, why not work with them. A dark color like SW Urbane Bronze would compliment and update. I know you can paint vinyl siding with the proper prep work. But research that option to see if it's a road you want to go down. And, did someone really say to replace the American flag with something more welcoming? When did our country's flag become unwelcoming?
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Kat S
Original Author
4 years ago
The home sits up to a hill so you don’t see a ton of the front. Basically it is a small porch with stairs on each side and a front door with windows on each side. I’ll attach a photo of what I have. I wondered if the brick area was an enclosed porch as well and it may have been originally when the house was built in 1920s. It’s currently a foyer and has a half bath where the round window is.
richfield95
4 years ago
Can you move the front door to be in the boarded up opening under the arch window?
Kat S
Original Author
4 years ago
That’s a good idea but unfortunately would require moving the half bath as it is located where that window is. I am hoping to do something more cosmetic to the outside rather than changing anything structurally.
houssaon
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Too bad that is where the bath is. It would be the logical front door. I would bet the brick area is converted porch. I think I would paint the brick white or the siding a darker color to blend in with the brick. Can you add more windows to the side?
jck910
4 years ago
I think landscaping is going to what helps in your case. What if you cut the driveway back so that it's not right up to the foundation and then do some plantings there. Fix the walkway so that it meets the new driveway and make it pavers so that it looks better than the concrete walk. You also needs some foundation plantings in front of the house on the sides of the stairs. Something that's not white to disguise the bathroom window would help also. Windows would help but do they make sense on the inside without losing wall space for furniture?
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
Some option
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
plus landscape
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
or just cosmetic
cat_ky
4 years ago
I like the picture right above this post. It really improves the look a lot. I think if there were an upper and lower window on that center section, it would improve it even more. What is that center section on the driveway side, next to the brick? Is there a way to move the entry way, to that section? Since the big window in the brick, is a bathroom.
Carrie Duwe
4 years ago
Wow, great suggestions “ourfarmhouse”! I think the only thing I’d add is paint the brick white and the front door a fun color.
jck910
4 years ago
outfarmhouse that house is great looking. The OP is looking for cosmetic changes

What would you change to make the exterior more interesting/appealing?

ourfarmhouse

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richfield95

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What would you change to make the exterior more interesting/appealing?

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