flat front needs sprucing up

Teresa Lukianiec

4 years ago

I just purchased in a cottage community. This is one of the larger homes that looks like its had some additions.. built in 1954.

i'm looking for advise on what to do with the front. it looks very boring and flat.

a porch update , maybe a portico ?

window trim color change . i thought shutters would be a bit dated but need ideas.

There are a lot of little windows but i'm on a budget so can't change.

i think the bushes need to go!

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Comments (4)

houssaon
4 years ago
What I would do is paint the red trim a dark gray or black. I would also paint the railing the same color. I would replace the front door. If you really need a fence around the property, I would plant some bushes to hide it. Maybe spray paint it black so it is not so noticeable. No shutters.
Denita
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Your home is great, it just needs a little something to bring out it's charm.

When you get a chance, I would change the front door to almost anything else without an oval window. That oval window in the door is for a Victorian house - and yet they are seen everywhere (inappropriately). I like this color front door. This one happens to be a dutch door but you don't have to do that if you don't want to have one. A regular 4 or 6 panel door will work. I like this color with the white house. Paint the trim around your windows white too, rather than red. Get your cottage look from the new landscaping you put in:)

I'm sure some of the awesome posters from the landscape forum will see this and be able to help you with a landscape plan that works for you.

No shutters. Your windows won't work with shutters and your home looks much better without them. Check out this brief article https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

Harbor View Hills · More Info

If you don't like yellow, you could go with blue or black or red or really any color that you do like. Have fun choosing your color!

Ave A · More Info

FINE PAINTS OF EUROPE | HOW TO PAINT A DOOR - Palette Paint · More Info
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I'll stand in disagreement with removing the shutters, in spite of it being a popular thing to do on Houzz forums. I think the house will look vastly more plain Jane without them. The second picture shows the door to be fine looking. I wouldn't worry about it as what really matters to the new arrival is being directed to the ENTRANCE of the house, which happens to be your covered porch opening, which is nicely framed by corner posts, roof and floor. But it needs improving. Greatly widen the access paving strip that connects to the porch slab such that it is obvious where to go and looks inviting for more than one person at a time. Eliminate any raised landscape "edging" that flanks the walk as it is neither necessary or attractive. Expand the foundation planting at the side of the house such that it surrounds the entrance .... but NOT the front walk. There should be some planting along the side of the house that makes it look like one should not go beyond the porch slab. Also, there should be planting in the back yard that screens houses beyond the back lot line. From the street, you should not be looking into the back yards of those distant houses. Flank the porch opening with seasonal color and likewise for the arch window. Not shown, but there should be some plantings -- small trees possibly -- that put some separation between your house and the houses at each side. Also not shown, I agree with a small bench at the front porch. Plantings at the side of the porch could act as backdrop for it so the end of the bench would face the street. If the bench faces the street there is really only room for a chair or stool. If not a bench, then a bucket of flowers or something at the house wall corner.
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Thank you all for your suggestions. Love the posts but the modifications they would entail are way out of budget. I will take yarvaarks drawing to the nursery when the time comes and try to incorporate her ideas with something that will work with our western exposure and winter climate. We have gotten quotes for paint and walk replacement and that will be where the bulk of our budget will go. The front gable will be resided in the same cedar shakes as the house and painted the same color as the body of the house. The shutters will be replaced with a panel style The house will be painted with SW Duration. The tentative colors are: The body of the house SW Hardware The doors SW Copper Wire. The trim white. The shutters and black. The walks will be Thechnobloc blue 60. Chaplain Grey Yes we are keeping the shutters (but not on the bay window) the vast majority or houses similar to ours in our area have shutters and the house will bare without them.
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Teresa Lukianiec
Original Author
4 years ago
i love the blue door. most of my inside will probably be turquoise and white with a touch of navy.

i like the idea of black trim on windows and railing but i hate the railing and hoping to change the porch somehow. i think it needs a roof or something. thanks for the advice. i totally agree about the front door. !!
acm
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I agree with the suggestions to repaint trim and front door. 90% of the rest of what I'd do would involve landscaping -- trimming back the overgrown bushes and putting in much wider beds. Maybe a planter near the front door. Maybe an ornamental tree in the front.

(photo 2 makes me itch to paint the conduit white! hah.)
Teresa Lukianiec thanked acm

flat front needs sprucing up

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houssaon

Denita

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flat front needs sprucing up

Comments (4)

houssaon

Denita

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