1940s Cape Front Porch Addition
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
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Landscaping front of basic Cape-style home
Comments (5)I'll just add to Mel's instructions that your photo will show up when you hit "preview message." If it doesn't show up, then do not hit "submit message" - go back to Photobucket and make sure you have the right code. But you've done such a good job describing that it seems a shame to spoil that with pictures :-) so I'll try to suggest something useful from your OP. First, review some other threads on foundation planting - oh my lord, how many times have I said, does it really need foundation planting? Your porch might seem to call for screening of the underneath, but maybe you want to lattice it in or do something with just stone instead (or concrete blocks, like ours :-(...). The one thing I hate about porches, including my own, is that you can't seem to have one without also having a horrid low area underneath it that either looks ugly or, if closed in, is a claustrophobic cave. And that can be good critter habitat. That's another reason I prefer to pull plants away from the foundation if you have space, that the more secluded it is, the more attractive it is for habitat and the less you can get in there to chase critters out. So I have some other concepts that might transition better to the woodland: specimen plants here and there, or larger island beds with an assortment of plants. I actually find detached islands a bit random, so I tend to make mine isthmuses (perhaps more accurately peninsulas, but I like the former word better) extending from a border across the yard, but if you don't have borders, they'll have to be islands. KarinL...See MoreHow to downplay 1940's craftsman style woodwork?
Comments (48)Hi Tara -- lots of great advice upthread about how to transform the feel of the rooms while doing very little to change the architecture (also on team remove shutters here...and preferably put nothing up...I've only ever seen accent windows like that left bare but...). April's nailed it re the before/after shots (perhaps a wide-angle lens, too?). You aren't that far away from your own after in that space, though it may not feel that way. Whether you end up with paler or deeper wall shades the key is complementing the wood, so Google This Old House tips for cleaning it so you're working from the best starting point. As someone who's lived in vintage fixers and been involved with fixers I also just wanted to offer encouragement. There's a real mental health toll to living in disarray with no end date, spending spare time fixing, not having enough budget to fix or decorate immediately, perhaps navigating different priorities for what gets fixed when, etc. If any of those apply it's draining...not sure of your story, but if they all apply it can cause even more issues. If you have space to call one room or closet or whatever the crap room, do it and clear as much as possible out of these rooms. If you can DIY the scrubbing and painting do that asap...i think you'll feel a real lift when you walk through the door. If you need to furnish on a tight budget, post separately for ideas you may not have thought of. While I love love love older homes they can carry so many styles of design -- see examples others' posted plus homes of Europeans, who laugh at our idea of "old." I Rx zero heavier dark wood pieces since you're already struggling...hopefully your husband will be on board!...See MoreHelp with front porch on standard full cape!
Comments (12)Beverly (not sure how to reply directly, sorry about that!), our back yard doesn't need anything. We are looking to do a porch because we want a porch, lol. We have a very walkable neighborhood and love seeing people/dogs/kids going by. And the back gets really hot and sunny. As for dark, the master BR has a room darkening shade that is almost always down, but we have two more windows in that room that face south so I'm not worried about the room being dark. Thanks for all the pics - that's what I've been seeing while searching, but husband thinks the porch can join just above the door. I'm just not finding any pics of that, though. As an aside since I included a pic of the back of the house, anyone want to chime in on how we'd square off that back corner of the house with the existing small shed dormer? We're thinking of a ground floor addition but I would love more space upstairs to expand the bathroom (in the dormer) and the bedroom, too. No clue what to do with the roof lines. Thank you!...See MoreHow would you update this 1940's brick home exterior?
Comments (31)It's SO sweet, I adore it. I think you just need a few simple additions. A wood awning over the porch with black metal railing (or wood rails). Or if you don't need a porch awning, get a little one for just above the door. Nothing is worse than trying to unlock your door in the rain. Add some new landscaping and paving stones of course. Keep it simple! I'm all for painting ugly brick, but yours is not ugly. Red brick is classic and timeless. I like the idea of sticking with a traditional look like Housegal's suggestions above. But your house is a simple enough design that you could also take it in a slightly more modern direction if you wanted to:...See MoreRelated Professionals
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