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Porches & Decks Design Dilemma Exterior

Exterior update to bi-level

3 years ago

I just purchased this home and I would like to update the exterior. I would like to add a porch or something to the front of the house. With the roof being flat and the bump out only being on the one side the house seems uneven and very plain to me. I am just not sure where to start any suggestions are appreciated.

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Comments (4)

Katie B.
3 years ago
lose the shutters and paint...I’m a big fan of entry pergolas too (I’m not recommending these colors...just showing the pergola).

your type of house can easily be midcentury modern, if you’re into that.

what styles/colors do you like?
HU-705672821
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you so much!
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Budget and building codes permitting, you could recreate your entry. You might ... Remove the first floor roof from above the front stoop -- everything from the brick to the garage. Create a new forward facing gable roof over that area beginning at the ridge of the upstairs -- at least at that height or even above it -- and extending the roof of that forward facing gable to a point at least twelve feet in front of the downstairs exterior wall. About six feet of this will be your new front entry foyer with your front door moved to the new exterior wall facing the road. The rest will be your new front porch. Alternately, you could extend the forward facing gable roof only six or eight feet beyond the front exterior of your home to create your new entry foyer and then add a shed roof with two hip corners for your new front porch. You'll be enlarging the upstairs room on the left by extending the floor of that upstairs room into the vaulted ceiling space above your new porch; then you can move the original window to that new upstairs exterior wall of your forward facing gable. What front door and front porch post style you use will help define/redefine you home. You could also add an arbor across your garage that coordinates with the posts you use for your new porch.
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I'm someone who has always loved the look of painted brick. I think painting brick and siding pulls a house together. It also give a more clean and current appearence, in my opinion. I know a ton of people say it adds maintanence but nowadays it is minimal if you use the right product. Look for a product like romabio (other options exist) and you wont have to worry much about it. Here are some other examples of painted brick paired with siding: I would also suggest some landscaping be done. I think it would really draw more attention to your home and compliment it nicely.
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This suggestion is a little outside the box, but hopefully will sparks some more ideas for you. In my old neighborhood, there were homes called "side splits" where an entry next to the garage lead to a foyer type situation and you walked up a few steps to the side to enter the main living space. I'm thinking this may be a solution for you, especially living in NY you might appreciate a main entrance that doesn't just dump you right into the living room. An awning above the new front door on the driveway level helps define the entrance.
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Agree, the shutters look to be too small. Remove them or get some properly sized ones. I would then paint the garage door so it blends in with the siding more and then paint the front door so it pops. Beefing up the porch railings would also help!
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katinparadise
3 years ago
Congratulations on your new home! I agree with getting rid of the too small shutters, along with the shutters around the door. there are vinyl repair kits you can purchase to fill the holes and YouTube tutorials on how to do it. Consider painting the bottom half the same color as the siding. Then pick a great color for your front door. A raspberry color would be pretty with your green siding. If it's within your budget to do so, I would look into having the light over the door moved so you can have one on either side of your front door or at least one on the left side.

It's a little late this year, but next year, plan on adding some colorful annuals to the landscaping. You could add a shephard's hook with a hanging basket to the left of the door to add some color for the rest of the summer.
HU-705672821 thanked katinparadise
houssaon
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I would remove the shutters. Get a door with lights in it. Paint it a dusky blue.

Add trees to your yard for maximum impact. Check if Sargent Crabapple does well in your area. It grows to well over 20 feet and about that in diameter. It has gorgeous blooms in spring and a dime size fruit in the fall and winter. The fruit is not messy and the birds love it.
Crabapple tree bosque in bloom · More Info

Another tree to consider is Eastern Redbud. Beautiful blooms on the stems and burgundy foliage. Smaller than the crabapple.
Residential Landscape Throughout The Growing Season · More Info

I would do a shed roof portico with a metal roof like these over your front door.
Side and Back Door Porticos · More Info

Art Gallery Addition · More Info
HU-705672821 thanked houssaon

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