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Landscape Design Design Dilemma Exterior

Design suggestion for portico and front walkway

3 years ago

We bought a new house that is made of historic brick so we do not want to paint it. We want to add some kind of structure (portico) over the front door to provide shelter when getting into the house. I would love ideas on: 1) what portico style might work; 2) what style front door and shutters would be recommended to tie it together; and 3) suggestions for front walkway (material and layout). Then the next step is landscaping.

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Yardvaark

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

It's going to be tricky adding a portico with your roof configuration. Better get someone with architectural skills involved to avoid any roof leak potential.

The walk layout is fine, but it is too narrow. Widen by minimum 16" to as much as 2'. Widening it with strips of bricks is a way to upgrade its decorative quality, too. The landing at the city walk should be at least as wide as the walk or wider. Cheekwalls there for the steps would be nice.

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Comments (11)

grapefruit1_ar
3 years ago
A portico will be fabulous ( remove the metal railing). There are many options out there.
grapefruit1_ar
3 years ago
I would then get a professional landscape/hardscape plan to take your home to a whole new level of beautiful!
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Yardvaark, the three I've interviewed all had similar basic suggestions...reroute the walkway in basically a curve from stoop to driveway with a few steps. Each had some unique ideas as well, but I struggle to visualize them. Retaining wall or no. Long slabs stepping up gradually or a cluster of a few steps. Flared path where it hits driveway or not. Pavers inlaid in concrete or not. We don't have a ton of space actually... I appreciate your & everyone else's advice. I'm a researcher by nature, so love all the input. Also designonline6... Wish a porch was in the budget. Thanks for the ideas!
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The reason I like the portico is that it gives you and your guests some shelter from the elements at the door, and that is important. Dig Doug came back and added landscaping, look how marvelous, yay! I'm not sure about those tall skinny trees on either side of the doorway, I could live without those. Otherwise, it's perfect. I wouldn't bother with removing the shutters, that would be a waste of money and effort, and I note that Dig Doug didn't suggest that either. For safety reasons, I would get a peephole in your door if you don't replace your door. You could get a door with side lights, but that would be a considerable expense. If you get the portico and modify the stairs and landing and get a beautiful door knocker, get a peephole, improve the landing, and the landscape then you are done! p.s. Do you need house numbers somewhere?
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When budget allows, think about flanking your beautiful walkway with a front garden. You could get a garden center to design a full garden but start with a narrow bed of plantings, then many kinds of lights will do. Also consider pruning down the bushes in front of the house so you can see more of the house itself.
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Why do you need to replace the stoop? It looks solid. It's surface is not great, but that can be overcome in a variety of ways. The walk is inferior ... too small. Possibly its path could be improved if one had a comprehensive understanding of the overall landscape scheme. The grade of the yard is falling away too soon at the left side of the house. If it were me, I'd want a more upscale and stable look. It would be helpful if you'd return to the same spot the whole-house picture was taken. Where the photo leaves off, add another picture that shows what we can't see beyond the right and left edges. We need to see a comprehensive view of whole house plus some space at its ends. (Add to the existing photo above. If you back up in order to add on, everything will be too far away to see well.)
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grapefruit1_ar
3 years ago
houssaon
3 years ago
A portico like this would work. It fits the style of you house quite well. You do have to be careful of a gable roofed portico dumping water into the wall of the upper level.
Bethesda Split-Level · More Info

I prefer raised panel shutters.

I like the way you walkway curves. If you can make it wider all the better.
emcleod75
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the great suggestions, my big concern is that in most of the pictures there is siding that is light colored which would tie in with the white portico. Keeping the brick unpainted and having a white portico might make it look tacked on. Thoughts?
Anna (6B/7A in MD)
3 years ago
It won't look tacked on if it's thoughtfully designed. White is fine and I think a shed roof is more appropriate. The other suggestions are good as well: widening the walkway, landscaping, love the idea of cheekwalls.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
I think adding a portico would be nice but your roof will need to be reconfigured to do that so make sure you have the budget . I agree the walkway needs to be wider A lot can be done with landscaping to add curb appeal for sure . So glad you are not painting the brick but I do not like the white windows on that house a bronze or even black would be a nicer choice
houssaon
3 years ago
You could also have brackets rather than columns to hold it up. This is not the right shape, but a good example of brackets on brick. I like the classic look of white windows, although those shutters are strange.
Brick House · More Info
emcleod75
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you so much to you all for your thoughtful input!! Really appreciate it!
nickel_kg
3 years ago
What a nice house! White portico on red brick colonial is classic. Black shutters would work on the single windows -- but totally wrong on the bay window. I came across this blogspot: yournestdesign.blogspot.com. that had an image that reminded me of your home:

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