Totally Awkward and No Front Door - Please Help!!

3 years ago

I had to build a house on the fly with serious constraints as a result of Superstorm Sandy. It’s a long story but this is one of many issues that is a major bummer that i could use any and all advice to fix, improve, or just make look better for the time being. Open to ANY type of input!!

i have a rectangle vinyl box on stilts with no front door. It’s actually up the stairs on the right side of the house but OMG is it awkward and ugly! Help!!

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Comments (16)

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Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years ago
Can you post a pic from further back.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

Either paint the stair risers white or use the stair riser stickers from Quadrostyle and apply these to the risers to make the stairs stand out.

Place the plants on either side of the entrance so people know where to enter

Add a light above to illuminate the entrance & address numbers

Install square concrete pavers in your stone driveway to reinforce the location.

Or tile could be installed instead
wendiej thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
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Fori
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
What's your budget? Is the drive gravel? Is there a sidewalk out front?

Landscaping including a walk and perhaps a "porch" landing at the base of the steps would help. A fake portico-type thingy where the stairs start would help as well--even a bit of a gable down there (like the one on the top story) would help folks find the door.

And...what Patricia said. More photos. It's not a bad-looking house at all. It's just not quite finished!
Don
3 years ago
Good work Beverly. More landscaping, if workable, will further guide the eye and direct visitors to the front door.
Sammie J
3 years ago
You need to downplay the inside of the garage (make it dark) and highlight the stairs (make them light). To highlight the landing to the stair area, I'd move your big plants (one on each side of the landing), and add a large hanging plant to the left to visually fill the space between the stairs and the pillar. Add dark stone on the "floor" inside the garage, and add a walkway leading visitors to the stairs (as Beverly's image depicted).
Sherry8aNorthAL
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Much bigger address numbers on side of house over stairs. Can you put a trellis/pergola in front of stairs? Yes, paint risers white. Move one of the plants over so they are on either side of the stairs. Actually, make beds on either side with something that stays evergreen. Outdoor mat that says "welcome" at bottom of stairs. Lattice, painted white, on side between your carport and the neighbors, maybe also to screen the front between carports and front stairs.

The house is fine. Don't panic. You built raised, good job! You just need a few tweaks.
User
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
100% agree. This is a pretty typical looking beach house and with some tweaks it will look fabulous.

If you have the budget, a formal landscape plan - designed by someone who really knows what they are doing - will make a world of difference in this home's appearance. It's not UGLY - it's just plain right now, and needs some jewelry. A home's jewelry is landscaping. :)
wendiej
Original Author
3 years ago
wendiej
Original Author
3 years ago
Wow everybody! Thanks! Super helpful!!

Some notes - I just have a temporary fence midway beneath the house for some privacy. (I generally enter through there.)

There originally was an exterior door at the base of the steps but the township made us rip it out (long story 🙄) Now that stairway is like a serial killer entrance, squirrel ambush, and fills up with bugs and spiders - especially if we leave the light on. My kids HATE it and it freaks out food delivery people, which is why we generally use the back.

i posted some more pics. No there is no curb but I use the left side of the house to pull boat trailers in and out from the back and keep one trailer in the front on the left (with a boat on it in winter.)

This is my first time on this forum and I’m really impressed with the feedback! Thanks again!
Sherry8aNorthAL
3 years ago
Actually I'm jealous. I would love to live near a beach again. Next to the stairs on the left side, bring out some lattice to screen the trash can and the outdoor frig from the front. If you want the walk to come out in between where you have the yellow flowers now, just extend it.

The gravel, or oyster shells, which ever, is fine. That is what is usually used at the beach.
Sherry8aNorthAL
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Yellow lights outside! They really do work. You can get yellow LED now and that is great. Spray monthly with Ortho Home Defense. Don't believe the good for a year crap, lol. Get the one with the batteries, it is worth it. We had rather spray ourselves, than have a company do it. That way, we know when it was done and where we sprayed, for kids and pets.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/ORTHO-Home-Defense-1-33-Gallon-Insect-Killer/1000194289

ETA: Dad built a house on a lake and he had the same problems with squirrels, spiders, and bugs. The may flies in the spring were the most overwhelming.
Christopher CNC
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Can you remove the stairs from under the house? Put the stairs outside the house on the right wall and move the front entry to that side wall with a covered landing.
Petunia 1
3 years ago
Make the entrance obvious by a light and awning above it and very obvious house numbers. Have the awning be a "pop of color" so attention is drawn that direction. Lovely home! Show some after pictures when you are done.
suezbell
3 years ago
Add a forward facing gable -- shallow moc gable ... cottage stoop overhang ... as a decorative feature attached to the front exterior wall above where the steps are located (from left pole to right pole) and have the gable roof supported with triangle supports -- without adding additional posts.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/487866572105160525/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/87960998959761735/?d=t&mt=login
suezbell
3 years ago
If you can add a wide landing to a lower step and construct one step between the posts visible from outside the house.
olychick
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Could you install something like these motorized roller blinds to hide the under-the-house between the times you're pulling the boats in and out?