Curb appeal/Carport/Odd Entrance
Hello all! I need some help with our very weird entry way. On the right side of the carport is a shop entrance. The front entrance is past the cars on the left and down 4 steps. Most people assume the shop door is the entrance. 1- how can I guide people to the entrance? how can I overall update the look and feel of the carport/landscaping/front of home? It is on a corner lot. Thanks!
Comments (12)
Mamaham_NC_Zone7
3 years agoHU-187528210
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Sad split foyer needs front door help and curb appeal
Comments (43)Okay, let's see if I can catch up on all of your helpful posts! I met with a landscaper and we were pretty much on the same page but there were a few things that I didn�t agree with. Maybe I just have no clue what I'm doing and maybe his recommendations are truly better than the picture I have in my head! I'll be meeting with another designer on Monday to get his take on it. The first guy was free and we just talked about what the plan would be. The second guy charges $50, but will draw up a whole design. They also do driveways, which the first company does not do. The one thing that I really didn't like about the first guy was that I felt like I had seen all of his ideas in my neighborhood already. I don't want something crazy that doesn't fit the house or neighborhood, but I also don't want the same thing everyone else has. How do you get your house to stand out from the others but still "fit"? Just because everyone else has "x" number of garden beds and "x" amount of front yard grass doesn't mean I have to, right? I did read over our HOA docs and they simply state that no more than 20% of the yard can be raised garden beds or container gardens. I would really like to make maintaining the lawn easier and to shade the front a little more. He wasn't on board with that. As I said before our yard is quite short, only 25 ft deep from the sidewalk to the front brick. So that will definitely play a big part in the design. The front tree is a cherry tree (with fruit) and I have been told that it will grow large enough to provide cover for the front window, not too sure about the door. Every arborist and landscaper that I have talked to seem happy with that tree and tell me not to touch it. The shutters have actually done quite well with all of the sun and heat that they get exposed too. No warping or anything. Considering the roof color is a good point. I think the wrought iron color would look great. I still don�t know what I want to do with the door. I have been playing with pictures of the house for days now. I've cut and pasted so many different designs I'm stuck. I think that there are some styles and looks that definitely work, some that definitely don't work, and then there are the in-between ones. I don't mind having my house look a little different then the neighborhood. I have two tri-levels on each side of me and three true 2 story colonials across the street from me. From my mock-ups I think can get away with some different looks that neither of the other two styles could pull off. And that is why I'm stuck. Too many ideas. I think a designers eye is what I need. The other challenge I am having right now is prioritizing what to do with the house first. The inside still needs to be painted. I could use some new furniture too. If I did do painting I would want to update the lighting while the ceilings are getting a fresh coat. As far as the outside goes, we obviously need landscaping. But we could also use new gutters and soffits, possibly a new door, and new hardscaping. My husband would also like to close in the carport. There is just so much to do and I don't know where to start. The changes we have already made to the inside were easy because they were done out of necessity. Really none of these other things have to be done. I think that I would like to focus on the outside simply because I have a 4yr old and 1yr old that make it a little harder to maintain the inside versus the outside. And I can handle the inside myself. I obviously need professional help with the exterior. So, any ideas on how to prioritize my projects?...See MoreStyle of home/curb appeal help!
Comments (55)Lyfia-I like the idea of the low stucco walls along the front. We were thinking more Craftsman inspired with the pillars and roof gable,but we love Spanish style too. I have trouble picturing spanish w/o the tile roof, however. I love the idea of a pergola, mostly because I imagine it is less expensive than adding a roof structure. But I am having trouble picturing it in front of the house-I think of them as more casual, in a backyard setting. This picture was on the link you provided, and I do like the front pergola here: [Traditional Exterior design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2107) by San Diego Architect Christian Rice Architects, Inc. I do want to turn that odd second door into a window, as that is the kitchen, which is currently windowless. That will then be incorporated into the kitchen reno. What about doing a lower, flatter roofline, similar to the garage, instead of the gable?...See MoreNeed help with curb appeal
Comments (23)Bellburgmaggie, the porch is perfect. I will screen it in so that I can enjoy it without the mosquitoes. Thanks!...See MorePls some responses...entrance & curb appeal?
Comments (3)Be sure to consider your brick as a color in this plan. More than two colors on the front of this house may be overkill. Keeping it simple will have more of an impact. I think the landscaping needs a lot of attention (I'm not good in that area, so we'll have to wait for others on that issue). What is the purpose of having the walkway go straight from the house to the road? That chops up the front lawn. I would have a walkway going from the driveway to the front door and hugging the house....See Moremysometimeisnow
3 years agoMamaham_NC_Zone7
3 years agoMamaham_NC_Zone7
3 years agoHU I believe wants to see where the entrance is in relationship to the front. Which arrow is it appropriate for the steps down?
nickel_kg
3 years agoHU-187528210
3 years agomysometimeisnow
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThank you all for the suggestions! At this time we cannot move or replace the carport, and currently use every space for parking as shown on the blacktop driveway. That itself isn't the best curb appeal, but we only have a steep decrease gravel drive in the rear of the house that many cars are not able to pull into or out of. The dead tree needs to go, I agree! The whole front needs a good powerwash and at least new trim paint. Show we stay white or go another color? We would like to paint the carport areas that are dark green to match exterior trim. A pergola refinish on the carport may help too. As for the door, I will take your suggestions and just add a workshop sign. Attached are two more photos of a view past the cars (and sometimes boat) to the entrance, and one from the entrance looking toward the cars.
PROJudyG Designs
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoPaint the entire carport floor. Leave a pathway (3’ wide is good) to the front door, highlighted by an indoor/outdoor runner.
Add a welcome mat over top at the beginning of the runner.
And don’t park the ‘vette there until all guests have left.mysometimeisnow
3 years agoHere is another photo with fewer cars. To the right is the workshop door. To the left you can see a lower porch, where the front entrance is at.
Christopher CNC
3 years ago
tangerinedoor