How to improve this exterior on a raised beach house?
This house made it through Hurricane Sandy, and has undergone extensive interior work. We like the inside but not the outside and need to replace the beaten up siding. We plan to consult an architect, but thought I'd throw it out there for ideas as well. We were thinking....maybe vinyl shingle style, coastal vibe, perhaps extending the shingle over most of the masonry and just leaving a foot or two of exposed masonry. The builder unfortunately put on those cat eye things which we didn't approve and were too storm-fatigued to fix at the time. We need a new roof so I assume they can be removed at that time. The masonry has turned into like a Tuscan yellow when at one time it was similar to the siding. Open to removing shutters, they are beat up too. Would love any thoughts and/or photoshopping. Thank you in advance.
Comments (13)
PRODebbi Washburn
2 years agoI think it would be nice to remove the shutters and do a nice wide trim like on your front door. The cat ears would have been ok if they would have been larger/wider. Can you make the portico over the door larger? Then you can have the peak a different color - maybe a cedar shake .
Here is my attempt at photoshop:
I did find some nice inspiration photos:
Good luck!
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Ideas on how to improve curb appeal and exterior of old house?
Comments (24)Congratulations on the house. Wonderful tree. I'd start with a plan that emphasizes the tree and lays out other structure. Since you mentioned a fence... maybe a gate or trellis passage where the walkway dies off? Drop in some stepping stones between there and the road. Just to make the walkway ending like that be more sensible. I've seen it where there is just a bit of fence either side of the entry gate/trellis, but that partial fence relates to fencing on the side or in back. With back/side fence, tree, walkway and gate/trellis as the structure, coax grass along and plan out a few beds. Just a few to start. (We just pick a spot and lay a tarp down untill the grass dies off). Then dig in. Flats of annuals drop steeply in price partway into summer and will last a long time where you are. Snap up perrenials and other plantings when you can - ask friends and family if they need anything dug up and divided. Your tree deserves a wide circle of mulch (less grass to tend and makes the tree happy and healthy.) Our town has free mulch at the 'recycling center' aka the dump. I like someone's earlier idea of continuing the walkway around to the driveway too though.... hmmm. You may find it easier to tackle removing part of that 'walk to nowhere' than trying to work with it. A walk, even gravel, curving by the tree could be very nice....See MoreBeach House! Advice on my new home exterior
Comments (11)I would use energy hill trusses and raise your roof +6", also Chief Architect sticks shutters, by default, over the window trim.. If you like them I would push them out. Why is your beach house raised 1 story? Is that because of hurricanes, flood zone? Because I would not have a walkout basement when it can get flooded....See Morewhat would you do to improve the exterior of our house?
Comments (15)Thanks all! Ok, so no shutters. Got it! 1 less project ;) And we are actually fog coating with that beige color stucco. No paint. I do love the mock up of the darker color! But I wanted a lighter color for hopefully keeping the house cooler. I would have loved off-white but afraid of looking dirty. I’m happy with the color. Need to get the other 3 sides fog coated now. And I think I like the darker brown trim along the roofline too. Our windows are brown/bronze so I think that’s a nice compliment. But I’m still unsure about the trim around the garage and front doors. I like the idea of a lighter color (grey/green or a greige) there. Something that will compliment the house & the landscaping which will have all shades of green. And also my teal/turquoise pots (that I don’t have yet). I’m trying to get it to have a Mediterranean feel even though I know it’s not a Mediterranean style. ;) But I’m having a hard time envisioning the grey/green or greige trim. Can anyone mock that up? Any other thoughts on the trim? Here’s a pic of our front entry. It’s a work in progress! But you can see the trim. And clearly I need to tile the floor but we might extend it a bit. I’m thinking travertine. It was a very 70s dark brown time with flowers (?!?). We’re getting there! Thanks all! Keep the ideas coming please :) Love them!...See MoreStuck with how to improve exterior of my home. Help!
Comments (16)Nice home. House has a bit of a modern vibe to it. Not really a fan of pink for any part of the exterior of a home -- but that's a personal preference. I'd definitely stain the pink stone a darker color. Is your roof gray? If so, a dark gray would be worth considering or pick the lightest color from within your red brick. (Not usually a fan of painting brick or stone, but in this case, I'd likely make an exception. ) You've clearly expended time/effort/energy/$ on your landscaping and it looks really good. From the angle of the pic you've included, your front yard and porch appear to be blocked off. from access via the driveway. If you want the entry to feel welcoming to guests, you m ight consider how you might draw attention to the entrance/path to access your porch from your driveway... if there is a path; if not, you might want to create a path -- or make an existing one a bit more obvious. You might consider adding a post with a solar light atop it beside that path. As your spruce tree grows, it may well provide more shade than many of the plants you have like/need. I like trees in my yard and the shade they can provide my home, especially during the hot summer, but adding one too close to the foundation has the potential for eventually giving you some trouble. Do keep that in mind if you're making any changes to the landscaping or even to the house itself, such as if you're considering covering a walkway by extending your front porch roof as a flat roof (4'-6' deep) over the walkway to the garage. You might consider a white portico (about 18" deep) above the garage door supported by brackets on each side of the garage door, wide enough so you could have the option of adding a hanging basket with flowers that bloom from each corner as the spruce provides more shade than flowering plants might like. A gate ( perhaps with a portico above it continuing from above the garage) could "hide" utility items on the right side of the garage -- the area doesn't look particularly bad as is but are just more obvious (by comparison) because the front yard landscaping looks so very good....See Moretfitz1006
2 years ago
PROJudyG Designs
2 years agoNo shutters. The only two windows that can accommodate properly sized shutters are directly above the garage. It would look awkward to have just two windows shuttered.
My suggestion:
tfitz1006 thanked JudyG Designs
houssaon
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoI like the yellow on the bottom. It is not a common color.
I would not spend any money covering the masonry on the ground level with another siding material. If you have another storm surge, it could be damaged. Shakes or a larger clapboard would look good on the upper siding.
I agree - no shutters. Beef up the trim around the windows, if you can.
PROFlo Mangan
2 years agoFirst, figure out what roof you want. There are fewer roofing choices so always get the toughest done first. Remove the cat ears and the entry door peak too. In my opinion, using all one color with bright white trim is a beautiful look. But again. What is the roof material and color? I would try to do a overhang over the entire front width of second floor. Paint garage floor same color to diminish that “front door garage” look. Make sure your new contractor understands any codes or hurricane situations to ensure best possible survivability. Here are some inspirational photos.
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Flo Mangan
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Flo Mangan
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PROMark Bischak, Architect
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