Porches & Decks Remodeling Design Dilemma

How would you improve the Curb Appeal of this house??

2 years ago

We recently purchased this house, and can't look past the off-center front door, and the less than optimal curb appeal. The house was constructed using concrete forms, so it's not as simple as "centering the current front door". There's an interior stair well that also prevents the front door from being shifted to the right. We could put a new front door where an existing window is. We could put an addition on that doesn't mess with the 2nd level rooflines (it gets super expensive when we tear into the existing roof). But, just looking for other ideas we might not be considering.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

threers
2 years ago
Is it possible to change the small bottom window and the larger top window so that all windows are the same size. This will contribute to balancing your facade, I think....
Tiffany Rottinghaus
2 years ago
The smallest window on the first floor is going to go away. We haven’t thought about the changing the large window on the second floor… that’s a thought…
Related Discussions
House has weird asymmetrical windows -- how can I improve curb appeal?
Q
Comments (38)
There really is nothing farmhouse about your home's style. The roof is Spanish. From the front, the board and batten and casement windows are contemporary. From the side, the house looks like it was a Garrison Colonial with the overhang filled in at one point. The solid wall makes it feel more contemporary. The extra trim around the windows look like they were added on at some point. This is a good example of an authentic, typical farmhouse. If you were to remove the front porch, it would be a typical Colonial with an addition on the back. This shows the overhang of a Garrison Colonial. Here, the entrance is in the middle rather than on the side. If you're curious as to what your house was look like when it was originally built, perhaps you can get a copy of the plans from the office that issues building permits in your county. You would more than likely be able to find elevation drawings that shows how the house was meant to look.
...See More
How would you fix the curb appeal of this old l-shaped ranch house?
Q
Comments (31)
I would research (by visiting) rentals in the area and seeing their condition vs rental price. Your biggest challenge will be to improve within the income possibilities of the market in your area. Cash flow will also be a consideration. So assess the area, see what upgrades would be needed to get the “income” to minimize your outflow of cash. Consider state taxes and other costs to make sure once you lease it you make some profit over outflow of cash. Older homes cost especially when routine maintenance has been done over a long period of years. Consider selling in this hot market to bank equity now for your future. Just really think things through and analyze all the pros and cons. As to drought resistant plants, ice plants near houses in this location are great and a big perimeter of them will help protect the home from forest fires. They are filled with water. Once you remove that tree, plant one that won’t get into your sewer lines or mess up your foundation. Check with local college extension office and get tips from them. Most have lists of suggested plants and trees. Aloe plants are good too. A garden and small bistro table and chairs converting driveway area to patio would be inexpensive way to boost curb appeal. I would paint exterior an off white with black trim. Black pots creating front patio and entry. If you replace roof, go with black or dark gray. You can add outdoor rug for color too. Then get driveway repaired. I put an acrylic awning over small garage door. You could do a black and white stripe fabric style awning too. I added two large modern exterior fixtures. Then aloe plants in black pots along with drought resistant plants on strip to right of driveway. A lighter exterior color would modernize your curb appeal a lot. Black trim and either a cedar front door or semi gloss black door. SW Tricorn black with SW Pure White or Alabaster for body of house. Carry that color palette inside home for continuity.
...See More
SOS: How can I improve the curb appeal of this asymmetrical house?
Q
Comments (9)
We really need a better photos, especially of the porch on the right hand side. Can't really tell what's going on there. I think planting a tree out diagonally from the urn and pencil shrub could help. There's a lot of bare brick in that area that needs to be somewhat hidden, IMO. Can you stand on the right end of the house and shoot across so both porches are in the photo? That way we can see some of the depth variation and dynamics of what you're dealing with.
...See More
If this was your house, what would you do to improve curb appeal?
Q
Comments (19)
I like the suggestions of @partim and others to add a roof of some sort (open for light or closed for shelter) to the blank wall area, and the suggestions of going dark with the siding/trim and refining the detailing on the bay window. The element that still bothers me after those changes is the very wide overhang of the main roof on the left side. Obviously it's okay structurally (it's still up there!), but to the eye it looks like it needs support. This would probably be more than $10k, but maybe someday the column of brick and the siding wall to the left of the blank area could be extended up to the roof to provide that visual impression of support and to balance the facade? Something like this?
...See More
misecretary
2 years ago
I would look at changing the color of the front door or getting a wooden door in its place.
threers
2 years ago

Another thought: is it possible to beef up/change the posts on the porch, and eliminating the middle one? I am thinking a review of the positions of the posts might help to balance out the facade. And a some large trees would look good on all that lawn.
houssaon
2 years ago
I would paint the leaders the same color as the siding so they are less noticeable. Can you replace the posts with larger ones and eliminate two? Get rid of the gable in the porch roof.
Tiffany Rottinghaus
2 years ago
That’s a major improvement just with those simple changes!! Thank you!
J S
2 years ago
It sounds like illusion of a double door or drawing the eye in a different direction may be the answer. Your house is a farmhouse style so one of those leaning panels that are selling in stores that say ”welcome“or ‘family‘ on them just might give you the look you want. You could build one that would compliment your door in size and style. A panel painted to match the door color that could hold a flat back basket for flowers or a vine.

The center post draws the eye and highlights what you don’t like. You could consider adding ”visual weight” to the one side of the porch by adding a picket railing. It would draw the eye to one side verses the center. The other suggestion would be (if possible) realigning/resizing the porch posts and to remove that center post.

These are all relatively quick no/low construction options. They might buy you some time until you decide what you really want to do. Just a thought.
L.D. Johnson
2 years ago
Short term, I'd try putting the bench under the far right window and the two chairs to the left of the door.

I like the change pictured above, but think it would look better if you have room to move the two right hand chairs further right to flank the window. That would match what you've done on the left side.

You might consider a taller plant in the bed where the sidewalk meets the porch- boxwood or holly pruned as a small tree, maybe? With yellow flowers around it. That could add height to offset your door and lead the eye up to the house. That would leave the beds asymetrical, but you could work through that, I bet.

You might also consider painting the white bench the same shade as the door. if you leave it where it is, maybe with an eye catching lantern above it.

How would you improve the Curb Appeal of this house??

Comments (8)

threers

Tiffany Rottinghaus

Related Discussions

misecretary

threers

houssaon

Tiffany Rottinghaus

J S

L.D. Johnson

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US