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Exterior Home Decorating Porches & Decks

Exterior remodel

Alicia Krawczak

last year

We just bought a 1971 ranch and I'm not a fan of the pillars and I feel like the front of the house looks dated, but not in a vintage 1970s way. What would you change? Also the front door is white. What color would you paint it? We don't have a specific budget in mind yet.

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PRO

Celery. Visualization, Rendering images

last year

Some option to go with wooden square posts

Comments (14)

Alicia Krawczak
Original Author
last year
Looks better already
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You have a wonderful modern prairie style house. Why don't you do a Google, Houzz, or Pinterest search on the style? Putting various add ons is going to result in what's called a remuddle. Get a new garage door along the lines of what's been suggested, a new front door, golden taupe trim, then hire a landscape designer to help you with a new walkway. Your house will look amazing and not a remuddle mish mash. Everybody's telling you the same thing--that your house is already modern looking and just needs tweaks, not a bunch of expensive add-ons. P.S. The curtains in the windows are bringing down the whole front of the house. Get golden bronze solar shades that you can put up or down. It's often suggested to have dramatic oversized houseplants in windows like yours, which link the outdoors to the indoors and add huge dramatic impact. Think about that instead of the droopy drapes.
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I understand all you want to do is paint the deck so keeping that in mind, here are my suggestions. I like the colour of the wood floor planks so I would keep them like that and simply put a clear wood sealer. A white ramp to match the door would be nice with the gray wood floor. The trellis part at the front can be painted the same grey as the trim on the house. I would also suggest you paint the yellowish trim around the window on the door the same white as the door. I presume there is a reason for the sconces to be so low so I would suggest you replace them with 1) larger ones, and 2) a style that makes them look taller (such a shown below, or for a more modern look, a cylinder shape).
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Dan
last year
I think it’s odd that there’s one shutter I’d just take it down. I’d replace the light fixture with something modern that hangs a bit. Think gaslight style, I can’t really see the door but I’d take the storm door off. Maybe replace with something that lets some light in. The brick is already painted? You could sponge paint it or freshen it up. The hedges could be trimmed down. Add two potted plants/flowers by door. Definitely cut the hedges add some flowers.
jck910
last year
I agree remove the shutters. Paint the gable the grayish of the brick's mortar. I like storm doors but think they should be the color of the door. Without the black shutters I think a medium blue door would look nice. I would square off the columns but keep them white. Look at BM Vandeusen Blue, Gentlemens Gray, Van Cortland Blue
Alicia Krawczak
Original Author
last year
To those who say remove the shutters, does it make a difference if other windows on the front have shutters? The others are to the right of the porch
PRO
Alice Ivan
last year
Either all windows have shutters or none especially the 2 at front door. Shutters don't go with this style of home. Definitely cover pillars in wood posts. Remove iron railing or add wood to it as well.
Alicia Krawczak
Original Author
last year
The railing is PVC. It's terrible!
PRO
Alice Ivan
last year
You could 86 whole railing all together then. Round pillars can work.
grapefruit1_ar
last year
I would do as Celery suggested and then get professional landscaping. That will have the biggest impact on the overall look of your house. I cannot imagine not having a storm door. Paint your door a vibrant color. Perhaps raspberry or pumpkin!
grapefruit1_ar
last year
palimpsest
last year
You may be required in your area to have the railings because of the height of the porch, I would check with this locally.
Alicia Krawczak
Original Author
last year
Yes, the railing will need to stay because we have a child but we definitely want to change it for another style.
palimpsest
last year
I would do some sort of white railing so it would disappear against the brick.
Jilly
last year
I’d amp up the charm factor with decorative railings and square white columns. If budget allows, resurfacing the porch floor.

This with white or black rails and black front door.

Off white columns and rails.

Square columns, painted front door.

Ignore awnings, showing white columns and rails:

Landscaping changes will make a huge difference, too.

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