California home with identity crisis

last year

Hi all!
I just bought this house in a coastal town in Southern California. I bought it for the ocean view and location and the interior which has loads of potential and character. HOWEVER, I hate the exterior… it used to be a Tudor style ( this house was built in 1928) which is a weird style for this area that is known for Spanish style homes. In the 1990’s someone did some really weird stuff to it… they tried to make it look like a villa in lake Como or something.
The result is confused and tacky!
I would love some ideas to make improvements to the facade.
So far I plan to replace all windows and doors, redo stucco, plaster over rock chimney and I’d like to get rid of the balusters. I’m also considering removing the strange front entry and the balcony above and doing a porch with wider balcony.
The house needs color, wood accents, plants and a style directions.
I’d also like to get rid the the weird clipped gable.
I would love to do a Spanish style but I’m afraid it might not work with the steep roof pitch. I wonder what it would cost to lower the roof angle.
Any ideas or input?
Thanks everyone!

Featured Answer

PRO

Mark Bischak, Architect

last year

When I was a little kid, my parents took me to a house that was owned by my father's good friend's brother in northern Michigan. The yard was overgrown with weeds, abandon rusty farm implements were scattered in the yard, the house was covered with tar paper, and the driveway was a two track that lead to a dilapidated barn. We stepped into the house and, now, realized the interior could have made into Architectural Digest. It was absolutely beautiful and spotless. The owner of the house told my father that the tax assessor has never seen the inside of the house and never will.

I do not know if this little story applies, but I thought it was entertaining at the very least.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (20)

PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
I would check similar houses in your location. Here is one with balcony instead of roof. I found this idea good enough to rid off clipped gable.

Then change balustrades on glass for example.
Fori
last year
The house next door is classic storybook style and same builder based on the chimney. I think that cutesy whimsy is what you need to put back. Maybe you can Tudor it back up if you can tell how it was done.
Related Discussions
Identity Crisis
Q
Comments (5)
Yes, Nigel! c. pisifera "Boulevard." Fantastic! I believe that's it exactly. Thanks so much! And just in time to print my cards listing each plant in my gardens. I had forgotten that the tree came without identification until I went to check the pot it came in. Thanks for taking time to reply, Lucy, but if you ever decide to become a tree hugger, just make sure you don't choose a juniper--dead or alive--as your subject. They're simply not friendly in either state. Betty
...See More
Kitchen identity Crisis!
Q
Comments (40)
I agree with everything Island said. Did I mention it took us 6 months to find floor tile? We went to several showrooms in Portland OR with our counter and cabinet samples and let the salespeople show us some ideas. We wasted a lot of time trying to go too contemporary because we had a solid colored quartz countertop. I also don't like the faux Tuscan/Old World look. But we ended up with a limestone/travertine style. With your dark cabinets and countertop, I'd find something even lighter than the floor you have now, but not a solid ceramic. Our tile is Daltile Florenza 'Sabbia'-- it has bronzey squiggly lines, light gray, soft gold, and even a little gray-green. Because it has a variation of 4, we have some solid-looking tiles too, which make the floor look yellow. But it looks perfect with the countertop. There's another Daltile Florenza called 'Olivia' that's darker and might work for you. I haven't seen it, and it looks a little brown on their website, but then ours looks a little pink and also in our photos. But it's not.
...See More
Stickley's other identity (crisis)
Q
Comments (52)
fori, I was actually surprised how dead-on the form of your piece actually was to those early 19th c. examples. I was expecting a little more artistic license but while they appeared to take details Off, they didn't really try to stick anything else On, and that's good :) jterrilyn, I am also a fan of this type of furniture, whether moderne or colonial-revival. The better examples still pretty much follow the proportions of the originals, and are actually much better scaled than a lot of today's furniture. And even the kind of ugly stuff is still solid as a rock. I have a very small dresser, maybe 15" by 30" by 36" that my mother bought "in the dime store" when she went to college in 1952 it's survived trips from Virginia to Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and back again as well as a flood in my parents old house, and various other traumas, and it is still solid. It probably cost her $5.00 new, it was that era's example of disposable furniture, and 60 years later it's still hanging around.
...See More
Identity Crisis!: Exterior Facelift Advice
Q
Comments (34)
Brick and roof go together well... by intention Im sure. The yellow siding.... well.... not a fan. I would take one of the darker browns/charcoals from the brick and paint siding that color - would give the house more cohesive look - plus cream for trim (more flattering of red brick than stark white). Also as others have mentioned tackle the landscaping now - get your beds established, your trees/shrubs in the ground and growing. Also stain the concrete steps some compatible color. Then, long term work on your master plan - roof colors, windows - really taking time to come up with good budget and design. It sounds to me like your immediate goal is getting your exterior more presentable/appealing now but may not have budget for extensive re-doing of things..? Actually if youve moved in recently, its often recommended to live with a house for a while before committing to major overhauls.
...See More
PRO
Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc.
last year
I think changing the balustrade would update the home immediately.
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
It wouldn't be difficult to make it more Spanish Revival looking. Go with iron railings and some pretty Mexican/Spanish tile accents Here are some examples:

Weston Spanish Revival · More Info

Use greens/blues for window and door trim:

Spanish Revival Restoration · More Info

Add colorful tiles to the stair risers:

Spanish Colonial Whole House Renovation · More Info

As for the roof, unless there's a structural reason for it to have that flat front, I'd bet a contractor could pitch it for you.
decoenthusiaste
last year
last modified: last year
With all those Italianate balusters, I think about this look, although a bit over the top.

Sater Group's "Villoresi" Custom Home Design · More Info

Sater Group's "Villoresi" Custom Home Design · More Info
er612
last year
last modified: last year
Congrats on your new home. I'd embrace the mediterranean style: New garage door, lights and paint.

http://projects.dynamicgaragedoor.com/index/product_list/mediterranean-carriage-garage-doors-custom-made-by-hand

Backyard Exterior · More Info
S Hill
Original Author
last year
Thank you everyone for your feedback! Sabrina, I absolutely love the Spanish revival style and this is what is typical in the area… my only worry was the steep roof pitch being too steep to pull it off!
ER612… wow! thanks you so much! I had green or blue windows in mind ! Love them. What program did you use to do that?
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
It doesn't have to be an exact interpretation. Most California homes done in that style have differences vs. "authentic" Spanish Revival. It's OK.
PRO
Debbi Washburn
last year
last modified: last year
Maybe it's just me, but that house in no way resembles a tudor home ( at least not the ones in my area ) . It looks more Mediterranean.

So many great pictures already posted. I'll add another

I think the windows and door need some sort of darker contrast to the house. Removing those heavy railings all around and replacing with some sort of metal would be great!

I think I would also change the whole setup over the front door. New balcony, thinner columns ( maybe in a nice stained wood ) and if there is room, have the stairs come off both sides of the landing?

Bright side - you have good bones to work with - the house is great!
RedRyder
last year
@er612 Did a great job in “fixing” the look of the house with very little effort. Love the trim colors suggested. And yes, those balusters are very “heavy” looking and would look better as dark iron railings instead,as Sabrina suggested.
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
nice score!

Can't imagine that being a Tudor. But man, did someone love 1992! sheesh. I'd strip down to it's bare bones and start over. Are they any other homes in the neighborhood built at the same time that you could go off of? what about the older neighbors? maybe they remember what it used to look like before the 90's came to be!

I love Sabrina's idea. just go for the Spanish revival.

check out this 1929 manhatten beach home that underwent a beautiful transformation. only two exterior pics, but if you need ideas for the inside, it's really nice!

It has a similar garage door and exterior facade like yours. I like what they did here.

https://whitesandsdesignbuild.com/portfolio/eclectic-spanish-beach-bungalow/

First thing I'd do for your home is paint the stucco a brighter white (like that one above), and pick out a trim color that you like.

This one is similar to yours. (house-wise) the brighter white and blue accent is very pretty.

redo the garage door (wood, wood look w/iron hardware, or that verdi gris color)

AND, I would absolutely do your stairs w/the mexican talavera tile

See how this one has the tile on the risers? Except I would do diff tiles on each riser. or a solid and a print like this one

I gave you that patina green color on your garage. along w/the white stucco

you could trim our your windows or roof fascia w/this gree/blue color. I gave the gate a coat of black paint and added a few inset tiles below the bougainvillea

Do your steps w/this tile, or something similar. (if you need a contact for this tile, I have a source that's cheap. And if you need a color consult, I'm in NoOrange county and would be glad to assist!)

or, maybe more of a denim blue

here's how a wood door would look

this is the stucco color you want and the style garage door.

Here's a spanish revival. I like this stucco white better than yours. notice the wood garage door (see last picture if you're on a budget but want that wood look) and wrought iron railings

Notice the more modern balcony railing w/wood trim.

Or this Newport Beach makeover.

If you like the warmer tones, go for this stucco color and something like Urbane Bronze for the trim. (and windows if you're getting new windows)

Found one at the beach that is more mediterranean and has those heavy balusters like you do

if you have the budget, remove the heavy lake como look and do something like this balcony railing
Clark Street Before/After · More Info

youre at the beach. go for the blues and greens
tozmo1
last year
That rock chimney is super interesting. Please don't cover it, embrace it in your new design.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last year
I think 'design by committee' is possibly how the house got to where it is now.
S Hill
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone! I have decided to hire a very well respected designer out of Santa Barbara to help with this. I absolutely love the Spanish revival style… ( there are many legitimate Spanish homes in the area) but to do it correctly, the hipped gable- steep roof pitch will need to be addressed. Literally no Spanish home has a pitch higher than maybe 6/12 . This is a multi million dollar home so I want to do it right. There are some awesome ideas here. I too envision the pretty tile risers, iron railing etc…
RedRyder
last year
Good call! Having someone to help you is the best idea. Please keep posting your progress.
er612
last year
S Hill - Sorry I missed your question. I used Sherwin Williams visualizer. Glad you hired a designer. Will be beautiful! Please post pics when finished.
elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
I realize that only those flying over the house will notice the two different roof colors...but neither is attractive. How about starting with new roofing? Nothing wrong with a white exterior and an unexpected trim color, but use a new roof to work with the landscaping...brick, guara.
S Hill
Original Author
last year
A new roof is part of the project! We will be changing the roofline as well.
elcieg
last year
Mark, your story makes me think of Redfin. I looked up the house we bought by address; the only pictures that show are those from the listing. It was a sad house, with an unattended yard, a miserable pool, ancient landscaping, and dirty pink wall to wall carpeting. Redfin invites you to upload recent photos. show all improvements. I would never change those photos. . Covid didn't care how bad the house looked like on Redfin...the new suggested value is 2.5 times what we paid for it.