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Remodeling Landscape Design Design Dilemma

Exterior help on multi level home

2 months ago

Looking for some assistance to update curb appeal and possibly make an addition to the back of the house. This house has multiple levels. The kitchen, entry, small dining room, half bath and garage are all on the entry level. It splits up and down with an additional small basement under the entry level. We want to make the garage larger to accommodate three cars. We have removed the large landscaping items on the front of the house and there is now a fence in the backyard

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Comments (3)

btydrvn
2 months ago
There are so many options to consider…a really talented architect could be a good thing to explore…with so much land it may be possible to add a big garage separate from the house much cheaper….add a-second floor over-the existing garage? …and convert both floors to living space?…adding more big windows would be on my “must list”…as natural light makes every room more inviting … any changes will be effected by what the current layout is…and what your lifestyle needs are…and lastly an idea of how much money you are willing to invest?…an architect can hopefully help to increase the value beyond the investment amount,as well
Ali
Original Author
2 months ago
We are in North Dakota the winters can be brutal and long. A large garage would also give a space for the kids to release pent up energy as well. Walking outside from garage to house in -60 is less than ideal around here. The split on the side makes it difficult for me to visualize. And I have yet to find any house similar with the garage facing the way ours is. Most tri levels have a more “inviting” front entry way.
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Budget and building codes permitting, you could recreate your entry. You might ... Remove the first floor roof from above the front stoop -- everything from the brick to the garage. Create a new forward facing gable roof over that area beginning at the ridge of the upstairs -- at least at that height or even above it -- and extending the roof of that forward facing gable to a point at least twelve feet in front of the downstairs exterior wall. About six feet of this will be your new front entry foyer with your front door moved to the new exterior wall facing the road. The rest will be your new front porch. Alternately, you could extend the forward facing gable roof only six or eight feet beyond the front exterior of your home to create your new entry foyer and then add a shed roof with two hip corners for your new front porch. You'll be enlarging the upstairs room on the left by extending the floor of that upstairs room into the vaulted ceiling space above your new porch; then you can move the original window to that new upstairs exterior wall of your forward facing gable. What front door and front porch post style you use will help define/redefine you home. You could also add an arbor across your garage that coordinates with the posts you use for your new porch.
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Thank you for the suggestions @ decoenthusiaste, @ Momofthree Ma and @ Beth H. We are on a limited budget, so we won't be able to replace the siding. Do either of you have suggestions on the best way to add window trim? Will we need to have someone remove part of the siding and re-flash the windows to do this Also, do you have any suggestions for what we could do with the steps? We don't have a budget to build a porch, but could make some minor mods to this structure. We will be adding some landscaping this fall.
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Comments (6)
If you see a house with a color you like don't be afraid to stop and ask. I did that once and they were very accommodating and even pulled out the paint cans as that is the only way they knew what it was. I think a dark gray would look great and you could go darker on the trim or stick with white if you want the windows to blend more. Don't be afraid to paint the garage doors. If they stay white they'll look like a feature and if same color as the house they'll blend in more and not stick out as much. None of the pictures showed the garage doors so not sure what they look like to give other input.
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Comments (2)
Yea it is confusing with the rendering. Sorry about that! The rendering is simply for house design reference. I notated what material is on what part of the house for help in what color should be put where. I’ve read that you’re supposed to use the same color on the same materials. Not sure if that rule is one to follow or not.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 months ago
If you are planning to change thewhole house witha bigger garage and an additon then IMO wait until that is done before worrying about curb appeal I agree an architect can be a huge asset in making all of this look as if it has always been there .I really dislike attached garages but understand the need where it is really cold. IMO head the additon should go where the garage is and then the garage at the back but you need ana architect and my guess is this will not start work until spring so you have time to really think about what is best. Waht are planning for the addition? This looks like quite a large home so mor einfo is always a good idea.

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