Exterior Arches or remove and simplify?

last year

last modified: 11 months ago

My contractor has suggested removing the arches to the left of the front door. They are decorative only and currently block the view from the kitchen window. The arch front door could be squared off but is load bearing. The house was damaged by a hurricane and will be re-stuccoed, so now would be a good time to remove them. Just thinking the house would be too plain without them. Considering adding decorative hurricane shutters. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

Added new photo of current house progress. Looks like an entirely different house. Thinking about shutter ideas and maybe a trellis to the left of the small window.

Featured Answer

simplynatural

last year

last modified: last year

My first thought was that I liked the arches and especially the timber beams over the small area they enclose. But it's really too small to be very practical, and as you said, the arched wall blocks your view. What if the arches were removed and a lower wall built farther out from the house to enclose a larger, more usable, private garden/patio area? It could actually connect to what looks like an existing patio on the left side of the house, if the arched opening into that area was extended to ground level. Something like this?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (20)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I do not like them at all. But what is the style you are wanting from the house . This to me is "modern" spanish and not well done so I would remove them all. As for being too plain that will all depend on what you do for windows , garage door and color of stucco and for sure landscaping. If you love the arches then IMO all the windows need to be arched too.
Kim thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Kim
Original Author
last year
If I were to choose a style it would be Modern coastal. This home is near a beach. The arches were an add-on, probably in the 1970's.
Related Discussions
Converting arches to pillars
Q
Comments (28)
I looked at lots of photos of prairie houses and I'm not sure where the connection between my home and a prairie style lies. I think every single one had a shingle roof and none had arches. I did see a lot of brick in those photos so that seems to be the big thing my house has in common. As I think this through I think the money that would be spent on converting the arches would be better spent on some solar and a new roof that will keep the house cooler. We get awfully hot in the summer here. I also dislike the roof a lot more than the arches. So if I had to eliminate one, it would be the roof. I gotta say, this experience of remodeling the house and in a lot of ways transforming it, has been exhausting.
...See More
Window and fireplace remodel! Remove old arches windows
Q
Comments (9)
If it were my house, I’d either remove the fireplace (since it’s not a real wood burning fireplace anyway) entirely and replace it with a window OR I’d remove the fireplace and replace it with a real one if budget allowed. Either way, that fireplace would be gone! Regarding the windows: I think it might make more sense to leave the shape as-is because, really, spending $10,000 to change the shape of those windows is kind of like pissing into the wind. Plus, the curve can be disguised with the right window treatments.
...See More
Paint colors for exterior and remove the diamond-ish trim
Q
Comments (7)
Get rid of the shutters Cut down the bush that is overgrown in the front Figure out what is missing or wrong on the front facade of the house and fix it. I tried a number of items on the image below. I'm not sure if it's missing actual windows or just needs fake windows. I have replaced one of the overly large attic vents and eliminated the arch of the entry.
...See More
Removing arch windows
Q
Comments (4)
Thank you both for your responses. I'm happy to hear that it shouldn't be too complicated. As for the style of the window, should I have grids inside of them? I've removed the grids to get the feel for it, and while it's cleaner, it feels a bit plain. I'm hitting a wall visualizing, as I have never seen the house anyy other way, so outside input is super helpful. Am I on the right track removing the arches, or am Im removing all of the character? What would you do if this were your home? It definitely needs landscaping but am at a poss there as well. I am in Northern Illinois. Thanks!
...See More
ptreckel
last year
I would lean in to the arches. Continue the short ones down to the ground and turn that area into a cute little open patio/lanai space. I would somehow try to make the square windows to the left be less obvious…with landscaping, etc. I even like the curved edges to your garage opening! I would focus on designing a landscape that would compliment the curves. Having the arches doesn’t mean you can’t have modern elements. I might be the outsider here, but I like the arches!
Kim thanked ptreckel
Sigrid
last year
I like the arches, but am not a fan of blocking views. Your landscaping is lackluster at best. The palms suggest you could have stuff blooming all year long. I'd start by planting up your fountain circle. Then review your foundation shrubs.
housegal200
last year
last modified: last year
Remove the arches to unblock your view. Use landscaping to make that side less plain. This is pretty nice with a seating area over by the front door. You could extend your driveway towards the entrance for an inviting patio entryway.
Clean-lined Color · More Info

Do roll-down hurricane shutters since the windows are so small.
Kim thanked housegal200
kandrewspa
last year
It looks like the two arches you're referring to are on a patio wall. Do you want the wall, or would it be better to open that space up? Do you use the patio? I can't tell from the pictures how it is all put together, but I guess now is the time to think about everything related to the exterior.
Kim thanked kandrewspa
K Laurence
last year
last modified: last year
I would definitely remove the arches ( including that little one on the left ) & concentrate my efforts & $ on new landscaping.
Kim thanked K Laurence
ptreckel
last year
OK….so now you are sorting it out. But you do understand that you will need to invest in landscaping, including hardscaping, so that the parts of your home that are now exposed are better integrated into the design.
Kim thanked ptreckel
Kim
Original Author
last year
Any thoughts on if I square off the arches like this? Pretty but not sure my arches are tall enough.
housegal200
last year
No on squared off arches. Practically everyone is suggesting, along with your contractor, that arches be removed. Plan beautiful landscaping and hardscaping of patio area, if that's what it is behind the arches, to open up your house, which is hidden behind the arches. Why are you asking about more arches?
btydrvn
last year
I think removing those little closed areas would be the place to start…if you want to use those spaces for anything .. little decks with pergolas will completely change the look of your home… while removing most of the arches
Kim thanked btydrvn
housegal200
last year
@simplynatural: That looks great! OP should note how beautifully your rendering of landscaping frames the house.
Kim
Original Author
last year
@simplynatural: That looks amazing! Thank you! The visual really helps!
deegw
last year
last modified: last year
I'm sorry about your hurricane damage.

is it possible that the arches were added to protect the house from the sun and heat? If so, if you take them out you may have to think of an alternative way to block the sun.
Kim
Original Author
last year
Thanks @deegw The house faces north.
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
I'd take them down and put in breeze blocks instead.

Dallas, TX: Brian and Katherine · More Info

Mid-Century Breeze Block (Generation 2.0) · More Info

Mid-Century Charm in Vintage Las Vegas · More Info
housegal200
last year
Here are some houses with walls. Some walls are too high, but this will give you an idea. A low wall below the windows as simply natural suggests would open up your entrance yet give you some privacy to sit outside.
Kim
Original Author
last year
@housegal200 Those are great ideas. Thank You!
Kim
Original Author
11 months ago
last modified: 11 months ago

Just wanted to add an update. Here is the current house without the arches, and with new stucco. Still needs to be painted, Probably white with maybe lighter blue accent colors.

I'm thinking of putting an striped awning over the front door area and maybe decorative shutters around the 2 larger windows. A decorative shutter window in the far left area, that will be a shed, and will have a low roof over it.

Will definitely need lots of landscaping, and maybe a trellis for bougainvillea to the left of the small window. Any thoughts? It's taking awhile, but finally seeing some progress. Thanks!