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Exterior Remodeling Design Dilemma

exterior makeover this ugly house.

last month

Hi all! This house was built in 1928 and originally was an English cottage style with rolled roof edges.
Someone came along in the 90’s and added on did a bunch of tacky things to it… such as the lions and balusters, etc.
I’m going to redo the exterior and replace windows, doors, stucco, roof, landscape etc.
I’m trying to decide on a direction to go with it. We’re in the Santa Barbara area and so I’m thinking Spanish.
Here’s what I’m thinking-

Change the hip gable to an open gable
Ditch the balusters and do solid plaster walls and some iron railings
Scale down the windows and replace with windows that have grids
Smooth stucco
Landscape!
Redo roof with a nicer Spanish tile

What do you think? Or should I try to go back to the English style?
Any feedback would be great!

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Comments (9)

Kendrah
last month
Yes, without a doubt, if you can afford to, then do it. Look for historic pics online of what other homes like this looked like you your city. Extensively drive your neighborhood to see if any homes have been restored, or better yet, never touched. See what cues you can take from them.
HU-910663146
last month
I'd start small and see what it looks like before changing too much
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I think the faux Tudor look needs to go. Maybe just paint out the wood trim boards criss-crossing your stucco if you can't remove them. I would go for a sage green top and either a bright green front door or some other light and bright color. Add a light to the front door area so the door is visible. I can't see your walkway to the front door. I assume you have one. If you don't or if the walkway is thin/skinny, replace with a nice wide walkway at least 42-48 inches wide. Have a nice large (deep) planting bed all along the walkway. Something like this pic below. In fact, have a professional landscaping plan put together by a landscape designer - not the guys that maintain lawns, but someone that is a landscape designer by profession. An amazing amount of curb appeal comes from good landscaping. A good landscape designer also designs hardscape. Landscaping is the finishing touch for your home.
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I think the house is very nice looking, and probably wouldnt do much at all with it, except, either get the roof cleaned, or a new roof. I dont know which one is currently the color of your door, but, I like the red door the best. The blue color looks a bit washed out and faded. Its hard to tell about landscaping on there, because of the time of year, but, it does look like you could put your paint money into landscaping instead.
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I love those ideas above, thank you all so much!! Those photos and the photoshop one especially give me such a great visual on how it could look! I love the white with black/dark charcoal window look, and of course the red door I’m partial to 😊 I took a look at those romabio products, would love to use them but haven’t found anywhere in Canada nearby that carries them! we were going to wait for spring before any pruning or removal, to see what is actually alive and what we have out front. A lot of pruning is definitely on the list. Our spring comes pretty late here, so we won’t be able to get started until may/June!
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Comments (16)
You could also replace the lattice (which doesn't suit the house style) with a wood, "fencing" style - ie horizontal or vertical, narrow planks. If stone doesn't work out for some reason. I would stain the steps, that wood replacement, and any wood front door a darker brown than the orange-y roof, or a grey-brown that is compatible with the roof, or a darker version of whatever you put on the body of the house. Use the same color on your trim around the windows and doors. My goal is to reduce the visual impact of the large orange-y roof by bringing complementary but not matching colors. Of course, you might like the roof color - I just don't, but I have seen good use of colors that work well with it. If you decide to address the stucco, I suggest that you choose a lighter color for the house, and a darker shade for the huge garage - to make the house stand out more, and the garage visually recede a bit. Two nice planting areas that follows the curves of the driveway approaches to the garages, will also reduce the visual impact of the garages. Plant it with a mix of smaller/lower perennials and evergreens where it is more in front of the house, and add a few taller shrubs (not any that will get too big or require a lot of pruning to keep in check) and/or small trees - maybe even a dwarf fruit tree if you'd like - in front of the garages. That will also help to balance out the large tree there. It's a beautiful specimen but hides most of the house.
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Kendrah
last month
Get some good digital renderings for all of the changes you want to make. See what it looks like and prioritize. The windows and balistrades seem to shout 1990s the loudest.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last month
Is this located on an island somewhere? It's important to keep the local vernacular in architecture.
S Hill
Original Author
last month
No, this is a hillside home in Southern California ( near Santa Barbara) . It sticks out like a sore thumb. My neighborhood is Tudor and Spanish revival mostly, all built in the 1920’s.
Here’s another photo
S Hill
Original Author
last month
Here’s a crude rendering of what I have in mind
kazzh
29 days ago
In looking at your neighbours, the one to the right in your area photo looks to be of similar era given the chimney and roofline. I note the roof is similar so this actually might be the original roof line. The bright orange tile might not be! If you want to try and put it to rights, definitely try to locate some original pics. Local libraries often have good resources.

Have your neighbours been there for a while? If they have, they might have photos where your house makes an appearance in the background and reveal the pre 90’s version.
Kendrah
29 days ago
Your rendering shows a front door that, I believe, is not currently visible. It adds to much to the front of the house. What is on the interior of your house in that area?
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
29 days ago
I would get a good architect involved ASAP, someone who has done a lot of Spanish Revival homes. I don't think going back to English cottage works for your neighborhood, particularly if you plan to keep the stucco. I'm sure s/he can bring a lot of suggestions to the party, and elevate the look even beyond what you have imagined.

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