What can be done to make exterior of Dutch Gable home look better?
4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (36)
Related Discussions
How would you make the outside of our house look better?(pics)
Comments (31)Thank you again for all your help, everyone. These are great ideas! I have a whole different concept now. My computer crashed completely. I'm having so much computer trouble neither one of us can get any new photos in but here's an old one already in the computer. This is one of the terraces which go up at each side of the flat space in the middle. We've since stained the wood a very dark brown, and replanted the terraces with brightly-colored perennials, and ornamental grasses, which are doing well. The concrete has been replaced with a more natural stone-like look. There is about 20 feet of space between the patio floor and the top edge of the rocky slope; that area has woolly thyme groundcover and low perennials with stepping stones. On the right-hand side we have a very large bowl fountain with two Asian-style herons standing in grasses near it (all taken in for the winter now). porkandham, bleigh, teacats: I didn't think of putting colorful plants on the deck that can be seen from the road. I love the notion of railing planters. They'll have to be very well secured because of the wind, but I think this will be an amazing help. And I think one large metal art piece will be just the thing for that empty spot on the wall, teacats. We're both art lovers. It will be fun looking for just the right piece. jterrilyn, we hope we won't need a new roof for another decade or so! lynxe,cyn, lolauren, oakleyoak, teacats -- I hope the second photo helps. I get your point about staggered heights and placement on the slope looking better than a solid mass of one plant. We don't want to plant anything very tall because the view is the major attraction, but we could plant several large shrubs in a natural-looking pattern. We had the slope shot with wildflowers when we first built the house, but for a variety of reasons they didn't make it. We have irrigation to the slope that we're not using now, so we can reinstitute that. annz, you're right. Because of the wind a row of pots won't work. I love the idea of a retaining wall "bench", but the outer edge seems to be holding fine, and now that the flat space is all planted people sitting on the wall would probably step on the plants getting there from the patio. livewire, cyn, judith, we did have a structural engineer and the County okay the deck. That was when it only had 4x4's. We changed it to 6x6's for the aesthetics, and it really should be okay now, I think. The deck is 24x12. jane, what a gorgeous yard! I love it. We can't replicate that here, as the climate just isn't right, but thank you for the gorgeous photos. I had to laugh at the deer going swimming in your pool. Nobody here has pools, so they don't get that upscale experience! suzanne, we have bears and mountain lions here, so we'd rather not make it even easier for them to get to the deck. Bad enough we have racoons climbing the posts all the time. We're just a bit too low for aspens to do well here; we have some in the front yard, and they're not very happy. madeyna, we thought about cross supports earlier, but it would obstruct the view. So, thanks to you all, we've been able to look at this freshly, and here's the plan: We're going to plant a tree above the right-hand terrace (as you look at the house in the photo view) so that it will appear to be at the corner of the house. It won't be where the view will be obstructed much. On the left side we'll do a similar placement with a large evergreen shrub so that the tree and shrub don't "match", but harmonize. We're going to get some substantial planters which will hang on the deck railing and be planted with colorful annuals. On the slope instead of that green blanket of junipers I was imagining we'll plant a more natural landscape with a few large scattered shrubs, using a drip system and leaving the rock as is. This won't be expensive, as we have the irrigation still in place that we used for the wildflowers which didn't make it and can easily convert the spray to drip. We'll either block in the posts to make them more substantial-looking or perhaps plant a climbing vine on one of them for color. Everyone, thank you again! All of this will be doable, not expensive, and will make us happy with the way our back yard looks. And thanks also for your concerns about erosion and the safety of the deck; I think we have that handled, but I very much appreciate your caring enough to point out potential problems. Now I can't wait until spring!...See MoreHow to make this home exterior better??
Comments (14)Thanks for the suggestions! i have come up with a couple more ideas and have one question about design styles and if they clash. what do you think about doing the following changes to the exterior... -half circle window to a rectangle -change the dormer to a shed roof style with window -deck extended across full front of house -2 flyover patio roofs located on each side of where the dormer currently sits (leaves small section of front deck uncovered This an idea of the dormer and the roof i am referring too. obviously this is going modern, but I also really like the cedar truss things that go at the end of a pitched roof (not sure what they are called). Maybe on the side of the house or attach a drive under portico off front of decks that incorporate them somehow? can I incorporate any of this into the exterior design or is this a different design style than I just outlined above and would clash etc? Thanks!!!...See MoreSmall house challenge - facade color and trim to make it look better
Comments (19)OMG, I love the way those bushes on the side of the house look! Don't know why I haven't considered that - but that is exactly why this forum exists! Now I will try to find some plants a) grow big, fast, b) are not a primary deer diet staple. In regards to a trim - I am really lost with that, because I feel like those side windows need SOMETHING, but I can't come across too many photos of examples. I have seen some horizontal trim in Europe but didn't take any photos - it was a trim that went around the window but extended about a foot below the window with a "dead space" cutout so the siding was showing through. Say, like if the window is square, but you frame it with a vertical rectangle. Hard to explain. I'm afraid to experiment with it and make this simple "little box" house look like too much was done to it....See MoreWhat can we do to our exterior to make it home appear larger/pretty?!
Comments (54)Your house will never look elaborate. But that's ok. Simple is good. Yes, embrace your house for what it is -- a small, simple, neat home. As others have said, trying to make it something it isn't will only backfire on you. Bigger and fancier isn't better; often I see a bloated, overly complex house on this site and think, "Someone actually built that -- and thinks it looks good." You're starting with something solid and basic ... and you can make it a standout house. If this house were painted a nice color and surrounded by lovely trees and plantings, it would look entirely different. What I'd do to your house: - The simple shape is good, but the color is dull. Paint it blue, yellow or sage green ... do not go white or gray; you need a color that'll bring in personality. Your roof color is simple and can support any of these colors. - Avoid shakes, as they are high maintenance and their color will fade over time. - Paint the porch white. - The white front door is kinda invisible ... so choose a color to accent the new house color. - I see two sad brown chairs hiding on your brown porch ... paint them a colorful shade to match the house color (not white, make them stand out from the porch). They look kinda large for the small porch ... consider smaller chairs and a tiny table to hold a cold drink and a pretty plant. But, at every turn, color. - Once the painting is done, reevaluate the shutters ... I'm not sure what to say about them at the moment. One school of thought is to keep them black to match the roof, but (once the color is done), you might opt to remove them or paint them white? Unsure. - Do you have a light on your porch? I can't see it. Add a lantern-style lamp ... most people make their porch lights too small. On a porch this size, you'll probably only have one light, so make it 1/4-1/3 the height of your door. - Finally add your house number above the porch. - Have a landscaper come out and develop a plan with you ... accept that this will take years to "grow into". Treat yourself to some bright, colorful annuals that'll give you an instant pop of color and a hanging basket of colorful flowers on the porch ... but put most of your effort into things that'll last /take little effort over the years: a couple trees, foundation bushes, a row of hostas around your walkway. Include a birdbath. - Add a solar-powered light on a post near the driveway end of the pathway ... this plus the porch light will look welcoming at night. - When Christmas is over and the wreaths come down, keep a seasonal wreath on your door ... but make it a little larger than the one on your door now. The wreaths on your windows are great....See MoreRelated Professionals
Holly Hill General Contractors · Irving General Contractors · Kettering General Contractors · Mountain View General Contractors · Choctaw Home Stagers · Portland Furniture & Accessories · Genova Furniture & Accessories · Fremont General Contractors · Welleby Park General Contractors · West Melbourne General Contractors · Germantown Siding & Exteriors · Lexington Architects & Building Designers · Bellview Home Builders · Westchase Painters · Amarillo General Contractors- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months agolast modified: 4 months ago
- 4 months agolast modified: 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months agolast modified: 4 months ago
- 4 months agolast modified: 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
- 4 months ago
Related Stories

ART8 Ways Vermeer’s Work Can Make Its Mark in Your Home
Go Dutch with stained glass, Oriental rugs, checkered floors and delft tile
Full Story
EXTERIORS8 Homes With Exterior Paint Colors Done Right
Get ideas for an exterior palette from these homes that run the gamut from Mediterranean to modern
Full Story
EXTERIORS10 Ways to Bring Charm to Your Home’s Exterior
Give your facade, driveway or garage doors a more appealing look to make a strong first impression
Full Story
CURB APPEALWhat to Know About Getting Your Home’s Exterior Trim Painted
Learn when it makes sense to change the color of your exterior trim and how much this project might cost
Full Story
EXTERIORSTake It Outside: How to Use White on Your Home’s Exterior
The right shade of white on walls or just trim will make your house look crisp and clean
Full Story
MOVINGMaking a Home Away From Home
Feeling like a stranger in a strange land? These tips can help ease the transition after a big move
Full Story
EXTERIORSHouzz Call: Show Us Your Home’s Exterior Makeover
Have you improved the curb appeal of your house? If so, we’d love to see the before-and-after
Full Story
GREAT HOME PROJECTSReady to Repaint Your Home’s Exterior? Get Project Details Here
Boost curb appeal and prevent underlying damage by patching and repainting your home’s outer layer
Full Story
CURB APPEALHow to Get Your Home’s Stucco Exterior Painted
Learn what’s involved in painting a stucco exterior and how much this project might cost
Full Story
GREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Get Your Home’s Exterior Painted
Learn how to hire and work with a painting contractor to get the best results
Full Story
ci_lantro