Advice needed for "Fixer Upper" Exterior

11 years ago

We need have a whole house (inside and out) "fixer" that needs a new roof, windows and siding. We will not have a lot of extra $ to spend on major structural changes. If it is even realistic, I am looking for any budget ideas/advice to convert this 70's ranch into a French Country or Semi Mediterranean style with out changing the main low hip roof line?
A couple of Houzz pics that I like:
One of my favorites:

Amherst Exterior · More Info

This one is nice:

Formal French Kitchen Piedmont · More Info

Featured Answer

hayleydaniels

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

That's my yellow lab, Lucy in the profile. Here's a picture of her getting up last spring.

Also, the reason I mentioned getting rid of the stone is to immitate your ideabook pictures.

Here are a few colors that might work. Any paint company can match any color if you have the color code.

Bungalow Beige · More Info

Requisite Gray · More Info

Sherwin-Williams Softer Tan 6141 · More Info

SW 6113 Interactive Cream · More Info

Khaki Shade · More Info

SW 6112 Biscuit · More Info

Another thing I do a lot is use room painter programs on paint websites. Sherwin Williams has one you can upload your pictures to, but it doesn't work very well with exteriors due to glare from the sun. Behr's allows you to apply up to 6 colors of paint to pictures of different rooms or homes. It gives you an idea of how a color might look. You access it with the Preview Color in a Room tab.

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Comments (11)

hayleydaniels
11 years ago
Get rid of all the stone, and put wide painted white trim around the windows like in your examples. Find a nice beige with a grayish undertone to paint the house.
laz_ thanked hayleydaniels
laz_
Original Author
11 years ago
hayleydaniels, do you have any "no fail" paint color names? Is that a Vizsla in your profile pic?
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susangmt
11 years ago
I don't think you should get rid of the stone if you are going for french country labs aping w some evergreens create a walkway
laz_ thanked susangmt
laz_
Original Author
11 years ago
I have considered removing the stone between the windows, leaving it around the garage and using the leftover stone above the garage door, instead the strip of siding. It looks very choppy to me as it is now.
laz_
Original Author
11 years ago
susangmt, what did you mean by "labs aping"?
laz_
Original Author
11 years ago
hayleydaniels, Lucy looks like a very sweet girl, Thank you very much for the color ideas. Coordinating the correct colors is so important and happens to be a huge downfall of mine. Luckily, since we will be replacing everything, I can test them out. :-)
greenfish1234
11 years ago
I like your house. I find a lot of complete style changes miss the mark, even when there is a lot of money spent. I'm guessing there aren't a lot of French country homes In your neighborhood (said the woman building a modern farmhouse out of a ranch in a hood of split-levels and California ranches) Stick with the style you have for a while, fix what needs to be fixed, and build/buy the house you love down the road. Someone will snatch that house right up, but you will have trouble selling a shoestring Italianate ranchvilla.
laz_ thanked greenfish1234
laz_
Original Author
11 years ago
I suppose I was hoping someone with more vision or creativity might suggest ideas to give it a little charm/character.
greenfish1234
11 years ago
Ok, rip out all the boxy landscaping and add lush flower gardens. It will change everything.
laz_ thanked greenfish1234
ycity
11 years ago
I agree with the other reviewer, try to stay within the style of your current home. I like the dark framed windows. A new garage door with some windows may look nice, and landscape!!
laz_ thanked ycity