Curb appeal help needed

14 years ago

last modified: 14 years ago

We are looking for low cost ideas to improve our curb appeal - house on the left. Right now it is just ugly. We might have stucco in decent shape under the vinyl siding (you can see identical house next door in stucco) but don't know for sure yet. I hate the unbalanced look of upstairs. Front steps have horrible pipe railing and carpet that has come unglued and been cut off. Landscaping comments welcome too!

Featured Answer

ourfarmhouse

14 years ago

last modified: 14 years ago

Heather,

Here are some suggestions to get to a (mostly) low-cost solution. I agree that it's always good to go to an architect, but I think you'll pair down costs if you have some ideas in mind.

One problem that you'll have when you go to sell this place is that you have the mirror image next door. This is your chance to differentiate, and make you house into a cool place instead of one that you're trying to hide.

1. Expose the stucco and paint it a contrasting color to the one next door. A great color for a modern home like yours is gray...in this case, a medium charcoal.

2. Since you're talking about possibly getting rid of the bay window, swap it out with a box bay. An aluminum cladding would make this sing. The window swap is the one thing that will cost you a bit of money in any case...but in this case I think it will plus up the house enough to hopefully be able to ask for more when you go to sell.

3. Get a modern entry door and paint it orange, or some pop of color. Usually a warm tone goes well with gray.

4. As, for the carpet, If you can't beat it, join it. Either paint it or re-carpet in a charcoal gray tone. Not the best solution, but one that may help you keep your sanity. Scraping adhesive can be a bear. If you can get it off, even better.

5. For an inexpensive punch, add slats of wood to balance the upper front of your house. Space them off with vertical 4X4s stained the same tone. This complements the modern style of your house, adds texture and a little bit of depth. The interplay of the stucco, the aluminum-cladding on the bay and the wood slats makes it current and feels warm and earthy.

Ipe would be a great material for this, but to be more budget-conscious you could go with cedar. The slats should be square-cut...no rounded edges.

6. To help this feel less like just a facade, add a fence in the same style to the left side of the house. This will give a balance in use of materials, warm up all that gray on the left side of the house and maybe create a little courtyard. It should be set back from the front of the house maybe a foot.

7. Landscape with low-maintenance plantings. Clumps of prairie grasses are a great way to boost the natural modern appeal.

For reference on the slats and box bays...

Linden Hills Contemporary · More Info

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Comments (19)

lefty47
14 years ago
HI - Heather - There are a lot of these type houses in my city . This is not going to be that easy. Their is not much you can do about the unbalanced look of the upper part unless you add another window. . I dought there is stucco under the vinyl siding . If you can afford to stucco , then just do the lower part and then have the top part covered with horizontal wood boards in a natural stain . For the front steps ,you could have some comosite deck boards installed over the concrete and have some new side rails made w/ tempered glass sides or spindles or linear rails. Putting some brick or stone work on the sides of the walkway to widen it to match the width of the steps. Then add somemore perannials. I hope this helps .
PRO
Dytecture
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
Hi Heather, looks like your home is located in a more central area of the city. I think a low height landscape stone barrier between the side walk and the front lawn would give high impact, some separation, and take people's attention away from the unbalanced 2nd level. The handrail can be replaced with wood to make it more substantial.

Good Luck.
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PRO
Joseph I. Mycyk Architects, Inc.
14 years ago
As I look at your home I see the previous Owner's attempts at modernizing or distinguishing the home from the adjacent were not successful.

The exterior rhythm of the house is just wrong. The bay window, the horizontal siding, and the dark carpet runner on the stairs.....just all wrong. The adjacent home's geometry has calm rhythm.

Once again, we don't know what your budget is, but if you could eliminate the bay window and install a large picture window or even a combo of fixed picture above a awning window, that would be a great start at getting the geometric shapes back in order.

If the anticipated stucco underneath is repairable and you can clean up the stairs you will find the home to be much easier to look at.

If you want to distinguish your home from the other, you can consider a different color finish on the stucco.
Heather M
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks! We had originally planned an extensive face lift (no ideas but were going to look for an architect) but then decided since the house is on a busy street it doesn't make a lot of sense to put a pile of money into it as it would never come close to being worth the investment (a renovations guy and a realtor both concurred). Since we're not sure we want to be here for the next 18 years, it makes more sense to go with less money and maximize our impact for dollar. Adding another window could be a possibility as we need new windows anyway but that is more cost and if we can get away without it we will. Thanks for the good ideas!
PRO
Joseph I. Mycyk Architects, Inc.
14 years ago
I suggest you talk to an architect. Usually, your first meeting is no charge, but ask the architect on the phone first.

Adding a window is not the same as replacing existing windows with new windows.
It is much more involved because it involves framing for structure, drywalling, trimwork,etc.

What is a "renovations guy" anyway? I'm just curious sometimes at to the background and experience of some out there that offer suggestions. I just don't understand where being on busy street justifies how much money you put into the house.

You could live there for 5 years, you should only put in what you can afford budget wise and feel you can get some back in resale if that is the purpose of your original purchase of the house.
Heather M
Original Author
14 years ago
The renovations guys is a guy from a big company here that does primarily new builds but they also have a renovations division. They seem to have good references and a good name and history in the area. I think the concern is about what we'll get back in resale. The value of the property tops out at a certain point b/c it's on the busy street and we don't want to put into it more than we can get back, as you said. The cost of adding a window was daunting but I like your idea of maybe just replacing the bay window, but I suppose then we'd have to do something about the part under it, which might require stucco repair, but then again we could need to do that anyway. I'm glad to know the first consultation with an architect could be free. The main reason we hadn't consulted one was cost (I really have no idea how much they cost!).
PRO
Joseph I. Mycyk Architects, Inc.
14 years ago
It costs nothing to call an Architect, speak with them on the phone explaining what you have and what you would like to do, and you would like to know what options you may have based on a budget you set for yourself. Ask if the Architect charges for a first consultation. You would be surprised how much information you can get in just a phone converstation and an initial meeting.

Good Luck!
sharleeg
14 years ago
Heather. I feel that you are right in thinking not to make too much of an investment in trying to make this house looks like something else.. reinventing the wheel as it were.
I would leave the bay window, not add another window , far too costly.. and focus on these things that will bring value to your home.
1. Though that tree is lovely, it obscures the entire left side of your house making you focus only on the section where weird windows are. I would (sadly) remove that tree. It has grown too large for the space now. ( I had to do this with about 3 mature shrubs in an investment house I own. It made an amazing difference!)
2. Add more landscaping to beautify and take the eye away from the structure so much. Plant another shorter tree, add more LOW shrubs.. create a large bed area with a large fairing kidney shape all along the left side. This will help greatly.
3. Remove that carpet, add wood rail, paint that and your front door an interesting color that works with the browns/beiges you have.. maybe a blue.
4. if you have the budget, remove the straight sidewalk and create a more flared ( coming in from the left as you are facing house)walkway, maybe in brick or flagstone.. something with interest.
I think these things will greatly improve your curb appeal and you will likely get that back in resale.
Don't spend money on that structure itself. That is a waste in my opinion.
Good luck!
PRO
Joseph I. Mycyk Architects, Inc.
14 years ago
Sounds like someone encouraging to do "smoke and mirrors" work and hope that the next buyer has bad eyesite, bad attention, and looks at the hope when there's also fog out there.
Heather M
Original Author
14 years ago
I think I'll get that phone conversation with an architect. The problem with the carpet is that it was glued down and where it has been removed, hard to see in the photo, is just an ugly mess of old glue and stains. So we need to do something to address that regardless. If we have to cover it with something as a PP suggested I'd like a professional to give us a thought about it and the rest. Like I said, I'm hoping the stucco underneath (we're pretty sure it's exactly like the next house but was covered in vinyl) is in good shape and that wouldn't cost as much to fix up. I appreciate the input re: the landscaping but hate the thought of taking that tree down. Where we are trees are not so plentiful so it feels like sacrilege to take it down. But low bushes, etc. are probably a good idea. The shame of it is that we renovated the inside and it's really quite nice in our humble opinions (and those of many who have visited). So we would like the outside to at least not turn people away. Perhaps an architect can come up with some ideas for us and I'll run the changing the window out by them too as I think that makes some sense if we're replacing windows anyway. Might consider another color for the stucco too as I think the beige is just dull and I would like it to look a little brighter/more interesting than next door. It's actually not a bad house. An inspector when we bought it said it was very solidly built and a good buy. Just not that attractive so whatever we can do within reason, we'd like to do!
sharleeg
14 years ago
very funny Joe.. coming from an architect, I'd expect that :) She did say low cost. She can have a great curb appeal without hiring an architect incorporating some of those ideas in my opinion. Been there, done that.
Heather M
Original Author
14 years ago
I think he was suggesting that I could gain a lot of info from a phone conversation and could maybe even get a free consultation, which I hadn't known was possible. I really appreciate that any of you took the time share your thoughts. Thanks again!
jonnymac
14 years ago
that last idea looks pretty good. I think landscape that anchors you to the bottom floor would be great. I wouldn't get rid of that tree. More mature plants is something that makes older homes more attractive. If anything I would trim the bottom up a little higher and build a showcase underneath it.
ajgatley
14 years ago
Wow, impressive work ourfarmhouse. It would cost a bit to do, but the result is outstanding
Kasia
14 years ago
@ourfarmhouse -very balance look, and great curb appeal. You will notice this house thanks to the trendy colors and bold accents. Wood siding adds soft touch! I would spend an extra money and do it this way. It will be a great investement in my opinion. The tree should go. It covers good part of the home and since home is a small scale you should select smaller plants.
turnerc3
14 years ago
@ourfarmhouse U ROCK! What a transformation.
Heather M
Original Author
13 years ago
Just realized I've never said thanks to @ourfarmhouse! My husband and I both loved the ideas. We have confirmed it's stucco over the entire house. Not sure of the condition everywhere until we pull the siding off but I love the grey, the box window and the cedar accents. I'd been thinking prairie grasses too. The orange is really bold for me but I like it. Though it's very belated - thanks a million for the thought and effort you put in. We are hoping to pull this off in the spring!
ourfarmhouse
13 years ago
Good deal! Hope everything goes well. Please post pictures.

Curb appeal help needed

ourfarmhouse

Comments (19)

lefty47

Dytecture

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