Exterior Update Help - 1960's Yellow Brick Ranch

11 years ago

My wife and I want to give our house some more personality. Currently, our house has zero curb appeal. The front exterior of the house is boring and drab. The landscaping is virtually non-existent. We have driven past our own house several times because many houses on our block look virtually identical. Like many people (I assume), we want to make as much of an impact as possible without investing too much money.

We want to give the house a mid century nod. We like clean lines and de minimus designs. We have considered painting the brick but cannot make up our minds. We want long, low, horizontal cedar planters. We have a large fenced in back yard. Eventually we plan to replace the current privacy fence with a privacy fence made from matching horizontal cedar.

Our house is short and long... rather than fighting those features, we think we should try to play to them. I have posted some photos, which we hope are helpful. In case you cannot tell from the photos, the shingles are a bluish grey. Obviously, the bricks are light yellow.......

Any [constructive] input is appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

groveraxle

11 years ago

You could build a wall.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (49)

kairouriahsmom
11 years ago
I like both the grey and olive colour options, but for myself I would use the same colour for the shutters as the garage door in the grey option. Also, with the olive palate, I'm thinking a wood garage door would be really nice and break up some of the green.
kairouriahsmom
11 years ago
And I love your planter idea. I think that in itself will give you exactly the look you're going for.
Related Professionals
Magnolia Interior Designers & Decorators · Great Bend Interior Designers & Decorators · South Bend Interior Designers & Decorators · Traverse City Interior Designers & Decorators · Potsdam Interior Designers & Decorators · Orangeburg Architects & Building Designers · Lima Architects & Building Designers · Selma Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Dalton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · California Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Burlington Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Binghamton Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lancaster Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · El Paso Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Magog Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks kairouriahsmom! I can definitely see what ur saying about breaking up the green and I like the idea of making the shutters and garage door the same in the grey option. I assume u approve of painting brick? It is probably important to not there is a small addition on the back sided in new vinyl siding that is white. So I tend to lean toward a paint color that would make the addition seem less for the original structure a much as possible! Thanks again!
kairouriahsmom
11 years ago
I have no problem with painted brick. But I actually quite like the colour it is now. And like I said, the planters will make all the difference in achieving the mid century look. Taking the white siding on the addition into consideration, I'd probably lean toward the grey option.
PRO
Maltby Design
11 years ago
The planter is is the beginning of a good direction. I might increase their height a bit to align with the Living Room window sill and possibly pull them forward of the house to give enough room for a front patio/terrace. It might be nice to have room for sitting out front and watching the world go by. The shutters don't really lend themselves to the MCM feel you're after so I'd be inclined to remove them. I don't recommend painting the brick as that can cause moisture retention and becomes a maintenance issue. I would replace the garage door with something that emphasizes the horizontality of your home such as the frosted glass, segmented doors I specified on this project:
Forest Hills, North Vancouver Exterior Renovation - After · More Info
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Maltby! We're not too keen on the garage door either so thanks for the horizontal suggestion!
Teresa Rutherford
11 years ago
I agree that the shutters do not match the mcm lines you want to enhance, my ideas are keep natural brick, remove shutters, love the planter idea, horizontal lines on new cedar garage door and new front door painted with a colorful color to draw eye to it. Have fun and enjoy
snobunyz24
11 years ago
This is an interesting article about mid centrury exterior colors. http://www.madformidcentury.com/2012_06_01_archive.html#.UUpLOVeyI-o. I do like your third option w the grey and would agree... Shutter colors should make garage and I would use a pop of atomis yellow for front door.
snobunyz24
11 years ago
Mailbox
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Sellable Home and Snobunyz! Seems like there is consensus on the shutters not matching the MC nod. These ideas are great for adding much needed pop! Extra thanks for the article and color ideas!
snobunyz24
11 years ago
I love the yellow door in trhe third photo, you could consider adding natural wood to either side of the door like picture two, and I'm just obsessed with the first photo (I added for good measure)
snobunyz24
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I think sides of the door trimmed out in the horizontal boards paired w a bright yellow door would look phenomena- and that would carry your eyes from the wall into the rest of the homel. Looks like you would have enough room if the shutters were down. Good luck and please post updates!
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks again Snobunyz! We hadn't thought of trimming the door with wood but we love that idea and that pic u posted! I think we could make it work like u said if the shutters are down. Thanks! We will post updates asap
nanasuesto10
11 years ago
Recently I took my very similar ranch and turned it into a Craftsman style house! The deep overhangs and not so steep roof works well in that style. I chose sage green with creamy tan trim. Your half way there by changing your trim to the sage! The garage would be painted the sage as well. Ever thought about dry stack ledge stone in tans and brown under the main window vs planter boxes? That's what I chose. A new Craftsman style door would give much needed curb appeal.. And painted in a coral-pink for a punch of color. Lastly, could buy some 'lites' to insert in windows, again painted sage to give windows some added design!
nanasuesto10
11 years ago
Btw. I'd remove the shutters if you add the lites to the windows...
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Nanasuesto! Any chance you can share some photos of how ur house turned out?
Michelle
11 years ago
I would paint the brick a dark gray.
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you Michelle! I have been looking for pics of a simple ranch with painted brick! I like the dark grey from that photo. Coupled with an atomic yellow door and cedar planters it would look very sharp and maybe give the MC nod we're looking for! Thanks!
linlac
11 years ago
Hodierne, I have the same yellow brick dilemma on my 60's ranch. I bought the house with the full intention of painting the brick. Reading the posts on Houzz and advice from others scared me away from painting the brick immediately. I made small changes like new windows and trim to match the brick. Well guess what? I still hate the brick and could have made better changes going with a color I truly like. Do you like the brick. If so, work with it. If you don't like the brick paint the house a color you love. Hope you post what you decide. By the way, I have a sage green in mind for mine. My roof is brown.
partim
11 years ago
MCM landscaping often uses grasses rather than roundish evergreens.
partim
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Search in Houzz for "grasses landscaping" in photos, and you'll see lots of wonderful combinations of grasses in different heights, colors, fluffiness. Very MCM.

Grounded - Modern Landscape Architecture · More Info

Water Feature · More Info
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Linlac thank you for the encouragement! We don't care much for the brick color. Many houses on the block are the same color and although we want to fit into the neighborhood, we want our home to reflect our individual personalities too. I have a good friend who works at Sherwin Williams and has encouraged painting the brick with the right products. I think using the right product will be key... i.e. allowing brick to breath or keeping the no maintenance aspect. Thanks again!
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Partim - thanks for the picture and suggestion! Grass like that could really add to the clean lines as opposed to round shrubbery!
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Grover - thank you! We hadn't considered a wall but that looks very appealing! Those windows happen to be for a bedroom so the wall could add extra privacy! Thanks for the suggestion and for the visual as well!!
User
11 years ago
I would add some flowers to the front of the house. It would add a pop of color so it doesn't look, as you said, drab and boring. Also, having a cherry wood door with a simple but pretty glass design would complete the look.
groveraxle
11 years ago
Shades of gray:
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Sarah I definitely agree that flowers are needed for some pop of color! Thanks for the pic! I want some low growing evergreen ground covers or "shrubs" bc we live in a climate with hot summers but very cold winters and we'd like to keep at least greenery all year round. Thanks again!
hodierne87
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks again Grover! The wall and grays looks pretty sharp! May I ask how you edit these photos so nicely?
nanasuesto10
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Hopefully my photos can give you an idea what you can do with a 'ranch' house! Believe me when I tell you that mine was very similar to yours. The front door was moved to the right; the porch and front door added; dry-stack stone under windows, the base of columns and chimney; false dormers and new garage doors. The siding was replaced with sage green vinyl siding with creme colored trim. The windows have also been replaced [were very old and dated] and chose the Craftsman theme...
nanasuesto10
11 years ago
This is the new front door [can't figure out how to add more than one picture at a time!]
nanasuesto10
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
This is the view from the other end of the house... the new landscaping is next, come spring!!!
Teresa Rutherford
11 years ago
Grover....great visuals as always!
PRO
Craft-Modern
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Here is another fun option for your mid-century front door...totally customizable.
PRO
Craft-Modern
11 years ago
I forgot to add the rainbow door. I like the symmetry of this one. There are 9 colored acrylic lenses to choose from, and 2 glass options (clear and frosted).
dassms
11 years ago
I'd like to pile on and agree with the other posters who recommended getting rid of the shutters - they're not doing anything for the MCM feel you want. I love Grover's ideas - new door and asymmetrical pavers leading to it put the emphasis on the front door as the entrance to the house (rather than the garage - so many of these homes look like garages for cars with houses attached as an afterthought). I would further de-emphasize the garage door by painting it (and the trim) the same color as the brick. I also loves Grover's wall idea on the left! I might lower the height a bit so the tops of those great bedroom windows are just visible from the street, and likewise pull it just to the left so that more of that gorgeous new front door is visible from the street as well. I'm an historic preservationist by training, so I want to put my two cents in for keeping that gorgeous blond brick au natural, for maintenance/preservation reasons in addition to aesthetics. I have a similar brick on my 1960s ranch house, and it was one of the first things that drew me in! If you want color, I'd add it with a pop of color on a MCM front door, and subtle tints in the concrete of the wall and pavers, especially in your apparently 4-season climate. Although we typically think of brighter and pastel colors as being indicative of a MCM house, most often the shells were mostly earth tones (reflecting the connection with the landscape) with only pops of color, usually one or two at most. A restrained hand with landscaping materials is also important - love those grasses! Good luck, and please post photos of your final (or pre-final) results!
mariaemohin
10 years ago
I like the green option. I like that door too.
clarepdx
9 years ago
I know it's been some time since you posted this. I'm wondering what program you used to change the house color and add planters.
allisonmicheles
9 years ago
Interested as well. I have a home very similar to yours. Blonde brick ranch from the 1960's.

Hoping to spruce up our curb appeal this year.
Denita
9 years ago
More importantly, what did the original poster do? I would love to see their home now hopefully with grover's changes:)
nicolediane
9 years ago
I would add a wall or fence.
cesira17
9 years ago
I have a similar exterior home. Boring yellow brick, grey roof. I want to paint our garage door and start updating the exterior, but we are not ready to commit to the work involved in painting the brick. What design tool did you use to test color options and design ideas on the photo of your home?
Danny Leal
8 years ago
Hodierne87 and Groveraxle

Could you share what program you use to edit photos of the homes?
Rhonda Gilbert
4 years ago
Hi all,

I’m wanting to change the roof colour . I live on a rural property and would like a colour that would do justice to the countryside ! Any help would be greatly appreciated !
Rhonda Gilbert
4 years ago
The door , poles and gutters are paperbark . I’m thinking paperbark roof ? Your thoughts
partim
4 years ago
Please start a new thread for your house.
Rhonda Gilbert
4 years ago
How do I do that please . Thank you Rhonda
partim
4 years ago
@Rhonda Gilbert Go back to this page and just start typing where I put the red X.
Rhonda Gilbert
4 years ago
Thank you !