Help with Exterior of Rock Home

14 years ago

last modified: 14 years ago

We have purchased a home with an exterior of local stone. It is on a lot with lots of mature trees, so it is a bit shady and just seems to recede into the shade. We would like to update the look to be more appealing from the street and to look more appropriate for a home in town. We will paint the trim, replace all windows and doors, and we are open to replacing everything but the rock (so the front portico, the bay window and siding could all be replaced or reconfigured). Any ideas on how to make this an appealing home?

Featured Answer

ourfarmhouse

14 years ago

In this case, all stone can be too much of a good thing. Your house could benefit greatly by pulling back on such a hard-edged approach and softening it some around the edges.

Your stone, by itself, looks a bit dated...but if you break it up with other materials and add classic details, you could be the envy of the block.

Here are some suggestions...

1. Update the bay window with a traditional wood box bay. Give it a classic look and tie into your vertical siding with a recessed panel look. By breaking out with another material in a crisp linear shape, you've just added distinct architectural element to your home. The clean white brings contrast and helps it lean towards cottage style.

2. Remove the stone on the top two-thirds of the right side of the home and wrap it in narrow Hardie Plank clapboards. Leave the bottom third as a stone skirt that continues around the side for about five feet and then goes back to full height. Replace the single window with a double window in a style that compliments the windows in the box bay. Replace the entry door with a stain wood one and trim it with thick white trim. The stained door (being a natural material) complements the stone nicely.

3. Make your entrance more grand by making it taller and adding beefy pillars with a stone base. The salvaged stone from the tear-off on the right side could be used for these bases. The board and batten treatment on the gable goes well with the existing treatment on the other gables.

4. Add a curved stone walkway and landscaping that doesn't hug the house so much. Your entrance suddenly feels more friendly.

5. Soften the look more from the street by reducing your driveway to two concrete strips with grass between, instead of a full-on concrete driveway. This further breaks up the stone/concrete monopoly and lends a more lush feel to your new cottage.

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Comments (25)

PRO
Dytecture
14 years ago
Hi Sarah, you can consider resurfacing part of the rock siding with stucco without removing the rock itself. Adding some natural wood trims would enhance the curb appeal of your home along with some landscaping. Good Luck.
michigammemom
14 years ago
A lot of your woodwork looks like it is suffering from rot, and will need to be replaced rather than repainted. Focusing attention on a new sleek metal roof and a contrasting color for the entry door will draw the eye away from the random pattern of your stone. Reseeding your lawn and adding foundation landscaping will also add curb appeal.
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Dar Eckert
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
How lucky to have a stone exterior, it would look nice with medium value wood trim but the trim would also complement the stone in ocre, sage green or charcoal. Do you have any preferences to style? You could go for Italian farmhouse feel and I definately would play up the stone. Notice how the charcoal trim complements the stone in these photos.
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Susan Newell Custom Home Builder, Inc. · More Info

Here's a couple of examples where wood and tile are used to accent the stone.
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Also check out the door.
haitisarah
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the fascinating ideas. We've always dealt with siding before, so this stone is a new direction for us. Dar what an inspired direction of Italian farmhouse!
PRO
Peach Tree Interiors
14 years ago
Your house is great!! I agree with Dar, Italian farmhouse would be perfect add landscaping to match and you will never want to leave home.
elcieg
14 years ago
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WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS PICTURE IS HOW THE LANDSCAPING CONTINUES THE FEEL OF THE HOUSE AND ANCHORS IT. WINDOWS ARE CHARMING, TOO.
pcmom1
14 years ago
Yes, lots of potential here: windows with dark grids, slate roof or dark metal. Create stone patio. That would look great.
PRO
Dytecture
14 years ago
I'm glad to come across a good match with ourfarmhouse, your ideas and rendering are fantastic.
haitisarah
Original Author
14 years ago
Wow, ourfarmhouse, thank you for taking the time to make a rendering of your great design ideas!
ourfarmhouse
14 years ago
Thank you, Dytecture. This site is some good exercise for the ol' brain, don't you think?
ourfarmhouse
14 years ago
You're welcome, Sarah! No problem.
Tania
14 years ago
ourfarmhouse, LOVE your design!!
Dar Eckert
14 years ago
Did you render the right side of the house? I'm wondering if you really need to remove the stone there. It seems the benefit it minimal and will be a lot of work. You have already added enough detail in the wide window trim and painted soffits to add enough interest.
ourfarmhouse
14 years ago
Dar, I do think the lack of stone on the right side helps to both soften and update the house. Too much of this style and application of stone can feel dated. I also feel that changing up textures on a facade adds to visual interest and depth most of the time. Ultimately it's up to the homeowner to decide whether it's a good tradeoff.
PRO
Susan Mills Design
14 years ago
Love it ourfarmhouse! What a little charmer!
PRO
Charmean Neithart Interiors
14 years ago
Although I love the concept of the Italian farmhouse, after reviewing the pitch and angles of the roofline, I think ourfarmhouse has the right idea for style direction. Breaking up the stone really looks good. Further, I think a key detail ith his mock up is the winding path to the front door. That really creates and interesting contrast to the house. Hope that helps. Charmean Neithart
lucindalane
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
I found this really great photo, complete with a similar bay window.
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The plants really look like the kind you see planted around villas in Italy, I think. I also noticed that many Italian farmhouses have working shutters that can actually be closed.
Your house, right now, looks like a cross between a ranch and a Craftsman style, and Ourfarmhouse certainly did a mock up with Craftsman details.
Here is a picture of a Craftsman type house with gray stonework-well, its actually brickwork, but the colors would work on your house, if you liked them.
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haitisarah
Original Author
12 years ago
Ourfarmhouse, we're making great progress on the house (with the exterior based on your design). As we're getting ready to re-roof and re-build the front gable, we can see the extra-deep eaves need additional support. We're thinking a decorative wood eave brackets, but we don't know what style would be most appropriate to the house. Do you have any suggestions?
decoenthusiaste
12 years ago
What is your style? Here are craftsman, traditional, cottage and contemporary versions.
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haitisarah thanked decoenthusiaste
qam999
11 years ago
Haitisarah, any update for us?
haitisarah thanked qam999
haitisarah
Original Author
11 years ago
Yes, we are nearing completion. We still have some landscaping and a
bit of work on the porch floor, but the structure is done. We were
inspired by ourfarmhouse's transformative design. The den is still
functioning as the workshop for building cabinets (hence the dropcloth
curtain), but we are in the home stretch inside as well.

As you can see, we replaced the portico, adding a higher roof and thicker columns. We replaced the by window with a box bay and choose white trim to lighten things up. We tried using only white for the siding color, but it was too stark against the stone, so we chose a light color from the stone. There is more siding visible on the gables and back patio.

Thanks for
your interest.
yvonnecmartin
11 years ago
Looks great.

If the trees still produce too much shade, consider getting a tree expert to "limb up" the worst offenders.

I also suggest that in addition to landscaping that you widen the pathways. You can do this by adding brick edges. The ideal width is at least four feet wide. That will also give a more definite boundary with your landscaping near the house.
Dar Eckert
11 years ago
Nice job!
rredpenn
11 years ago
Beautiful and well thought-out! I love the color from the stone. And the white really sets it all off well. :)