Need help with curb appeal

10 years ago

We love our home, and the setting and landscape are great, but the front view is an odd design that looks very symmetrical from top to bottom. I think it looks a little like a duplex (one unit on top of the other). Any advice on how to break it up and differentiate the two stories? I'd like to give it a more unified aesthetic. [As a side note, we are getting a new roof soon (gray) and painting the trim (navy).] Any advice would be welcome!

Featured Answer

acm

10 years ago

Simple thoughts include hanging a window box from the top windows on the right, and emphasizing the main entrance with a brightly painted door and more substantial porch light. Most of the other ideas that come to mind seem like they'd ruin the charm of this inviting house.

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Comments (10)

drdeb1234
10 years ago
I think it's lovely!!!!!
ddavis427 thanked drdeb1234
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User
10 years ago
You could do french doors on the upper level instead of the door and window. Also, paint the front door a bright, glossy color that would differentiate it from the upper door. A bolder light next to the door, can you paint the upstairs railing white so that it would disappear? What about folding chairs for the upper level that can stay folded until needed. And if you have the depth on the ground level, Adirondack chairs on the porch.
ddavis427 thanked User
PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
10 years ago
What a delightful house !

I would change out the upstairs door to a French door with a single panel of glass. Paint the door frame white (like your windows) and add the dark painted trim around the door if you can. (like your windows)

Downstairs at the front porch, add a column at the corner and integrate it into the railing......A 6 x 6 column or and 8 x 8 .....paint it the same color as the railing. This will make the downstairs feel more like a front porch.

Paint your front door a dynamic color like red or teal green........You might want to buy a front door that makes more of a statement..
groveraxle
10 years ago
Adorable house. How about extending the porch and going all the way across the front, maybe even adding an awning?
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ddavis427
Original Author
10 years ago
French doors on the upper level never even crossed my mind... but I love the idea! And it makes sense to try and give the front door more of a bold look. Thank you all for the ideas!!
flopsycat1
10 years ago
Agree with others, your house is delightful. In order to de-emphasize the upper level, consider painting the second story door and frame white. Paint the entryway door a color that you love. Simple, cheap. If that doesn't achieve your goals, you can always add the French door or a porch, as suggested above. We all love your house.
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groveraxle
10 years ago
Here it is with extended porch, upper door painted to match siding, lower door a deep green. If you'd already done the gray roof and navy trim, I'd have probably painted a navy door. A darker door will add "weight" to the bottom.
ddavis427
Original Author
10 years ago
@groveraxle Thanks! The porch can't be extended... that part of the house (on the right in the photo) extends farther forward than the part where the porch is, so the porch would have to have a weird jig in it in order to extend that direction. Hope that makes sense.
groveraxle
10 years ago
Yup. It totally makes sense.