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ryan_copeland

ideas for small brick ranch!

9 years ago

I would love to spruce up the exterior of my brick ranch to make it stand out more. The entry is small with a small stoop, it's red brick with white siding, nothing special to look at. Would love any and all ideas! thanks.

Comments (8)

  • 9 years ago

    this didn't upload in the original post.

  • 9 years ago

    I would paint the siding and widen the lower step and walkway.

  • 9 years ago

    Depending upon $ available, new porch & walkway, paint. A total re -landscaping would make the biggest difference. Cute house.

  • 9 years ago

    I believe it's vinyl siding, can you paint vinyl?

  • 9 years ago

    thanks for the input, all good suggestions :)

  • 9 years ago

    Ryan - the red brick with white trim is classic but my suggestion for how to "spruce" it up involves three high payback areas:

    1. Paint your front door a pretty bright yellow color. Decisive Yellow is a good one for these colors from Sherwin Williams.. . Yellow on the front door will set your home apart (since I see more brick ranchers with white adjacent) but in a cheerful and simple way. You might replace your entry light and numbers with black simple lantern or barn light and less traditional numbers.

    https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6902-decisive-yellow#/6902/?s=coordinatingColors&p=PS0 

    2. Put together a landscaping plan that layers evergreen foliage against the red brick, and pulls bronze foliage in the front layer. Use a sort of zig zag double row planting to help the new plants appear more full from the start - eventually they will fill in and be lush but they won't appear so new this way ..

    Exteriors and Landscape Inspiration · More Info

    Since this is a clean starter house look, I'd suggest you talk with your nurseryman and plan ahead for spring planting. If you want more interest, pull the grass back behind an edger and plant flowering low groundcover on both sides of the path to the front door. White or yellow flowers. Small details make a large difference here.

    Your willow looks to be planted a bit too close to the foundation for safety - a tree about 2/3 of the way to the street (or transplanting this one) would give your yard more privacy and interest. If you relocate the tree, consider pulling a string radius around the tree trunk to remove grass inside a canopy sort of circle ..and again, plant the area Circle with another flowering groundcover - small, cottage garden moves - flowering shrubs with white flowers, yellow flowers will echo the house.

    You can fill these areas with mulch to keep the weeds down until the groundcovers fill in - no red mulch - nice, natural looking wood mulch is best.

    3. When you are ready for a new motor / remote .. invest in a nice looking carriage house sort of garage door. You can get them with or without windows, in a prefinished white.

    Custom Renovation - Cape Cod · More Info

    Only if your neighborhood and lifestyle are such that you would like to sit out on your front porch should you consider removing the existing stoop and replacing it with a larger "porch" area . . . at this scale, without any overhead cover or connection beyond the front door, it won't do as much for you as a great landscaping job. If you were removing the front window and replacing with a set of French doors / adding a trellis, and getting a little more creative ... then maybe .. . but that is a larger makeover.. requires height under eave to anchor . . this is a more contemporary application helped by the contemporary front door, etc.

    Portland Mid-Century Modern · More Info

  • 9 years ago

    libradesigneye, chiflipper, thanks for the great advice. lots of good suggestions, I think the landscaping would be the best budget-wise. I talked with my wife about painting the door in the past, so that is definitely something that I will get done. Thanks again! Kevin Strader, I'll take a look at your site, thanks!

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