Exterior design disaster

9 years ago

We are considering purchasing a home. The property is amazing with loads of acreage and a beautiful pole barn and chicken coop. A really rare find in the middle of the suburbs. The problem is the house is ugly as sin. Inside and out! Interior design doesn't scare me one bit. Even the exterior front can be changed with siding and a front porch addition. The one piece holding me back is this picture. The house is situated so you do not see the front, but instead pull down the long driveway right into the side of the house. This is the first impression and total curb appeal of the home. Can you put lipstick on this pig!?! As is, it's a total deal breaker.

Featured Answer

mhlmusings

9 years ago

The primary issue is that the house looks top-heavy so to solve this you need to add visual width to the bottom of the house: 1). Paint the brick to be the same color as the siding. 2). Across the top of the garage doors add a shallow pergola or wood trim (think of it as sheltering your garage doors from the rain). Install this across the entire width of the house about 3 feet above the top of the garage doors. This will help to give the base of your house more visual mass. 3) replant the grassy banks with shrubs of varying textures and size. You want to create a sense of fullness along the base of the house and along the driveway so that your eyes have a comfortable place to land as you approach your home. 4). Depending on your plans for the interior, changing out your windows to larger windows and adding windows to balance the exterior facade would be a huge help. This house has great potential!!

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Comments (20)

Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
9 years ago
Depending on your budget, an architect may be able to give you the curb appeal you desire.
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Flo Mangan
9 years ago
Every problem like this can be solved. Depends on what you would be willing or able to spend to fix. Clever landscaping and some additions to this side of house could change everything. I will find some inspiration photos for you.
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Flo Mangan
9 years ago
You have to use your imagination a bit but what if you were able to construct a "portecache" type approach away from the garage doors and set up some stone walkways, beds and seating spaces either side and have a porch area on top where you could take out that small window and put in a French Door to enter the "porch" area. Something along this line would drastically change the entire look of this home and create an "estate" type look. You could do this with just simple structure or more grand structure, all depending on the budget. Here are a few photos. Just imagine that the garage doors are now wood and look rich and inviting. But set back because the portecache is setting in front.
Private Residence in Savannah, GA · More Info
Instead of the house at the far end of driveway, it would be your garage. The two small houses, could be Patios or stone walls, any number of things.
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Flo Mangan
9 years ago

The Cliffs Vineyards · More Info
Here is another example. You could create a structure in front of the garage say 20 - 50 ft down the driveway that creates a "property gate" type look and make that mask the house itself, then make some changes to this end of the home that soften the look and give it more gravitas.
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
Can you imagine how your property could change with even a "entry" at the foot of the driveway that "framed" the property more and perhaps created invited stairs to the upper portions on both sides with boulders and stone steps and plantings that extend the width of the home visually?
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
I played with a little mock-up picture to try to give you some "inspiration" to what could be done for this home. This is rough, but perhaps it can give you some inspiration.
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with a wood arbor over the driveway, wood garage doors, black rustic lighting, and black awnings over the two upper windows, and stone work surfacing the foundation along with some stone walls, etc. You could largely change this look and make it quite inviting and functional. Of course, these changes, even done as simply as this would cost in the range of 10K to 20K depending on how complex you made things. But I wanted you to see there is HOPE if you decide to purchase this home. Does this help?
tiffany_berting3 thanked Flo Mangan
Rawketgrl
9 years ago
What a wonderful opportunity! As usual I see things a little differently. A modern metal/brick cubist design overlay would be smashing, funky and cool. The juxtaposition of the modern driveway side of the home with the more traditional sides of the home would be a knock out. Here are some varied pictures for ideas on incorporating modern. With some additional siding/cantilevers/over lays this front could be a very interesting addition to the home. I dont think I would throw this one back because of the ugly face. Some imagination and crafting could create a work of art to come home to everyday.

Here are some more traditional ideas...

And on to some more modern cubist ideas

I am not thinking totally change it, just rethink the space in cubes and vertical metal with brick and some over lays to give it some texture and depth. Get a designer with modern vision to work up some sketches for you. You might find a gem. Good luck with your search.
Rawketgrl
9 years ago
a couple more...
tiffany_berting3 thanked Rawketgrl
wendipeake
9 years ago
Look at photos of Barns. Notice the old over grout stone base and tall vertical siding. Look at natural, stained, red or white painted Barns for inspiration. You will need to balance out the windows which is additional interior changes and cost. Consider the alternative of changing the driveway (entrance and or curve the approach). Best of luck in your new adventure!
tiffany_berting3 thanked wendipeake
thinkdesignlive
9 years ago
Everything is fixable with serious amounts of $. And it will take A LOT of $ to fix that. Don't look for design ideas until you can assess your budget. You have to weigh in ALL of the projects required and then see if it makes sense. This is a budget question not a design question.
tiffany_berting3 thanked thinkdesignlive
tiffany_berting3
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone for your great ideas! I have lots to consider now! I have no doubt I could make it work or the right price. Just depends if we could get the house at a price that allows us to be able to afford the upgrades needed! You all have great insight and inspiration!
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
Be thinking of around $50-$100K so not sure that is in the cards. I just wanted to show you it can be "fixed". Also, many great ideas here.
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
If you are ready for 10 years of renovation, and tight money, go ahead. If not, keep looking. The property is lovely, but if you don't have the resources to properly take advantage of it, then no deal. Things never are as easy as they look now. Been there.
tiffany_berting3 thanked Flo Mangan
ckfhooper
9 years ago
Easy fix!

For the top floor - enlarge the existing windows, paint them a dark color for contrast and add dark color shutters to those windows, or pretty awnings above them... and if its in your budget add a circular attic vent- centered above the new larger windows, paint that the same color as the windows.

For the second floor, put in one or two sets of french doors (if one, center it), leading out to an added deck. If you can, cover the brick with vertical siding -you could do board & bat, or match the horizontal siding above. Your best bet to change this whole look is to add a wood deck off the second floor, which you will need if you add french doors! A deck with a pretty railing will change your whole look...it will hang out over the driveway covering the view of the garage doors, and if big enough it will also serve as a car port. A wood stairway off the deck would also add detail and allow for access from that side of the house.

If your budget is tiny, just paint it all white, and the windows and garage door black!

Do it!
chiflipper
9 years ago
Buy it! A structure can be changed over time...but "land" is forever. My Mom cried (I'm talking sobs!) when she saw what I purchased. Acreage with mature trees is worth far more than what you will spend to turn your ugly duckling into a swan.
tiffany_berting3
Original Author
9 years ago
I have been thinking and playing with some ideas. My scribbles are terrible, I know. I'm not a fancy designer, I just used my finger on an iPad to draw with a kids' painting app, but I think it gives an idea of what I'm thinking. I'm picturing a wrap-around porch. How much would something like this cost?! I just don't know if we can get the house at a low enough price to justify the wiggle room we need for upgrades. You should see the inside! Don't even get me started! I've got an easy $50,000 to put into the interior, too!
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
$150,000+
tiffany_berting3 thanked Flo Mangan
tiffany_berting3
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you so much for all of your thoughtful input and advice Flo! You have been very helpful and I appreciate your time and effort to help a stranger!
PRO
Flo Mangan
9 years ago
I don't want to kill your enthusiasm for a possible great place for you and your family. So, I know you will consider all the inputs and make the best decision you can with the information you have. Best of Luck.