Need Curb Appeal Help!!!!

13 years ago

I am looking for curb appeal help for my 1950 brick row house. The house is located in a historic area of Alexandria, VA known for porches and charming Arts and Crafts bugallows. I have lived in the house for 12 years and have redone every part of the house but the front.

I am looking for help on how to make the front facade look as nice as the rest of the house. Need help with roof, siding, trim colors. I plan on using Hardie siding but have not decided on lap or shingle. Would like if possible to use one of their prefinished colors as it is cheaper. Need help with a new mailbox, porch light and numbers. I also plan on replacing the door, storm door (which I neeed) and the super ugly front window. I plan on sutters on the upper windows. I do not want to paint the brick above so the color scheme needs to tie into that. The picket fence is still in good shape. I don't like the grayed wood so I had planned on painting it white and redoing the garden in a pink, purple, white color scheme.

I am hoping to start this project very soon. I am leaning towards blue or grey for the siding color, white trim and gutters, black shutters and window box with a yellow wood four light door but am very unsure about my color chocies. As for a light, house numbers and mailbox I am at a total loss as to what they should look like and where to place them. I would love to eventaully add a portico or overhang to protect the entry from rain but right now that is not in the budget.

Any help would be so apprecated!

Thanks!

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Comments (7)

houssaon
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Look at stains for your fence. They are more durable and won't peel. I think black shutters would look nice. A dark gray roof and blue clapboards with white trim would look attractive:
James Hardie Fiber Cement 1 · More Info
I would not use shakes with the brick. I think it would be too busy.

This gray and brown roof with tan Hardie siding and an off white trim would look good with the red brick and black shutters:
Elegant Story & a half · More Info

This is great combination for red brick:
Custom Craftsman Home Exterior · More Info

If you are going to reside, replace the window, why not look into reconfiguring the roof line to include a gable for a portico? You could also add a pergola:
Surfers End Trellis Detail · More Info
bonnielynn75
13 years ago
I like the grey-blue Benjamin Moore French Beret 1610 idea for the siding, then black accessories and do the fence as suggested! Beautiful
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PRO
The Color People
13 years ago
First off not white! It makes the front addition jump off of the house and look stuck on. The colors you have in mind for the siding can work, just make sure that the have some red tone in them and are about the same value as the brick to tie the addition to the back. Use a cream or off white for the trim color to again, tie the brick and wood together. Black is fine for you shutters and to break a rule a yellow door can be nice because the addition is so separate from the brick facade. Make sure you use a yellow that works with the cream trim color. You can see from the photos above how a white trim just calls too much attention to itself or just jumps right off of the house.
currentseas
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for all the recommendations! I have attached the Hardie siding colors. I am leaning towards the blues and the Iron grey. This side of the house is north facing so I don't want it to be too dark. Also still clueless about a light, mailbox and house numbers. I hear what you are saying about the white being too stark. My concern is everyone else in the row has white trim and siding. Maybe a soft white would work. Thanks again!
PRO
James Hardie Building Products
13 years ago
How about Light Mist? You can check the color out in person by ordering a sample: http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/requestASample.shtml
PRO
The Color People
13 years ago
I your colors blend together, and will with a an off white. you don't have to look like the rest of the houses. Keeping with the overall tone of the block is the rule of thumb. If the other house are white don't do a dark house, keep yours light .
My problem with Hardie siding colors is that they are dull and will get more so over the years. Like vinyl siding, you may not have to paint it but that doesn't mean it is going to look great in ten years.
leonoz
13 years ago
Save yourself some cash.

1. Paint your white siding a warm medium gray. I recommend Amherst Gray by Benjamin Moore in a low-lustre finish.

2. Leave the trim around windows and door white.

3. Paint door same gray as siding gray, in a slightly higher lustre finish, but not a semi, you want to avoid high lustre.

4. Paint eaves and down spout same as siding gray.

5. Change door hardware to a brushed nickel finish. Add a nice brushed nickel finish door handle and knocker.

6. Install a brushed nickel finish beveled glass carriage-style light fixture.

7. Install brushed nickel finish street numbers.