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willaskye13

Can This Ranch Be Helped?

13 years ago
We are thinking about purchasing a home. It is a ranch with a large addition on the right side. The Addition is a completely different color/design as the rest of the home. Is this fixable? Any suggestions?

Comments (17)

  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I think that anything can be fixed. Take a look at my photos and let me see what you like so I know your style and lets get to work. I know we can make something you will just love.
  • 13 years ago
    It looks like a huge project to bring this together. I hope you have a large budget. I would walk from this one unless you want to spend a lot!
  • 13 years ago
    First it is too white. Also that patch of grass what is beyond it? If room for more grass that's where I would plant it and turn the skimpy grass area into a patio. Then place a chair and pots. It really needs color.
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    There are generally always even simple things to dress up the outside--paint, landscape, lighting and other accents. Paint to tie the addition into the home base color (the beige brick) would be the first thing to improve it, along with removing what looks like a sort of random attachment of shutters to the first floor addition windows. I'd make my purchase decision on whether or not I loved the interior and it worked for my family.
  • 13 years ago
    You're either going to have to modernize the rest of the exterior or change the windows on the addition. Either way, it's out of balance and an expensive undertaking.
  • 13 years ago
    All depend on how good of a price and what the inside looks like. We've replaced all but two windows on our present house. It was easy if you keep the width the same and the headder just add taller windows. Look for discount window and contractors rejects. We bought 3.0x4.0 for $99 each. Everything doesn't have to be done at once. You don't say the location hot? Cold? Off hand I'd warm up the color.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    This isn't a matter of paint and landscaping. You have about 3 warring styles here, and what looks like a less than optimal garage conversion (?). Like @ktk1961 said, out of balance and expensive.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I heartily disagree with ktk1961. You need a body color for everything that will make it feel whole including that brick (is that what the tan part is?) The color will need to be light because of your light roof. A dark roof would make a huge difference but lets not start spending your money unnecessarily. The body color could really be fairly colorful like a light yellow of even the color of the second floor. This will sort of take your eye away from getting fussy about what is right or wrong with the house. You just need to make it simple and whole. It is not really necessary to make major changes.
  • 13 years ago
    Wow these comments are really helpful. Thank you so much!
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Where is the garage--was it enclosed to make living space under the cathedral above? Beyond that, yes, I would concur with earlier assessments about the style and expense. Most often, I would exercise caution in buying a home that appears to be a conversion into a multi-generational house, unless that is what your needs are, and only if the work was done by professionals to address long term accessibility and life safety issues in a thoughtful way.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I agree that the brick needs to be the same color. Or reface the brick with white ledgerstone, that is if you keep the house paint white. Maybe a colored ledgerstone and new paint color would be in order?

    Another option, replace brick matching the siding to the rest of the home. I feel that they did a good job on the style of windows and size seem perfect to me. I don't think that is the problem. Take the old driveway out and add scrubs in front of the old garage. Any new landscaping would do a world of difference.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I actually rather like the look of the addition, I'll bet the upstairs space is really great in there.

    I think unifying the two parts would be reasonably easy, if it didn't impact too much on privacy, I would increase the height of the smaller window in the single story part, and adjust the height of the cross-bars on both windows to tie in with the off-centre crossers on the first floor addition. I would paint or stain the beige brick white to bland better with the addition and I would dig up the concrete next to the addition and continue the front lawn around.

    I feel some photoshop coming on...
  • 13 years ago
    It could be done. I would start with the color differences between the upper and lower parts of the home. Landscaping trim color and possibly different windows. But one hazard is you never want to be the most expensive house on the street. The more money you throw at it to make things livable and make you happy. Is money you'll never get back think it through!
  • 13 years ago
    i dont have such an issue with this. i think you need to eliminate the harsh white. Blend the various textures together with a single color or at least a single color family. whatever color you use on the shutters should be balanced somewhere on the left side of the structure. then soften it all with some shrubbery.
  • 13 years ago
    Hd
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    If you like it and it suits what you need from a house - go for it!