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soul7bird

Curb Appeal help please!

7 years ago
We recently purchased this home in Charlotte NC. When I first saw the home I said we need a new door, shutters, new lights and a couple flower pots. We recently had a shutter company come out to bid the project and they said the architecture of this home did not work with shutters. Ever since this meeting we have been stuck. Please help...we are open to just about anything to help improve the curb appeal of this home. We are currently working on landscaping, so not to worried about that piece. Help, please.

Comments (16)

  • 7 years ago

    The windows do not seem to go with the style of the house. I think they should look more like this.

    Miller Building Company Old Metairie · More Info


    Neo-classical, colonial house · More Info


  • 7 years ago
    The previous owners just replaced the windows :( Not sure sure it is worth the investment to change them all out.
  • 7 years ago
    No shutters, they would look odd on your home . The house needs to be one solid color - all white , all grey or all beige. All the windows need grills ( divided lights). Larger light fixtures on either side of front door.
  • 7 years ago

    The front door looks like it's frowning or going "oh my gosh". Maybe someone has an idea that would make it smile or go "aren't I great"?


    Also, if you want to add more grids to a window, I think they come in vinyl and you just pop them in. That might especially helpful with the one above the front door.

  • 7 years ago

    I once saw a classical style home like yours painted smoky charcoal gray, and it became a stunner! The shutter company is honest; they wouldn't have been a good choice for this home. I hope you can find a good landscape architect to rework the curb appeal. That will be a key for you. And you might consider fabric awnings that won't look too commercial above the arch entry and the big square window above it to camouflage their awkwardness.

  • 7 years ago

    you could also paint the windows black with marine paint and add grills.

  • 7 years ago

    I think your house is a classic stunner and wonder what it is that bothers you. I would leave everything as is and add a portico over the front door as suggested by BeverlyFLADeziner. The only thing that I could see changing out is the rectangular window over the front door. Something about that flat glass looks like a missed opportunity. Perhaps just adding grills? Or leaded glass? If you add a portico, consult a landscape designer about making the front of your house more grand in keeping with the architecture. Bring the steps out further into the front yard maybe? Make it look more like a grand European country house?

  • 7 years ago

    Painting out the rectangles on the corners will help a LOT. Overall, it really ain't bad. Landscaping--perhaps tall plants framing the entry would be nice. Do visit the landscaping forum. It will take a combination of house fixes and plantings to make this place great, but it's close!

  • 7 years ago
    Look at bigbluewindow.com for window grill inserts.
  • 7 years ago

    Applied grilles would be horrible. Please don‘t.

    That said, I think you have some scale and proportion issues due to the expanse of glass, especially in the central portion. That picture window and the enormous transom just read like storefront, which is why you feel ambivalent about the facade. May I ask what is the age of this house?

  • 7 years ago

    Someone designed all that detail around the windows to be noticed. Instead of fighting that, paint them the same gray as the quoins and the detail around the door. This will give the color contrast you want from shutters while staying true to the style.

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    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago





  • 7 years ago
    Landscape
  • 7 years ago
    Thank you so much all the suggestions. The age of the home is 1989. I agree 100% that landscape with really warm up the home. I love the idea of framing the door with large trees. I purchased two large flower pots and will add them to the front porch. Thanks so much for the shutter feedback. I agree painting the home one single color will help. Almost every home in the neighborhood has window grills so I purchased some diy ones online however because the new windows have the low e glass and screens they were hard to see from the street. You had to get up close to really even see them and to be honest they looked cheap. Is there a company that offers larger window grills?