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valerie_thornton1726846

Help with home exterior and entry

7 years ago

I would love some suggestions on my entry decor as well as my home exterior. It needs updated. I would like to leave the bricks unpainted, for low maintenance, but possibly add stone accent or shutters?
Thank you for any advice!

Comments (13)

  • 7 years ago

    Adding shutters could add nice detail to your windows and new garage sconces would be a good way to update the facade.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    paint your front door a bright color to draw people into the house. Your is so neutral, most any color would work.

  • 7 years ago

    I would not add stone. Shutters and more landscaping are the way to go.

  • 7 years ago

    I would paint the arched false window over the garage doors to match the main color of the brick facade. I would install larger lantern lights on the garage front.
    The window to the left of the front door could look more important with properly-sized shutters the same color as the front door. The front window under the porch roof doesn’t need any shutters.

  • 7 years ago

    Hire a landscape designer to create perennial garden borders along the driveway and deeper beds into your lawn with maybe a small tree on the left to draw the eye to the house side. It's too bad the garage doors are more prominent than the house itself--terrible design.

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  • 7 years ago

    Only the window on the far left is suitable for shutters. Use new paint color to reduce the prominence of the garage doors and the faux vent above them. Is there a room behind that dormer? If not, I would consider removing it when you put on another roof. Meantime, you might paint it to blend in with the roof more. It pulls the eye away from your entry right now. A hanging lantern light would have more impact on your porch. Unless some of your clumpy shrubs bloom, I would remove them and install a more open and airy landscape plan. Plants hugging the house's foundation are a bit dated, IMO.

  • 7 years ago

    I am up for changing any landscaping. The bushes on the far left bloom (azaleas), the other bushes do not bloom. The tall half dead thing blooms purple but just finished but it should again. I need to trim the dead lol. The daffodils are done blooming, I need more year around low maintenance landscaping.

  • 7 years ago

    There is no room behind the false arch. It’s stupid, I don’t know why they don’t put real windows in there. We need a new roof in the next year too. Not sure the best paint color? Probably should paint the trim too. Suggestions on garage door update? Carriage or wood? And should the shutters and door be wood color or paint a color to bring it out? I’m not good at choosing colors. I’m not a bright color person for my house.

  • 7 years ago

    I do hope you'll get a landscape designer from a small garden center to help you create beautiful garden beds that extend out from the house and along the driveway on the left. Maybe cedar garage doors would look great, but I'll let the pros suggest ways to make the garage doors less prominent. Honestly, I don't know why builders add these useless doodads. A lot of exterior Design Dilemmas are about how to minimize garages, lighten up entryways, take off weirdly placed shutters, or deal with oddly placed windows. Good luck!

  • 7 years ago

    I find the dormer is odd looking. When you redo your roof you should get rid of it. Also when you redo your roof, you should go with a shingle that is not a solid colour but one that has several tones of colour so you get a bit of texture up there. I think wood garage doors would look great on your house. Then clad all your posts in the same colour of wood as well as the gable in the roof covering your porch entry. Not sure why you have railings on your porch, I'd get rid of those too. That way your porch will be open to your garden and not closed off. Add some good landscaping and your house will be a stunner. Go to your local nursery and get them to help you. If you choose the correct plantings, you can have beautiful gardens that look like they're high maintenance but really they're not.

  • 7 years ago

    Lots of great advice here. I agree with deco regarding just the one window being suitable for shutters. I like your house colors with the roof. You mentioned not being a bright color person.
    Maybe paint the front door the same color as the trim to help pull it out of the shadows.

  • 7 years ago

    I like these pics but my entry is darker. I like the idea of wooden columns or the cream too. Black roof or dark brown and the mixed roof is a great idea I had not thought of. I’m drawn to the pictures with the wooden arches added if my house would look good with that update too???