Looking for Ideas for Old Limestone Columns

6 years ago

Hello,

In the front of our older house we just purchased, we have limestone columns. They don't appear to be connected. Before jumping to removing them, I was wondering if there is anything else I could do. Any ideas? All suggestions are welcome.

Thanks for reading.

-chris

Featured Answer

Jilly

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Ahh, I love stone, especially old stone! These are great. My guess is that they were part of a split rail fence (or short iron fence). I wonder if there were more on the right hand side at one time. Possibly, the two on either side of the main sidewalk were meant as “entrance” columns, then a type of fence purposely just built for the driveway-to-front-door path. I remember seeing similar set-ups as a kid, mainly at MCM houses.

A few ideas that come to mind:

Getting rid of the two on the farthest left, and keeping two as entrance columns:

Entrance arbor (imagine just the arch part over the columns, not the side parts):

Getting rid of the single one on the right (or not, it could be used as I described above ... two entrance columns) and using the other three for a short, decorative fence. Not exactly this style or size, obviously, but just to give a visual:

Cedar staves left rough, and used horizontally, would look great with your house. I’d use a smaller diameter than these:

Easy solution, of course, would be to dub them your personal mini Stonehenge and use them purely as sculptural designs. If that, I’d have beds around them, planted with very natural, native plants. Basically try to minimize how lined-up they are as much as possible. You could put a pretty pot with or without plants on one or two of the columns (not each one, that’d look contrived and busy). Doing that would help break up that they’re so uniform.

If you could salvage old, iron fencing to put in between each column, that’d be a neat look, too. More of a cottage style.

As mentioned, it may be that you won’t want all four — if so, then just keep the ones you think would look best.

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Comments (7)

Xtal in Central TX, zone 8b
6 years ago
I'd keep the old stone supports and go with columns that could be bridged over the top. It looks like there's a sidewalk that would be under it. How ideal is that. Your project is already half way home. Plant some vines on the overhead arbor.

Consider removing the mustache under the picture window. That definitely has 1950's written all over it. Focus on your landscaping to update you quite a bit. No straight lines cause nature doesn't grow that way. Is there a bed on the other side of the sidewalk under the two small high windows? Work this in conjunction with your landscaping and you'll have a winner. Can you include a photo going down the sidewalk from the car to where it hits the front sidewalk? Just don't cover any windows with trees.

Please keep us updated with what you decide to do. You'll be updating it all the way around rather well. Congratulations with getting a house with some character!
chris parker thanked Xtal in Central TX, zone 8b
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Jilly
6 years ago
Do you mean like this, Xtal? I love this idea! I couldn’t find better examples, but doing an entry arbor like these? Using the columns as the base supports (if they’re sturdy enough).

I did a very quick search, I’m sure there are better examples, but ...
Xtal in Central TX, zone 8b
6 years ago
BINGO!! Give Jinx a hand in finding the perfect look. Oh my, this is exactly what the guy needs. I have some other suggestions for him, too. But, it's in the way of landscaping to enhance his front entryway. He has some EXCELLENT potential for making Magnolia Realty green with envy. Jinx, you did well!! This is IT!
chris parker
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
These are fantastic ideas! Thank you all so much! I'll keep you posted.
Xtal in Central TX, zone 8b
6 years ago
Chris,

I wish I could do all this on the internet for you so you could see what it would look like. I'm going to include my email. If you'll take some extra photos and personally email them to me, I'd be glad to come up with some sort of landscape plan for you... if you are interested. Where do you live? I'm in Temple. Guess that doesn't matter as much for you, but I have some other suggestions I'd like to make... if you'd be interested in looking at them.

Crystal

crystalfisher912@gmail.com
Xtal in Central TX, zone 8b
6 years ago
Jinx what do you think about the current color of the shutter and garage door?

Chris - is your soil acidic or alkaline?