How would you improve the exterior of this home?

13 years ago

My wife and I are looking for a larger home, this home is only 3 years old in a great area with good schools... but my wife does not like the look of the exterior because she feels it lacks character and I agree. The brick is light-red, the trim is a beige color, the shingles are grey, and the shutters are currently painted a dark red (need to be re-painted either way). This home could be a very good deal in a good area, but I don't want my wife to come home to a house she can't bare to look at. How could we improve the look of this home with landscaping, paint, etc.? I'd love to see some options and opinions. Thanks!

Featured Answer

delyanks

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Get rid of grass on the inside of the sidewalk and turn it all into a bed. Move that tree out more. Add grasses and perennials. Lots of color and blooms different parts of the year.

I'd go with a dark mulch or a stone for the beds.

Lose the shutters.

Your house is pretty. It just needs some fine touches.

Who cuts the grass?

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Comments (13)

njcook53
13 years ago
Maybe a couple more pictures from different angles would help the Houzz teams to engage with ideas. If you have to have shutters, I vote for black. What style do you like - more contemporary, traditional? The tree in front of the round-top window on the left needs to go. That whole area would be a great place to plant some flowers. Again - more pictures and what is your style.
PRO
Garza Concepts
13 years ago
I would do the following:
Replace walkway with Pavers
Add a courtyard area
Surround the area with plinths and pots on top of plinths
Add large trees, shrubs and lighting
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blazenka39
11 years ago
You mentioned you didn't like the brick, why not stucco over it for a dramatic look.
kellykins1
11 years ago
Your house is lovely. Remove shutters and landscape.
linlac
11 years ago
Adding some stone to break up all the brick would make a big difference. As suggested a widened walkway with flagstone or pavers. You can definitely add character to this house. I think making these kind of changes will require a professional and a decent budget.
decoenthusiaste
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Remove shutters, upgrade the walkway and front door, remove clumpy care-intensive shrubbery in favor of 3-season blooming beds, grasses... Here is a bed I'm particularly fond of. You can see how it morphs over time. Adding stone might be nice; just be careful that it doesn't mess too much with the home's style.
Craftsman exterior · More Info

Craftsman exterior · More Info

Front Porch Makeover Summer 2010 · More Info
Melissa Eikle
11 years ago
You could paint the trim and shutters black and replace most of the evergreens ( too high, covering windows) with herbaceous perennials. In the early spring, cut back the old growth and new will appear. Billowing, frothy plant choices might soften the look of the brick.
PRO
Charles Ross Homes
11 years ago
Hi,
Shutters look best when they are authentic or at least of adequate dimension to completely cover the window if closed. With this in mind, I would remove the existing shutters. I'd also remove the tree in front of what is a focal point window--landscaping should frame a home not hide its features. I think you could do a lot with landscape beds/low shrubs/perennials to improve the curb appeal. Finally, if you don't like the color of the brick, you can paint it for a modest cost, although you'll be adding a periodic maintenance cost, too.
User
11 years ago
The bones of the home are not bad at all save for those completely wrong scale shutters that I shudder to see. Remove them, and landscaping will fix the rest. The brick is actually a very nice color.
PRO
Julia & Elizabeth
11 years ago
If you like the inside that is what matters. I felt the same way about the house I live in now. My husband said...you don't live on the outside. I would get a different front door and shutters. If need be paint the brick a color. Good luck!
njmomma
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
You need to make the front entrance a little more grand. Change out the door, take off the shutters and add stone to the entrance way of the.

Some inspiration:

Lake Forest Residence · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/photos/stonework-front-entrance-phbr0lbl-bl~l_143707

Los Altos Renovation · More Info
dekalbfire
11 years ago
I would paint the bricks white add black shutters. I had pink bricks on my Atlanta home
it was terrible until I painted it white with a blue door to give it a pop.