How to improve the front exterior of our home?

5 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hello All,

We recently built a new construction home in a mature neighborhood in New Jersey.

We think that the front elevation looks a bit "plain" and "uninspiring". We intended to build a "traditional colonial". However, we feel that our home looks more like a "farm house". (of course, opinions might vary on this)

Here is a photo of the front of the house:

(there will be a 12" lantern hanging from a chain on the front entry portico)

We were thinking about installing high-quality western red cedar shingles in a black color and shutter tiebacks ("shutter dogs"), similar to the following "inspiration" photo:

Here is what our house might look like with shutters:

(note: shutters will be on all windows)

Here are the important measurements on our house:

Width of the windows: 34.5"

(which means that we would need a shutter that is approximately 17" wide in order to be "architecturally correct")

Distance between the windows: 29.5" (as measured from the outer edge of the casing of each window)

Width of the window casing: 3.5"

Distance between the window casing and the corner pilaster: 12" (as measured from the outer edge of the window casing)

Here's what it looks like:

And, in close up detail:

Key Consideration:

There is limited space between the outer edge of the window casing and the edge of the corner pilaster (12"). In order to maximize the space in which to install the shutter, we would need to mount the shutters near the inner edge of the window casing. Mounting the shutter toward the inner edge of the window casing means that we can use most of the 3.5" width of the casing and the 12" space between the outer edge of the casing and the pilaster -- total of approximately 15" -- and have about 1" of space between the outer edge of the shutter and the edge of the corner pilaster.

Here is an example of a shutter mounted toward the outer edge of the window casing (which looks better in my opinion):

And, here is an example of a shutter mounted toward the inner edge of the window casing (you don't see very much of the window casing):

Some people have said that there will not be enough room. Here is a home in our neighborhood with shutters that are nearly touching each other:

I would be fine if our house looked like this.

Questions:

1) Will the house "look good" with shutters?

2) If the answer to question #1 is "yes", then what are your thoughts on using a 14" wide shutter?

3) If the answer to question #1 is "no", then is there anything else we can do to improve the look of the front of the home?

And now for the poll:

Thanks in advance!!

Don't do anything. The house looks good "as is".

The house is too plain. Install the shutters.

Featured Answer

decoenthusiaste

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

The landscaping is looking a bit unkempt. Focus your energy and $$$ there.

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Comments (13)

PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
No for shutters, they would look skimpy and squeezed. There is not enough space for them (D).
emilyam819
4 years ago
Enjoy your house as is. It’s wonderful.
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houssaon
4 years ago
You could add color to your foundation plantings.
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chispa
4 years ago
The house looks fine and doesn't need any shutters.
new-beginning
4 years ago
no shutters, work on landscaping
Louise Smith
4 years ago
No shutters. That is a traditional (center hall?) colonial home in the NY-NJ-CT area. Just because NJ is called the Garden Sate, don't think farm house.

Work on the landscaping.
chispa
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Paint your front door in a fun high gloss color from Fine Paints of Europe. We used it in our last house and it is a great product. You do need a good painter to get the best results with the high gloss paint.

Fine Paints Of Europe · More Info

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loobab
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hi Equanimity-

I think your house is just lovely, and is it really important what label is put on it?

You could put shutters on or not, it is up to you.

What happened to houses in that area in Hurricane Sandy?

Did houses with shutters that closed the shutters fare better?

If so, then get the shutters.

If you are getting the shutters and will never close them, then don't bother with the shutter dogs.

I think the overall appearance can be improved with more interesting landscaping, maybe some flowering perennials in front of the bushes in front of the house, and maybe the bushes need some trimming? Or did you want to let them grow out a bit before you trimmed them?

Something with some height and width and leaves a different color would be nice too, maybe a dwarf maple that grows well in your area.

What color is your house? Is it a pale pastel green? What color is your door?

If your door is not the natural wood color and your house is the minty pale green, the front door would look great in a gloss black, with a plant or topiary on either side. The itty bitty flowering plant at the foot of the steps is underwhelming.

We can't see the driveway, but you might think about enlarging the walkway from the driveway, make it curving) and landscape along it.

Also, I always like white windowboxes wherever they will fit in, here below the second floor windows.
mononhemeter
4 years ago
Not a pro. The only thing I would change is the top of the window trim, which I think should be white instead of the siding color, and the landscaping. I would only add shutters if there is enough space for operable shutters. Your house is classic and beautiful as it is now, not boring.
Equanimity
Original Author
4 years ago
@loobab -- our house is light grey. The trim is all white (it looks grey in the photo). Yes, the landscaper is scheduled to trim the foundation landscaping next week.
athomeeileen
4 years ago
Your house is perfect. Nicely sized carriage house lanterns would look lovely framing the door.
PRO
New Collective
4 years ago
Hi there,

You have a lovely home! I would agree with earlier commenters & suggest focusing on landscaping and the turning the front porch and walk into the wow moments rather than installing shutters.

An accent color on the front door, accent light overhead (I would suggest a larger size than you mentioned in your original post), and/or accent sconces if there is space, several planters flanking entry door and up the front steps, less structured flowers and plants in these planters than are currently in the landscape and softer flowers & plant species lining the other side of your existing entry walk would certainly help. I've attached a few inspiration images.