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ecostructionstl

Mid Century Ranch Plain Jane Curb Appeal Challenge.

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

I just bought this seriously homely plain Jane mid century ranch. All masonry with natural stone entry at the corner with accents. We own a higher end general contracting firm so we have access to quality carpenters. We planned to fix it up to rent but now it make more sense to rehab and sell.

Here is my challenge to you truly talented professionals. Can you come up with some ideas to give curb appeal to this homely old lady?

I was thinking of boxing in the wrought iron column into a cedar column, adding large metal contemporary house numbers with a MCM mail box affixed to the column. New MCM light fixtures as well. Then make some cedar window boxes along the front windows.

Husband hates the stone and wants to rip it off and add horizonal cedar panels. I think that would look great if it were a more expensive home. I am thinking there are other more affordable ideas than removing stone.

Should I tear out the bushes in the front? Thanks for your ideas




Comments (22)

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Some idea to go with vertical wood.


  • 4 years ago

    I would just change out the front door to a Mid Century Modern one. Redo the landing. Change out the post. Add some great landscaping. Power wash the cement.



    Arlington Ridge · More Info


  • 4 years ago

    First paint the rain gutters to match what they cover. Then think about landscaping.

  • 4 years ago

    Think about changing all the white to dark grey.

  • 4 years ago

    If you want it to look renewed, change the stone to cedar. If you want it to look authentically old, have the stone professionally cleaned.


    Since you are in the construction business, you may know designers who you can hire by the hour or by the job to advise you on interior and exterior changes.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    First, put the gutters on the ends of the house so they're not so visible. Paint all the window trim, gutters, and front door black. I don't know that I'd box in the iron post, but instead, make it a larger black metal one. Leave the stone as is, and if you want, you could find a similar stacked stone to put along the front that goes to the same height as the larger window sill.


    No flower boxes if you're doing MCM. Just re-do the landscaping to fill in the foundation plantings.


    Here are similar ideas for reference:



    Mid Century Modern Renovation · More Info


    Mid Century Modern · More Info

    If you want, you could extend the roof in front to create a deeper front patio:



    Butterfly Beach Villa · More Info


  • 4 years ago

    I would paint the downspouts to match their backgrounds; paint the white siding to match the stone - on second thought, paint all of the white trim to match the stone (even vinyl can be painted with proper prep and paint); replace the front and storm doors with a more appropriate design, in a darker gray than the stone or perhaps a bronze; tear out the shrubs and create a much more interesting landscape plan.

    Good landscaping can transform almost any house, even plain cracker box style.

    I like the idea of boxing in the column or changing it to a heftier metal post. Definitely go with the interesting and larger light fixture, house number and mailbox. No to the window boxes - it isn't that kind of house.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    wait I feel like this is a repeat post of something very similar to a thread @Celery. Visualization, Rendering images did like maybe last year or 2 years ago?

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    If you plan to flip it, I am not sure what the market value is in the neighborhood but does it really make sense to "invest" more than upgraded windows, doors, new landscape, and rehab the porch. If I was going to spend money here it would be on the garage since in "winter" climates those are so important and such a plus. otherwise, you are putting lipstick on a cookie-cutter.

    The windows look good, the door looks fairly new, so I would think landscape, and some paint are all that is really needed here, but could you imagine if it had a garage...........would that bring you more $$?


  • PRO
    4 years ago



  • PRO
    4 years ago



  • 4 years ago

    It looks like the landing area needs some work, but I will leave that for other better qualified people to comment on.

    My first impression was those awful white downspouts on the front of the house. You should consolidate those downspouts so that you end up with one long run of gutter across the front and one downspout the Left End where it is less noticeable. It's an inexpensive job and would make a big Improvement visually. I did this on the back side of my house where four small downspouts were consolidated into one larger one. (This not only looked much better but it made it easier for me to route the water away from the house, since my neighbor's driveway is only a few feet away on that side.) If it were my house I would paint the downspout to blend in better with the house color.

  • 4 years ago

    Some thoughts:


    --Relocate the downspouts


    --Go to a small garden center and have them work up a landscaping design with much deeper garden beds to frame your house with high and low plantings.


    Front Yard Landscape Project in Buffalo · More Info


    --New red cedar door


    --Stacked stone ase band cedar pillar in proportion to your ranch style. Both the wood door and stone/wood pillars link to the enclosed stone in a harmonious way. But before you change pillar, do consider a stone entryway in red brick and stone.

    Ski Chalet Renovation · More Info




  • 4 years ago

    gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)hit the nail on the head above. There is nothing MCM about this house and if you add MCM details it will look "off". It's a ranch style.

  • 4 years ago

    Thank you all for the marvelous suggestions. We are going to move the downspouts. Remove the stone and replace with slat wall. I found a new full lite door on clearance at a home store which we will paint. Tile the entry/steps and add brick veneer on the front of the steps. Box out the wrought iron and do as much landscaping as we can in early March. Obviously new light fixtures, mail box and numbers. I cannot paint because it is too cold here and I expect this to hit the market March 1. Plus a power wash. All of this is pretty affordable. I will post a picture when we are done.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    why tile the front steps, those always crack and shift especially with weather changes, what about staining the concrete instead?

  • 4 years ago

    Remember that brick or stone really shouldn't be "power washed" - you don't want to drive water into the brick or the mortar, which can lead to failure or mold behind. Gentler cleaning and rinsing is called for.

  • 4 years ago

    I think you could improve the approach to the door by adding width to the drive.

    I would also increase the depth of the foundation bed. That way you could add some flowers or low ground cover.

    Just a matter of personal taste but I would remove the pear shaped shrub.

  • 3 years ago

    Finally completed! We had other jobs going on this year but we finally completed the little house. We think it turned out pretty cute and getting positve feed back about getting contracts. Thought you would want to see.



  • 3 years ago

    You did good! Thanks for posting the update - not enough people do that! Painting the brick made all the difference - I thought that wasn't an option for you but I guess the extended time frame made it a go. Did you paint the stone also, or replaced it with something? I can't tell.

    ecostructionstl thanked raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
  • 3 years ago

    We replaced the stone accents with a new natural stone veneer, painted the brick and boxed in the existing wrought iron support on the porch. We added the LED house lights which are the show-stopper. A new front door, light fixture and mail box. I think it gave it some curb appeal and a fresh look.