Software
Houzz Logo Print
taryn_macdonald

The exterior of my 1960s side split needs a makeover! Ideas welcome!

4 years ago

I recently inherited my grandparents’ home, and I have so much love for this place! I am going to update the exterior, and came here hoping that to get some feedback on my ideas and to gain some new ideas! Any and all suggestions are welcome!

My ideas so far:

- Replace the siding (not sure what colour?) and re-brick over the red brick portion of the house.

- Replace the pillar with something more craftsman style.

- Enlarge the window above the garage (this is the main bedroom) by doing a cut down enlargement.

- New shutters (not sure what colours)

- Replace the garage door (again, colours are a ??)

- Maybe window box planters underneath the other front windows.

- New door

- New garage door and garage light

- Change up the landscaping a bit...no idea how though

- Add a lamp post maybe


If anyone can expound on, critique, or offer better ideas, please send them my way! All ideas are welcome!! 😊


Comments (12)

  • 4 years ago

    You have have 3 sidings, red brick, cream brick/stone and white. I think two is enough. The easiest thing to do is to paint the siding cream. Decide what to do about the garage door after you've decided on the siding.

    Window boxes look pretty but are lots of work and rarely look good all year.

    You have a hedge blocking the front door.

    I suspect you don't have room for a wider support pole. I'd consider a vine.

    Oh, and Google price tags and make a budget. That often reduces your options.

  • 4 years ago

    Why would you rebrick the red? I love it. If anything I’d add more of that in place of the siding and other stone/ cream brick. You don’t need shutters. Planters are pretty but you don’t need them either. I’d spend money on the front door location. I’d want to pull it out. Flush with the upper portion of the house. I’d do that before anything I think it will make a huge difference. Yes to new lighting.I’d keep landscaping very simple. Boxwoods and that’s it. This house really has a lot of potential. Hope this was helpful

  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    No shutters please, they are not right size for this window.

  • 4 years ago

    I like celery’s rendition I would change the colors though. red Brick and the green look dated to me. Love the big window. Like landsaping but seems like a lot for a small yard. I’d like more of a border bed w more grass.


    option 1. Paint entire house white with color

    pop front door.


    option 2. Paint brick and stone white. Accent color for siding. Different coordinating color for door.


    option 3. If you don’t like white, pick two coordinating colors for brick vs siding.


    have you made an inspiration board or saved photos? That will help narrow down your style.

  • 4 years ago

    -Replace the siding (not sure what colour?) and re-brick over the red brick portion of the house. [why rebrick?]

    - Replace the pillar with something more craftsman style. [no. This is not a craftsman style house and No room.]

    - Enlarge the window above the garage (this is the main bedroom) by doing a cut down enlargement. [yes!!]

    - New shutters (not sure what colours) [no shutters. Shutters are dated except for a couple styles of home.]

    - Replace the garage door (again, colours are a ??)

    - Maybe window box planters underneath the other front windows. [no. Too high maintenance. A bed w good for season interest will get you more than boxes. They don’t look good year round].

    - New door [color statement]

    - New garage door and garage light

    - Change up the landscaping a bit...no idea how though [what is sun for front yard? approximate growing zone?]

    - Add a lamp post maybe [no!]

  • 4 years ago



    If my house, I’d draw inspiration from these two options. White House needs a color pop door. Both look modern and fresh.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    @Mamaham_NC_Zone7 Thank you SO much for all of these tips and recommendations!!

    To address something in your first comment though, the yard is actually quite sizeable, the picture was just cropped to see the house itself. Here is a picture of the full front yard.

    I should have included these before, it gives a better idea of the space.

    And yes, I’ve been making an inspiration board for quite some time! I’ve added a picture below of a house that is similar-ish with an exterior palette that I love.

    Also, the house faces east! 😊







  • 4 years ago

    @Celery. Visualization, Rendering images OMG! You brought all the hopes and dreams for this house alive! i showed my mom and she was also just blown away!! This is so beautiful! Thank you 🥺❤️

  • 4 years ago

    @HU-187528210 Re-bricking is just a personal preference. I don’t dislike red brick in and of itself, if it’s historic looking and kind of roughed up, but this particular red brick is almost too perfect (if that makes sense?) and the colour leans more orangey/red-red. It looks more like this

    Whereas I like a red brick that leans more brown/rust, like this

    (yes, I used the Home Alone house 😂 I love it!)


    I’m very intrigued with your idea about the front door...would you mind sharing of photo of the type of style/concept you’re talking about? I’d love to see it in real life! 😊

  • 4 years ago

    looks like you have a color scheme then! go for it. As you can tell, I like a colored accent door. In fact my neighbors door has always been black. I never thought much about it. Now they are selling it and realtor had them paint the door. It makes a huge difference!

  • 4 years ago

    I love them too!! I’ve seen some nice Tiffany blue and pink ones, and I think red and yellow can look amazing too! my family cottage actually looks on to two such houses! 😊