That is certainly a 'grand' entrance.

wasn't crazy about the house at the start and frankly I think the addition made it far worse

If your clients are happy, I guess this should be considered a success of sorts. Architecturally, I find this poorly designed. The new front door itself is beautiful, although too tall, but the veranda is overscaled. It's so important to get scale and tone right. The gabled wing to the right would have coordinated reasonably well with the original main house, but is a mismatch to the new main house facade.

The statement being made here seems to be, "We don't know much about good design but we wanted people to know (think?) we have lots of money."

OMG ;(

Soberg said it best....

Huge waste of their money. The new additions do not go with the style of the house at all. Perhaps if they changed the rest of the roofline as well but as it sits now it just looks so thrown together.

LOL! Looks like a funeral parlor. I am always puzzled why money is spent on sillyness like this, as opposed to upgrading quality of materials. For example this house has alot a roof visible... upgrading to a slate roof would have been a much better move.

a funeral parlor or a bank. I don't understand the big columns or the veranda. all that money for what? it's put together by a committee.

Yikes, I thought the before picture was the awful one, just realized it could get worse when I clicked on the after. It's soooooooooooooo much. Oh well, I hope they like it, mini Tara ;)

Just awful! Way out of proportion and just gaudy. Sorry.

The plantation idea is really over, has been for some time. As a country, we've moved on.

The one thing that was bad before, the fake shutters, are still there!!!!
It's too bad there weren't C,C, & Rs preventing this from happening.

I would like to know what thi$ little $tatement $et them back?

I wonder what the neighbors think.

vbnvbnvbn

Being that this is in NC, I believe that the changes are appropriate and quite nice. The overall appearance of the home is pretty fancy, "brand new" but fancy. However, I believe real shutters would have brought things a little bit more together. I'm surprised they didn't notice them and switch 'em out!

This is not my style by any stretch of the imagination...but you CAN do things like this the right way where there is balance and proportion.....

Not my taste in the least but if you're clients are happy you've achieved your main goal. I can appreciate the work it took though I don't know much about architecture and exterior design. I just know what I like and Im happily learning more. thanks for sharing.

One flamingo in the lawn is whimsy. 100 in the lawn is a statement. 20 in the lawn is bad taste that got carried away. Point being, if you're going to go against the grain you have to go big or go home. If you don't take it far enough it's a fail.

That said -dang, you went big. It's not for me, but you and your client have some cojones for going there. Now it just needs landscaping that fits with the new style :)

Rev. Gardens, well said. I think landscaping might be the only save for this building. Cover it up with ivy and plant large trees around it. Hide it somehow!!!! Maybe they could take off the monstrosity that is the big veranda thing (on both sides) and the pillars too. make it a home, not an institution and an eyesore.

Hide it? No no no. You misunderstand. The point behind my flamingo analogy is you gotta OWN it. This house is a bombastic Wagnerian opera but the landscaping is Kenny G. Turn that knob to 11!

Now THIS would have made a statement to the hood;) rest the arrow on photo for full effect

When I grow up I want to live in a castle...and I want a look out tower where my long flowing hair can fall down...wait that is a children's story....or a combination of two...LOL I think people should have whatever they want...hopefully they are happy with this. All of the Christmas decorations seem to indicate they are. I bet the neighbors still came to their Christmas party. ;)

How could they miss it? ;)

It looked better before the make over !!

I bet they don't have a Christmas party.