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Design Dilemma Exterior

Help with Ideas to Update Colonial Home

6 months ago

Please help! If you have a eye for exteriors, how would you update our home? We plan on residing but realize it may need more than just siding. We must be budget conscious considering siding can be so expensive. We been in our hike since 2003 and finally can update the outside. We wanted white or light grey siding, keeping the door black, and possibly black gutters. Covering the brick with siding is also a possibility.
We also liked the idea of board & batten but aren’t sure it works for us. We’ve been on so many simulators and nothing makes it look better.

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Comments (7)

kandrewspa
6 months ago
Do you have any inspiration photos that show the look you want to achieve? This is far from the worst exterior I have seen posted on this forum.
Stacey Drago
Original Author
6 months ago
I love the farmhouse look. I love this. I’m just not sure if our colonial would work.
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The windows on the second floor are too short. The shutters are too narrow. And if you find the columns troublesome, you can have them removed and the overhang cut back when it's time to do the roof. This is a very quick attempt at photoshop to give you an idea of what the front would look like (I did not cut back the overhang here but it should be) with the suggestions. Just a thought... Also consider light fixtures on either side of the front door, a bigger fixture between the garage doors and eliminating the storm door or get one that is all glass so you can see more of your front door with an accent color on it. If you remove the columns, you can place a bench to the right of the front door on the extended masonry deck that accommodated the columns. .
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For the garage, you can do what we are going to do with ours since we have the same boring style of garage door--buy accent pieces from the Home Depot to make the doors into carriage doors! It's much cheaper than buying an actual carriage door. Here is what I'm talking about: You can purchase this pack of black metal decorative garage door hardware kit to make your garage door look like this one, minus the windows! http://www.homedepot.com/p/Crown-MetalWorks-Fleur-De-Lis-Decorative-Black-Garage-Hardware-Kit-10012/203233030
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If you haven't priced windows, do that first. Multiple 10's of k's but you have some solid reasons to consider this. just take note of the payoff comments already made. Consider the longer windows to the left of the door and on the second floor to update the elevation a bit as suggested by others. be wary of darker windows if you can't paint them later, read all the warranties about color fade and such to make sure you're covered in the possible event. Reducing height and streamlining the hedges to a box like/architectural structure are a must as diagrammed above. Consider a stone/slate edging of some sort to lead to a stone/slate clad step and porch. Carry this idea across to the left to pull the side yard into the view. Bring a little variety to the opposite side of the walk with varied height color and shrubs or lighter scale and leaf than the hedges. allow this edge to be softer and organic wrapping the walk in circular movement toward the stairs. Swap the column for a stronger visually weighty one with simple detail, and consider removing the rail at the steps for something that is lighter visually or create a stronger newel post at the bottom of the steps and detail more traditionally like an interior stair. the column and rail need more substance.
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PRO
PPF.
6 months ago
I’m just not sure if our colonial would work.

Only if your contractor starts with a bulldozer.

Vinyl siding? I drew some things in white, but I'm not necessarily recommending that color.

Add a larger column and a beam to the porch, and a band to separate the two floors. Taller windows in the bay. Consider no shutters and trim around the openings.

Another option is to extend the roof across. This helps hide how the 1st floor is asymmetric and the 2nd is nicely symmetrical.
jck910
6 months ago
I would side over the brick (I saw this done in my area on a similar house and it was amazing how much better the facade looked). Remove the shutters put wider trim around the windows. Paint the door sidelight same color as the trim. Leave just the door black. I would change the asphalt in front of the stairs to pavers to match the granite on the steps. The asphalt does not complement the entrance. I would take the grilles out the garage door windows and the shutters out of the bay window too many lines is distracting. Bigger column also. An all white house with a black door can be stunning Good Luck
felizlady
6 months ago
I would paint the front door and trim white to match the garage door. The black door color makes the door area look too dark.
Stacey Drago
Original Author
6 months ago
Thank you everyone!
PPF I know your right. This is not a good fit. Although I love the style, it just doesn't work for my house. I’m looking at Alside ascend composite siding. I think its a good idea to move away from white. Maybe Sterling Gray. I am definitely adding a larger column, no shutters and would love to extend the roof like your photo. Any other ideas?! Colors? Your amazing at this!

Jck910
I love your ideas as well. Pavers are next!
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
6 months ago
last modified: 6 months ago
Sterling gray is too dark, I would go with Platinum Gray.

Here is some visual

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