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dawnstanton

looking to update my curb appeal and front door

2 years ago

I really do not like my front door area and feel my home is very outdated. I am looking to revamp the front door- get away from browns and update lighting. I would love to get rid of the cement landing but do not know what could replace it. It has an old rug that was glued down and we can not remove all of it so I have been afraid to mess with it.

Any advice would be helpful. The majority of my style is pretty basic with a modern farmhouse touch. I was hoping to paint the door to brighten it?

Thank you for your help!

Comments (20)

  • 2 years ago

    Another view

  • 2 years ago

    I think if you take a better picture of the front without the glare of the sun and less shadows you get more response.

  • 2 years ago

    I think your home entry has some great mid century elements and I would build off of those rather than try to make the front look farmhouse. Love the stone colors and brick.

    I like the dark front door and the side light panels. I think you have the right idea with the dark planters. I would have a plan for the planters during different seasons, there are some great ideas for Winter porch pots with cut greenery that add life during the winter.

    Consider moving the white rockers and hose to the back yard. Add some dark metal modern porch chairs if you sit out in the front. If not, just keep it simple.





    It may be a tough job, but you need to get that old carpet off of the cement and remove the old glue. Try the boiling water tip in this link: https://www.concretecamouflage.com/how_to_remove_carpet_glue.cfm


    Freshly paint the current light fixture and the door surround. There is also a vent cover that looks like it could use a freshen up.


    What would you think about a butterscotch color for your inner door to add a pop of color against the deeper brown?



    Our first house had a similar entryway with a small porch. Where you have the additional pavers, we had a flower bed. It was difficult to keep looking nice year round, and I would have preferred what you have with options for chairs and attractive pots.

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you! Here it is

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you for the suggestion. I think different furniture would definitely help. I’m trying to get away from browns if at all possible. Know I’m limited with the mid century look but I’m hoping to try!

  • 2 years ago

    Any shot of getting a vehicle in the garage? It would help more than anything else. Paint the garage door the same color of the house if a nicer, new one is not in the budget. I think some large planters with lots of flowers will accentuate the entry, especially if you can open up one of the parking spots. 🙂

  • 2 years ago

    It appears that your seating area is rather narrow. Is there a better location for seating/plants/decor? Perhaps toward the rear or the other side of the house?


    i would focus on painting the door and all trim the butterscotch color as someone mentioned. If the budget allows I would seek a professional landscape/hardscape plan to address your issues. Some killer landscaping would really amp things up!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    That is a sad little sitting area. You need to branch out to the front.


  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Too much stuff, as others have said. More is not better. Clean, open walking space is always attractive and welcoming, particularly important here as your driveway is right there with people entering and exiting vehicles. Are the cars always kept outside? If they are, you should clear everything from the area (chairs, pots, EVERYthing) except maybe one pot beside the stoop.

    A bigger, more attractive light fixture is needed at the door. Maybe a good sized (2-3 times the size of the existing) oil rubbed bronze sconce. Have the stoop scraped and then get a large brightly colored rug for the doorway.

    I love the stone siding. Very nice and well kept. And I like what Paul did - gain curb appeal at the front of the house, not jammed up beside your door that people can’t see anyway.

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you so much. I definitely want to scrape the rug off and plan to order new lights. I like the idea of planters as well.

  • 2 years ago

    I like the colour of your entry way and your black planters. Do you want/need a sitting area on that side of the house? And if you do want a sitting area, would you ever eat out there? I think a small black bistro table centred under the window with planters on either side could look good. Or a couple of benches butted up to each other to look like one long bench as a statement piece could look good. Could the hose be tucked into the black box you have by one of your planters?

  • 2 years ago

    Your house has a great mid-century modern vibe. I would emphasize that, and relocate to the back yard any country-style decor items such as the half-barrel planters, candles and white rocking chairs. @J from Lakes Country nailed the look.

    The dark brown of your front door looks great with your stone and brick colour. Could the front window be painted the same colour?

    Some oversized house numbers in a modern font would be attractive.

    Agree that new landscaping would give it a big lift. The bare-stemmed shrubs could be replaced with evergreens, and that bed be made deeper for more impact. Taller evergreens on either side of the window. Grasses and "architectural" plans such as spiky yucca would look great in front of the evergreens, or in modern-style pots like the one to the left of your front door. https://www.atomic-ranch.com/architecture-design/landscape-design/midwestern-landscaping/

    When a new roof is needed, go with a dark brown to complement your stone and brick.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    The front door is the best, thing about your home.

    Don't eliminate the good stuff.

    The bow window looks dated & all wrong for this split level, and the addition over the garage should have probably had a gable instead of a hip roof.



    Your home should be heading in this direction




  • 2 years ago

    If the cars have to stay out (they look too tall for the garage door?) then no chairs, as it crowds the walkway (and doesn't look inviting as seating either). I'd also remove the current planter with the dried grasses, as it hides the entrance -- you need to draw the eye instead.


    I like the idea of a different paint color (a loden green appeals), but you honestly won't see it until you're already there. To make the entry inviting, I'd try to get (a) a large bright planter to the left of the door, where it will be clearly visible and inviting, and (b) only narrow things on the rest of the wall to the right -- maybe a painted bench with a few pots on one end? or a planters' rack?


    Primitive Cobbler Bench, Green · More Info

    Just some thoughts.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Here are a few suggestions:



  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Agree with many of the above comments about clean and simple, with a differently-paved walkway to the entry. Maybe angled parking left of the driveway for one of the cars, so the entry feels more like it's for people? And if at all possible, a window in the second-floor wall would work wonders!


  • 2 years ago

    Yes to what 'simplnatural' suggests. It is the 2 cars that are parked in front of the entryway that is not attractive and taking away big time from the entryway. The window above the garage is a wonderful improvement.



  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    And maybe a column at the left corner of the garage overhang roof? Stone woudl be nice if the existing stone can be matched reasonably well.


  • 2 years ago

    I love some of the ideas being suggested. Digger Dan's landscape plan is spectacular. I also like the idea of parking the cars on an angle off to the side suggested by simplynatural.