Pro Software
Houzz Logo Print
7gobz

Front entry dilemma

last year

I have been searching online & cannot find any solutions. I have a 1960s ranch that has 2 front entrances. I'm looking for suggestions on what to do to clearly steer you to the front door. I was thinking of a breezeway or adding interest to the house with a covered porch area. I'm struggling because of the roofline - ideally something over the door like an overhang but the door is in the corner.

Comments (18)

  • last year

    Well, usually the suggestion is to sort of camoflage paint the secondary door, and then make the intended entrance more striking. My suggestion would be to paint out all the red sections of the house to a nice taupe that coordinates with the brick, and paint the "wrong" door (and its storm door) that color. Then the main entrance has a bright, contrasting paint -- loden green, or the red used there -- including its storm door.


    Beyond that, I guess I'd be tempted to cut back the large round bush that's closest to the door and blocking any view of it from the driveway. And maybe add some interest and color neear the birdbath to draw the eye to the left -- some tufted shapes, say. And then a colorful pot right next to the front door, by the bush on the left. Basically, leading they eye at several levels of approach.

  • last year

    It seems pretty clear to me that the door with the strips of glass on either side is the front door and that the other door isn't a front door but a kitchen door. (Am I correct?) I'd move the mailbox next to the front door, put a larger more decorative door mat in front of it, and a planter next to it. If you don't use the screen door on the smaller/kitchen door, then remove that.


    I grew up around homes where this kind of arrangement was not uncommon.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    You can buy or build something like this and set it on the ground pretty much where the birdbath is, maybe a bit closer to the house, so no one much sees the secondary door. You can get them without planters if you prefer. Or you can use this with the bird bath in the center with climbing vines or trees in the planters. You can paint this whatever you want.



    Then you remove at least the bush that is closest to the front door and put paver stepping stones or pour concrete to the driveway, starting at the second step down of the landing. Add solar lights marking the path as well



    If you want to keep the boxwoods, shear them back to the wall as far as you can without killing them.

    Put your house numbers on the wooden screen.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    I was thinking the same as my2cents. I'd rework the walkway to the front door from the driveway. Then I'd build a screen of wood or brick to hide the 2nd door from the driveway, placed as she says along the edge of the walkway by the birdbath. You could even enclose the area by having the screen L shaped and block the entrance to the old walkway from the driveway (if you don't really go in and out that door). Or even if you do, you could walk up the new walkway toward the front door and turn the corner to the 2nd door. But your guests won't even see the 2nd door from the driveway, so won't be confused. Or if you do an L shape, you could have a gate on the driveway side that doesn't look like a gate, but you could open and it wouldn't tempt others to try to enter there.


  • last year
    last modified: last year

    The step up to the secondary door is in an awkward place. If you have the funds, I would raise the whole section up the one or two steps.

    Get rid of the shrubs hiding the side of the house.

    Think of replacing the leaders on you gutter system in the front of the house with a more attractive rain chain system.


  • PRO
    last year

    Remove the overgrown shrubs. At this point I don't think they can be pruned into submission.

    Change the color of the garage door, paint out the breezeway door to reduce attention to it and beef up the appearance of the front door with a new more upscale storm door in bronze.



  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Since the front door isn’t visible at all from the front, that’s your very first priority. #1: Chainsaw. Lots of good suggestions here to highlight your main door.

    After that, downplay the other door. At the very least, remove its screen door and have just a plain, flat wood door painted to exactly match the siding and brick.

  • last year

    Please post an update when you are ready.

  • last year

    Once you round the corner, the front door is clear. You can play it up with a big, colorful mat, and a pair of potted plants. If you like the bushes, keep them. Sure, it makes for a nicer pic if you can see the door from the street, but it's not important. Entry as destination is also a thing.

  • last year

    All those overgrown bushes need to go. The big ones against the house are trapping moisture and providing a haven for critters and insects. Renewed landscaping, plus the other improvements noted, will create a more welcoming approach to your home.

  • last year

    If you don't use the secondary door, you could place several flowering plants in pots on the step, making it clear that entry is not in use. It's not nearly as elegant as the other suggestions here, but it might work as an interim solution.

  • last year

    I would start by clearing out all the shrubs down the side including the big round one at the end. Paint the entryway porch cement and next step a color that compliments entryway.

  • 27 days ago

    This is the design we went with thanks to PattiGroup. It leads people to the front door just like we wanted.

  • 21 days ago
    last modified: 21 days ago

    My neck hurts but WOW that is stunning!

  • 21 days ago

    Looks wonderful, you must be so pleased! Thanks for the update. :)

  • 21 days ago


    It looks fabuloius! Thanks for coming back and showing us!

  • 21 days ago

    When you say 'this is the design..' do you mean it's all planted up or is this an image of what you are planning? If planted it must have been expensive to obtain such large plants. Amazing.