You have a beautiful home, I love it as is... no shutters.

Gorgeous home! I love shutters and usually vote to keep/or install them. However, your windows are paired in such a way that shutters will not enhance the look. Can you find different seating for the porch? That comfy sofa suggests you live sitting there, but it looks a little sad. Maybe get something fresh and inviting. I love the hanging flowers!

Thank you!

Haha - about the love seat…It’s so perfect in person. We have 4 kids and they have been lounging all day and laid it down flat (it has sides that fold up) and they toasted the pillows and blanket etc. so it’s messy. Or in your words “sad” 😂

I would not put shutters on this house.

A little neater….post bedtime. Bench still blocking stairs tho!

Thanks for the sofa update. Seems like you all are enjoying it so much that I shall eat my words - keep it! Nothing better than having the family together. Your new pic does it much better justice 👍🏻.

What a beautiful and welcoming home … I like it without shutters.

I agree, no shutters!

Just curious why you say it’s leaning Craftsman… I see more of an Italianate Victorian influence from your exterior photos.

There is no place for shutters on that home and IMO would only muddle a nice looking exterior Paint is a must so concentrate on that . Love the big front porch but I think the landscaping needs to be bigger beds out into the grass more I also do not see Craftsman in this house at allMaybe curve the planting beds to meet the sidewalk to really balance the height of the house

Why are you blocking the steps?

Please, no shutters. They are going to throw off the a ale for the front of your house and make it look like a suburban mash up idea of what a historic home lools like. Stop while you are ahead.

Is there something about the house you find dissatisfying that males you want to add things to the front? Perhpas there is an issue you want to address in another way?

Another ( redundant ) vote for no shutters. BTW, I’ve always wanted to have a porch like that, glad your family makes use of it, wonderful!

• Steps are blocked because it was our garden walk weekend (tons of foot traffic in the neighborhood).

-As for not craftsman - I would love to learn more. This is just what I was told at the historical society. Here are a few pics of interior originals if that helps identify. Please not to much commentary on the lack of curation - We have 4 kids and a busy house! 😂

The pic of my daughter was posted accidentally….i can’t figure out how to delete. 😔

More interior details to place the craftsmanship.

No shutters and No paint, beautiful just as it is.

You should see ”edit delete” options on bottom right of your comment. Choose delete to remove entire comment, or edit, and then set the cursor to select/delete the picture.

To Beverly - That Middle house you posted is actually on my street. It’s a very old photo tho.

i agree on the beds but we want to leave as much grass for mow while the kids are little playing catch with dad. slip and slide and teen football pass are more important to us on these years! fleating…we are in an urban atea and grass space is limited

@jim G …. Now that I’ve seen your interior pictures I’m really jealous, those windows! My home is the complete opposite modern MCM, but I love yours.

Jm G, do a search for images of ”Craftsman architecture” and then search for images of “Italianate architecture” to see what I see.

@beverlyFLADeziner That second house is my neighbor Jim’s. There is an updated pic here. https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/10-of-buffalos-cant-miss-gardens/

Another vote for no shutters. What a great house! I’m also not sure it’s a Craftsman, but more research would give you more information.

Whatever makes your children happy, that’s what you keep. They’ll grow up and leave soon enough. Keep the couch and the memories.

Italianate houses frequently had more ornamentation (see below). I think your desire for shutters is your instinct that the house is too plain. Previous owners may have removed some of the ornamentation when the shake shingles were installed. Shutters aren't the answer. Is there a historical society that has pictures of the houses in your neighborhood when they were first built? If you don't want to add ornamentation, painting would help like the other commenters said.

128 Pierce · More Info

Nope! This is what it looked like originally!

This is the oldest photo from the historical society. The pillars were obviously different. But very plain. Especially comparative to other houses in our district.

This is the original clap board.

Just wanted to say I love your house and agree with no shutters.

Love your house too! The cedar shake was a nice addition. I would not do shutters I love it as is.

There was an Edwardian tendency to take an older, ornamented, style, and remove the ornamentation. I've seen this where there is a highly gingerbreaded Victorian, and a few doors down, exactly the same house without the gingerbread, and it had been built that way.

If your home feels too plain to you, perhas you’d be happier with higher contrast trim color. I think it is great the way it is. The rectangular part that comes forward is elegant and enough architectural interest for me, along with the smaller windows above it and your welcoming porch.

The black and white pic of your house is proof that shutters do not look good. I think this pic was taken in the early 1970’s. Look at the car in the driveway next door, look at the font of the address numbers. I suspect the shutters were added on around that era. Cheapens the look.

Love that you play in the front yard with your kids. So much more neighborly. Really fantastic interior woodwork, beautiful stained glass. Certainly not craftsman, but certainly lovely!

Gorgeous home. No shutters, Victorian and the inside trim is Eastlake. Are there any old photos of the house? Thinking the turret may have been removed at some point leaving a faint resemblance to Craftsman style.

Try your local council/borough/city planning department or make enquires as to when the land was developed/built on to get an idea of the build date. You might then be able to search for advertising in your area for builders in annuals or directories of the time to get an idea of the architectural style.

Your interior is EASTLAKE. A sort of industrial, mechanical, linear modification of late Victorian. Google it. I love it. A transitional moment in style. Read Charles Eastlake’s “Hints on Household Style”. Eastlake was a British Architect who is renowned for establishing this style of architecture… And furnishings.