Here are some ideas on updating an A-frame house.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/modernizing-the-a-frame-stsetivw-vs~12644

You definitely need to redo that deck. A nice composite deck with see-through glass panels or black spindles. And add some lighting for a definite WOW factor at night.

I'd open up the "balcony" area and look at a two-tier deck set up to maximize the exterior presence of the home. Would look at using basic natural woods to blend it with the trees and water around it. In regards to color I'd pull tones from the sea wall -- should be some good vein of a sliver of color to be used for the house.

New windows, give it a fun color. Step away and let someone help you with the color

We definitely will do composite decking but as far as design style would you do one large step up across the front maybe 6-8 ft wide mad keep it pretty uniform? Also, the fake balcony above leads nowhere since the window is above our great room, so would you remove the outside fake balcony altogether?

HI -- Michele it's all one flat color and kind of lifeless . The cabin should be your happy place . I think you need to paint it a happy color like the close to the kayak that is in the photo . A real pretty sunny creamy yellow with white trims and cherry red accents - front door and flowers . And have black deck rails and maybe add some other hits of black around with some plant pots etc.

Totally cute house. I don't know what surrounding lake houses look like but if everybody is pretty much earth-toned (which would be normal in a natural setting) I would stay with earth tones so as not to "inflict" your home upon the lake by making it pop out of a natural setting.

I think Barnandbungalow's inspiration pic (with bigger window moulding) is lovely but I would keep the deck a charcoal grey since white is way too hard to maintain.

Along with getting wider window trim, I would also lose the curlicue fascia board and would fill in the bottom of the deck with wood. Lattice always looks a bit cheesy and doesn't really hide the mess.

Although of course you could go hog-wild with this, I am assuming you want some cost-effective, more simple upgrades. As mcbriec says, remove the fascia board - it screams "Swiss Chalet". Also, yes, I would remove the fake balcony. If you are replacing windows, there is a lot which could be done, but I am assuming you aren't, at least for now. Soooo: add the wider trim, as barnandbungalow suggests, and paint it a nice, crisp white. I would add a wide fascia board across the front where that little trim piece is now (right under the balcony, which hides the siding joint). Adding wider trim around the windows and doors will really do a lot to change the look. Replace your front door with a full glass door with a matching screen door (so that it has as low a profile as possible) and paint the whole thing in an accent color. Replace the light fixture with a pair, if possible, and select something MUCH larger so the scale is better.
Choose an exterior paint color for the house which stands out from your neighbors, but at the same time blends with the overall look. I think a dark gray with white trim (again, as in barnandbungalow's photo) would look nice and looks like it would go with your roof, which from the side of the house has a pretty prominent place.

I think that being able to come out of the house to a one level deck is an advantage. However, if you are willing to extend it, adding a section a step or two below the existing level would not only give you extra space, it would lower the railing from inside the house (the existing railing height looks like it might not meet current code?). This would be pretty with a row of matching chairs, maybe white Adirondack chairs (as far as other furnishings, a table or two on the top deck with accent-color umbrellas would be very pretty) Finish off the underside of the deck with a solid siding or other material and plant in front of it with some nice, low maintenance shrubbery. The key is to make the deck solid looking and part of the landscape and house, rather than an elevated floor. Depending upon how far you want to go with this, adding some nice, shallow steps with additional plantings and landscape lighting would go a long way to adding curb appeal. Something like this:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/147704062753011503/
This stone would not work with your house, but another example of the clean lines which would work for you (maybe even the cable railing)

How about adding a firepit area off to the side and below the deck?


Here is a nice example of what you could do with your lakehouse if you replace windows!

One more thought: adding some large planters onto the deck would be pretty in the summer. I did one 3-season porch addition where we used utility sinks built in as planters. This gives a large planting area, but more importantly, decent soil area in case you aren't there on a regular basis.

what is your budget?

There are so many possibility's you need to hire a designer!!

I would paint the house a lighter color. The porch should have an opening with stairs going down. Maybe stones underneath the porch.

I like this photo for inspiration;) blue grays, with a rock wall under your deck, rest arrow on pic to enlarge.

Currently we are in the process of raising the house and putting a new foundation under it so the deck has been completely removed. It has sucked quite a bit of the budget but we will be replacing windows and doors, therefore, we will be residing. We love the barn and bungalow look but we had initially thought of a dark moss green siding with bold white accents and maybe black shutters and stone accents around the deck. Our thought on windows was to increase the height and reduce the width to accommodate a large patio door and go larger for the window above the door. Would you suggest a depth of the deck and how wide of that steps down would good as I like he open concept down to a fire pit? Also, with the adding of our garage he total length of the house will go from 28' to 58', would you do a step down an few feet to give the house a little dimension otherwise we are afraid it will very long and odd since here will be no doors on either side just windows?

It sounds to me like you have this project well under control. I love your ideas. What type of siding are you considering?

Maybe add some different type of siding such as shake or even a horizontal siding on the top level. Adding some shutters could definitely help everything from not blending together. A darker shade of grey will make it pop if you still want it to look similar. As for the porch I think if you paint it different from the home or get a thicker looking fence it could help as well. Oh using a cedar fence could really look great. Here is a home that you could pull some ideas from.

Sorry if you stated this and I missed it, are you considering wrapping the deck around the side of the house as well?

Michele: can you offset the garage from the house a bit, so that it isn't just one long, flush side elevation? I think this would do more than a step down.

From the photos you've posted, we can't really see how much of a slope there is further down. Generally speaking - and I think you should get some local design help with this project, since you are investing substantial money - I would try to keep the steps down to the firepit and lake as wide and as low as possible. You need a full plan for the deck to determine the size, based on how you will use it. As I said before, it might be nice to do a two level deck, separated by a few low-riser steps, to create interest, to separate the lounging function from the dining function, and to avoid just one longer, steeper set of stairs going down.

This article lists some very good considerations to get you started. Who is building this?
http://www.deckspecialists.com/deck_size_article.htm

1) What is your budget?
2) What is your appetite for a large Scope vs some quick tweaks?
3) What is your preferred Style (when you say 'Wow', what Style is that?)

This house looks like a pre-fab chalet style which could be converted into something:
- more Traditional
- more Contemporary
- more Craftstyle

This would be accomplished by:
- removing the small porch and adding a different 'railing' - likely glass for Contemporary, Rectangular white Spindle for Traditional, etc
- removing the facia and changing out to match Style of railing (let your overall Style and key features govern the 'trim' and other 'detailing' decisions)
- I would remove the storm door and opt for a new front door in the Style you select
- I would remove the windows and opt for new windows, per Style Guide.

Please see a Style Guide board we do for clients which helps them select the overall look for their house - attach clippings for exterior feastures and interior features to separate / the same big foam board.

Attach live samples too!

In this way you will create a coherent overall Style Guide and then you can go and price the feasibility of different 'features'; such as railings, fascia, windows, doors, trim, decks, etc.

Hope this approach is helpful to you. The overall vision is where I would start, and then budget individual items. If you only have about $5,000 and little patience for big fixes, I would stain it a very dark colour like a black tone- and add some greenery!!!

Pots on the deck filled with fake trees/shrubs!!!!

We do not have room on the right side of the house and our raise septic sits directly beside the left side of the house and runs quite a ways back so off setting it probably is not an option. The elevation does not drop any farther than the bottom of the deck that you see, the lot is pretty level out front. As far as style I do not like the current chalet look with the gingerbread and we like pretty traditional with a slight contemporary feel or craftsman and whatever we do we want it to be as much maintenance free as possible.

Replace the deck, new windows, paint the house a fun color, and consult with a designer. Their information could be very helpful with color choices and design ideas. Best of luck:)

You could put wider trim around the windows and doors and paint them the color of the windows to give more contrast.

Look at the colors on this traditional home. The colors would be perfect for your lake house. There is wood for the doors and windows, but for your lake home I would use a salmon color for the door and white and salmon color molding for around the windows. Use this pic for inspiration.

Hi,

The two windows flanking the door: are they the living room? If so remove door, windows and put in floor to ceiling windows. Exterior lighting, and new deck using composite material, walnut coloured tones.
Glass paneled railing around the deck and remove and install same for balcony. I'd add really wide plank steps down the center off the deck? Perennial greenery, with bunch of pine trees like blue spruce, and grasses. A must, landscaping lighting as well.
As for colour always go darker than lighter, as that paint chip in your hand is 200% lighter on the side of the cottage in the light of day.
Hire someone to help you......

http://www.dessinsdrummond.com/detail-plan-de-maison/info/heidi-chalet-1002100.html

Here is D9 Ivy Green shakers Green/blue. Lots of compliments

This thread is from October 2014.

Hopefully, the poster will post an updated pic.

Thank you for all the ideas. We ended up tearing down the existing structure and using the current foundation and built from that point up.

Depending on where your lake house is, your Swiss Chalet has wonderful authentic charm! In Gaylord Michigan, alpine architecture is seen throughout downtown. What if you take it back to its Swiss roots with exterior colors of cream, espresso, Carmel, with some bright shutters of red or green - and add big luscious flower boxes. New windows with grids or a mimic of the diamond leaded ones. New trex deck in a Carmel color with Swiss balusters, steps trailing down to grass. Google Bavarian or Swiss chalets, on the inside you could mix Swiss antiques with newer Scandinavia furniture. They have cute old ski picture that can be customized with your lake name.

old thread

Sally, you must be a newbie.Take of note of dates of posting.

This home has been torn down.

Sally ****** they tore the house down and built a new one. Sometimes it helps, if you read the comments.

Unfortunately, Houzz posts "similar" discussion threads that are years old.

Michele, I'd love to see more photos of your exterior and hear what all you did for the exterior/windows. What color did you gow with for the house? We have a similar style cottage we just bought and are trying to fix it up and a navy is something I want to go with--has a similar feel as you house and deck. Pictures are below, I'd love any info or photos you can pass along and if you ended up just working with contractors on this or if you hired a designer to help. Thanks!

Michele, I'd love to see more photos of your exterior and hear what all you did for the exterior/windows. What color did you gow with for the house? We have a similar style cottage we just bought and are trying to fix it up and a navy is something I want to go with--has a similar feel as you house and deck. Pictures are below, I'd love any info or photos you can pass along and if you ended up just working with contractors on this or if you hired a designer to help. Thanks!

Beth Parsians check out the post I made in May 2017 with the updated pics of our house! It’s a dark grey!