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thebakingpanda

Awkward Entryway

12 years ago
Help! Any decent ideas on how to make this porch look nicer/more symmetrical without centering the front door? I've thought of expanding the front window 2 feet to the right and possibly shutters but anything other ideas would be appreciated- please help!

Comments (15)

  • 12 years ago
    And left of path. Just make it wider to fit porch.
    Casey thanked Opal
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    To lessen the asymmetry of it from the street, I think I'd go with a black or darker color front door rather than white, then bring that accent color around with window shutters.
    Casey thanked Barnhart Gallery
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Change you sidewalk to a wide paved walkway the width of the inside columns.

    It would be best if the sidewalk came straight out to the street rather then turning to the side of the house (the garage?) You could have a smaller walkway attaching to the driveway and a grander paved sidewalk going out to the street. It could be wide by the porch and then narrow down a bit approximately 10 feet back from the porch.

    Consider using interlocking pavers which can be placed over a sand base.
    Casey thanked Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    This house is sitting on a level five acre lot with no mature trees to the front.. so there is no street to bring the sidewalk to. I'm liking these comments!! For the widened walkway, would you suggest doing concrete? Here are a few more pictures
  • 12 years ago
    I agree with widening the walkway. Concrete would be fine, stamped concrete even better. Given the house is brick, I would probably stay away from pavers. I can't tell from the pic how many windows are on the front of the house but if not too many you could add some wood molding around the windows very I expensively to make them more impactful. Maybe window boxes. I would also add house numbers or other decorative item in the space between the door and window. I would relocate the wood pile and add a colorful outdoor rug runner with two chairs and a table between. I would add a color to the front door. (Burnt red or orange, green or even a bright yellow) by making some of these changes you will trick the eye into overlooking the imbalance.
    Casey thanked inthedetails
  • 12 years ago
    Before undertaking something major, I'd try to balance it with color, treating the whole porch as a room. You could paint your door something like Williamsburg Whythe Blue from Benjamin Moore, then get two tall back porch rockers and paint them the same blue and put them on the left. In fair weather, a smallish round table between the two with a print cloth incorporating white/blue/brick and maybe green or yellow, with a plant in a colored pot. I'd look for a simple outdoor rug (maybe in the gray of your square planter boxes) that would be centered on the light fixture and walkway.
    Casey thanked nwduck
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Looks like you have a nice earth contact with an entry. I would curve the walkway and landscape there... the entry door isn't centered on the porch, so I think you need to embellish the focal poiint.
    Casey thanked Sustainable Dwellings
  • 12 years ago
    I like Jenakeroyds idea of the table and chairs by the window...I would sugest some white shutter decor one the sides of the windows to tie in with the pillars...Also agree with Lampert's idea to open up the walk way even with the pillars....
    Casey thanked queene0318
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Since the walk will never be truly centered on the door how about placing a container against the wall between the door and window. Also add a matching one to the left of the walk) further away from the door that way the two objects guide the viewer. Adding something interesting will draw the eye to glance over the area and find the more important entry. You can change the plant material seasonally to add interest.
    Casey thanked Red Berm
  • 12 years ago
    Put a nice white wooden bench on the porch. The bistro set is completely lost.
    Casey thanked leelee
  • 12 years ago
    Here's the pic
    Casey thanked leelee
  • 12 years ago
    I agree with opening up the walkway from column to column and the purchase of chairs, rockers or bench. Some other things you can do - put the wreath on the brick area rather than the door, put (smaller) pots on either side of the door, the larger pots can be put where the wood pile is, change the light for a ceiling fixture light or move it over to center the split in the window - and put 2 lights on either side of the door. Your wreath is nice - you can buy a couple of them and change them throughout the seasons. It looks like you can buy one a little larger and bulkier with some beautiful flowers - check out etsy; paint your front doors and sidelights.
    Casey thanked cathyjoco
  • 12 years ago
    You can also look up 'front porch' pinit and find lots of ideas. Another idea would be to spruce up the doors with an entry knob and kick plate. All the slate that you are using for the planters can be put onto the porch.
    Casey thanked cathyjoco
  • 12 years ago
    Replace the concrete with flagstone and include the entire space around the columns to the left of the door so it looks like a patio space under the roof. Add high back rockers or chairs in the area in front of the windows.
    Casey thanked mountie