FYI the tree has been lifting off the roof since I took this picture.

There's no salvaging those awnings, you don't need them, or shutters to have a lovely home.

I would definitely remove the awnings. And since there really is no room for shutters, I would install window boxes instead with brightly colored flowers in them.

I agree, remove the awnings they are past their prime. You don't need shutters to make a lovely home. You can beef up window trim and paint. Window boxes as mentioned above make a nice improvement. Take a look at this inspiration pic, similar to your home: (hover over the photo to expand and click on the name for design details)


Here is another one with beefed up framed windows and a bright color scheme. No shutters and no awnings. :)

I think Denita's idea is perfect for your house. Add some extra trim around the windows and some window boxes and it will look adorable.

Wendi has a great idea with window boxes. If you're not sure about the upkeep of window boxes (I'm terrible with them though I do try about 3 mos out of the year), you could simply remove the awnings and put all your focus on the porch and door area.

Painting is good but keep it light and happy looking. In my mind, painting grey with black is going to actually darken your home and diminish your curb appeal. A light grey/blue could be nice. Then, give the door some punch with a red (cliché I know) or yellow or lime green. Something to draw the attention away from the windows instead of accentuating them. Keep all the trim the same color as the house so that the door really shines. Place some plants next to the door to soften the look and/or you could add some nice patio or rocking chairs to give you a place to chat with neighbors or read a good book.

Someone more savvy than I might need to weigh in on this, but I think I'd remove the paint from the steps so that they would blend more into the side walk though it may be that the disconnect is coming from the darker blue foundation against the lighter blue steps and the concrete of the sidewalk.

Good luck!

Did you just buy this house? How long have you lived there? The reason I ask is because people put those awnings on not because they're so attractive, but because it helps keep the house cool, especially if you have south or west facing windows. If you just moved in, please consider living through a summer with them before deciding they're so hideous you can't take them another minute. They might make all the difference in the comfort of your home.

Point well made, hayleydaniels. If the awnings or some type of sun protection is necessary, perhaps changing them to whatever color you paint the house may help them become a bit more "invisible". Looking at the picture again, I'm seeing several horizontal lines that break up the house and give it almost a striped look. Unifying the colors would make a huge difference I think.

I agree with Haley. It is likely that the front of the house gets a lot of sun and those awnings help to keep the house cooler.
I suggest that you could keep them but give them some personality. If you paint the house pale gray, why not add vertical stripes in white and a darker gray for a more contemporary feel, or perhaps pastel blue and pale gray for a more breezy feel. Then add a pop of color on the front door and use planters to reinforce it.
The front porch also needs a facelift, and there are lots of ways that would vastly increase your home's curb appeal. You will find lots of wonderful ideas on this site!

Wow this is some really great feedback! Thanks Denita for sharing those pics as inspiration. I would love to be able to replicate the first photo but not sure that's in our budget. We were thinking about replacing the wrought iron with wooden pillars though. Also, the darker blue on the stairs is painted over good brick so we were thinking of maybe trying to expose that as well.

We have been here a few years now, but I couldn't be able to tell you if they awnings have any impact on the heat in the summer. Those windows are western facing and we live in Louisiana. However we drive around our area and there is probably 2 other homes with awnings and they definitely aren't ones to take inspiration from.

I really appreciate all the feedback!

Also, we are going to replace those blinds, we have a dog who apparently had a stressful day while we were gone and tore up every blind the house!

I like the idea of a wooden porch and considered suggesting that but wasn't sure of your budget or desires. If you decide to go that route, you may want to consider going all the way across the house with a covered porch. That would shade the windows and get rid of the awnings in one fell swoop.

I am suggesting a covered porch also !

Sorry to hear your dog chewed up all of your blinds. I would scrimp and save to redo it like the Modern Bungalow photo that Denita posted. I had wooden shutters installed inside my windows that face south and also the curb. They kept the hot summer heat out. They are pricey but so worth it.

Your windows look fantastic. Take down those awnings and show them off! I would take out the boxwood and head to the local nursery this spring. If you are going to paint your house gray, some white iceberg rose bushes would add some great contrast. I think the photo of the Cozy Cottage has a iceberg rose bush in the foreground. You can shape them into anything.

I think replacing the wrought iron posts and aluminum awning would be worth it, but it will likely involve some roof modification since the fascia is barely above the door.

Fabric awnings or plantation shutters might be an option to help shade the windows and can look quite nice. New awnings would allow more light in and cover up less of the windows, and DIY ones with brackets or chains, similar to a pergola, would be a possibility. Even modern aluminum awnings offer lighter and more attractive options, and are consistent with the period of the house. No matter what you pick, be prepared to spend some money, but the improvement to the face of the house would be worth it.

Stripping brick can be done, but it is difficult and time consuming, and remnants of that color may be hard to get rid of. Repainting or resurfacing would be easier.

I think the awnings might be functional, keeping the sun and heat out of the front rooms. But they would look better (and be less noticeable) in a light tan color. I'd paint the railings dark brown and the porch and steps the same tan. Here is a color example in a metal: Even the lighter creamy shade on the trim would look good. A light color doesn't absorb heat the way dark colors do.

I'm thinking pale yellow house. Paint the trim around the window black. Paint the awnings while and stencil a black damask design on them then cover the whole awning in a sealer clear coat of some sort. Black front door. Paint the iron work on the front porch black. Have some real fun and use some sheets of fake stacked rock to cover the painted gray foundation below the porch. Funny how I can spew ideas for your project and my house needs attention! Good luck.

That was, paint the awnings white. Typo.

Remove the awning and if you feel like you need anything else, consider shutters.

If you paint or stencil the awnings, I'd like to see the finish product! I'm thinking of stenciling a craftsman style band around my bungalow, which was denuded of style in the 60s.

Dumpster the awnings and the front porch thing too

Taking another look at the house - before you paint, you may want to take down the hedges. Row hedges like those date a house and hurt curb appeal. So try this: 1. take down the awnings and remove the hedges. 2. paint the house and the iron on the porch. Choose a good front door color too! 3. If you're going for "bungalow or cottage" then increase and curve your landscape area including area in front of your porch and edge it with rocks you like. 4. Choose an awning color and spray them good! (or stencil) 5. Select some great perennial plants based on color and height. There you have it....now I should do my own!!!

Any update on what you finally decided? Contemplating removing the awnings on my house too.

Start with removing them and see what it looks like. Does not cost money and could be the solution...

2014 Dilemma, folks. Unlikely to hear from OP.

Hey, OP here. So, we decided NOT to remove them. We did paint the wrought iron black and our front door an orange, almost reddish orange.

thanks for the update! I think I will try removing them off my front window and see how it looks

Those awnings should go right in the recycling bin. If you can afford it, a covered porch will take the heat of the sun off the rooms in the front of the house. Right now plant a few trees far enough back from the house. In a few years they will start to shade the house. As well, put in shades or blinds to get immediate relief from the sun. Good luck.

Awnings were used when we didn’t have blinds and window treatment that insulate from heat and cold. Toss them.

You might think about pergolas across the front of the home .
Sorry the photo is a little bleary.

Would love to see this a photo of what you ended up doing. I have a similar type house and awnings. Can visualize the changes

As an old woman who's lived in more than two dozen homes and apartments, I recommend living somewhere new for at least a year before you do anything big. Awnings can cut AC costs by as much as 25%; interior blinds will cut blinding light, but do nothing to diminish cooling costs. It may be you can remove the awnings seasonally, storing them in the garage or a shed. Painting them (they look like they're aluminum) is definitely an option--low cost, cheap to reverse or change again later.

I jI just had my awnings and shutters painted yesterdayI

I just had my awnings and shutters painted yesterday! My house faces west and the front of my house gets baked! My daughter wanted me to take them down but I knew better. Awnings can save a small fortune on your cooling bill.

This is a 12 year old post. Let’s hope the problem was solved.

Ok

get rid if the blue. use s light taupe color on everything blue. will make a huge difference. paint your house a warm light green or soft yellow or paint all the blue soft light green. such as SW sea salt

Am unsure what was meant by the tree was lifting off the roof. Would never allow a tree to be in such close proximity to a house that the braches actually lie on the roof. A chainsaw would be the answer to that.