Jazz up a plain timber cottage street appeal
giddley
9 years ago
I am doing a renovation on this weatherboard cottage but really stuck on how to give it street appeal. It is all a bit two dimensional with the front wall all in one plane. I am trying to give it a bit of a chic feel rather than traditional as it is a duplex development (new dwelling being added at the rear). It is on the minimum boundary set back so I cannot add any roofed structure to the front. Awnings and pergolas would be allowable. I would really appreciate some help here.
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (24)
giddley
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Need help with street appeal!
Comments (13)If budget allowed I would ignore the curved roof & add an entry structure to try to minimize the garage which dominates the front. Something like this style... It could be built from stained timber posts & slats instead of an actual room & would bring the entry forward. A connecting pergola across the front door side in stained timber & paint the house in a coastal pastel, blueish grey or white to contrast with the timber. Another option could be a half curve entry structure higher on the garage side This could also enhance the entry & make it more welcoming as currently it is hiding behind that large Golden Cane & the higher footpath on that side. You could paint garage door or replace with a timber look one as well. Then lots of tropical landscaping with colourful foliage to pretty up the plain frontage....See MoreNeed help for giving this house a more interesting street appeal.
Comments (19)1) My cost saving suggestion to you is PAINT, this is going to give you the cheapest tool to change the Miners cottage appearance to attract attention. 2) Leave Roof as is, no Paint ,the roof being left natural to me gives it a studio edge.(and saves precious dollars 3) Wall colour in a darkish grey with all white trim, I was going to suggest a beige colour but it looks like your neighbour has these colours so that's why I'd go bold with wall & fence colour. 4) Perhaps you could build a small fence like the metal one I sent you, this would be made up with scrape material nd place to the R/H side of the driveway, can't see whats on that boundary 5) Gutter and eaves same colour as walls 6) Gates shinny black 7) Keep existing window & door shades and paint them all white, no stripes 8)Front door of your choice, Red and make the studio door a different colour to help students find there way, Yellow 9) Looks like you have a crushed gravel path running along the side of the house to the studio, try to define this from the gate so that you don't have everyone cutting across the verandah, 10) It would be good to have some screening on the Verandah, mesh or other affordable material. 11)Trim the grass, plant some hedging behind the fence and plant some red NZ flax plants off to the right side of the garden 12)Paint garage like house this would help to bulk out the building and make it look a bigger property 13) PAINT good luck...See MoreFrom bland to beautiful - street appeal needed!
Comments (33)I like all the garden ideas ( it does look a bit sparse and 'rental property' look about it IMO ) , with a low fence along the front , a wooden screen a couple of metres in front of the door , etc , BUT when I looked at the very first photo -- the wider angle one -- the one thing you notice first is the yellow marker post on the left hand side of the driveway fence . So take that as a cue , and paint the garage door a bright colour to stand out -- primary or metallic or trendy , just one that you like , and personally I'd probably change the curtains ( or even dye them ) to the same colour as the garage door . Right now , everything is various derivatives of off-white and red brown earth brick -- needs a decent spot of colour to lift the houses look IMO . Another option would be 'natural' timber blinds , especially if you had them the same shade of stain as the screen and the front fence , but I'd still do the garage door ( and maybe the guttering ) your current favourite colour ....See MoreHow do I update and boost my street appeal?
Comments (24)I'd definitely leave the brick and the roof, it looks like a good, solid and classic house a and the front door would come up beautifully in a smarter colour. I'd paint your front door, gutters and garage door Dulux Monument and it would look fantastic, particularly with your brick and roof couloirs and that lovely sandstone. Then the gables in the same sandy colour as your posts, though if it's too yellow-creamy you could use a warm grey taupe like Dulux Dieskau. Replace the coach lights with a sleeker but still classic version like Beacon's Southhampton and an additional pair either side of the front door. Replace the urns with say 3 simple tubular pots of varying heights on the left side with some interesting crassula and rounded Japanese box. Trim your hedge right down and thin out to shoulder height. Not sure if you can replace the finials on your fence as this Victorian style doesn't suit your house and is a bit dated. Then rip out any ratty looking plants (poor roses always look ratty!) and replace with plants that are ideal for the aspect - if they're in the shade only put in clients that in part shade even magnolia little gem is versatile. Otherwise a lovely sweet viburnum will add softness and bright foliage. Plant mondo grass in the tall pot and remove the pew bench and rectangular planters and get a new small batch of fresh pebbles for between the square pavers. You could even put an interesting bench (or that pew) along the wall on the right of the front door, style it up with a couple of outdoor cushions (KMART even have some smart stripe ones). and finally get the roof cleaned but otherwise leave it! it's a great house, it won't take much to make it look really fresh and stylish....See More
PROLa Classe Casa
9 years ago
Susan Ballard
9 years agogiddley
9 years ago
PROBelle Homes Design & Construction
9 years ago- PRO
La Classe Casa
9 years ago 
PROTimandra Design & Landscaping
9 years agogiddley
9 years ago
Brandon Schmahl
9 years agoAnd you can finish it off with a stainless cable rail off the porch to make it current.
giddley
9 years ago
Lee Bradley
8 years agobradlesjnr
8 years agogiddley
8 years ago
wuff
8 years agogiddley
8 years agowuff
8 years ago- PRO
Cascio Associates - Site Planning - Landscape Arch
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agogiddley thanked Cascio Associates - Site Planning - Landscape Arch 
asquithoatley
8 years agoI agree to no shutters- does not fit the style of the house. A nice awning over the window which should be enlarged and a decent timber frame. Or a bay window would be a lovely feature. Landscaping is essential too- some beautiful blue hydrangeas would look great with a med grey color scheme.
giddley thanked asquithoatleygiddley
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
Belle Homes Design & Construction