How can I improve the ugly facade of my 1970s house?
Brooke G
8 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (39)
Related Discussions
1970s brick veneer - ideas to update front facade
Comments (11)Hi Jaimia, I tend to agree with 12sally12 sentiments. Celebrate the house and it's foibles (boxiness, entry, colour, balcony treatment). However it's great to adapt a home to make it yours - just making the right decisions is the hard part! The extent of change depends on your budget and your tolerance for inconvenience. I've listed a few ideas that vary from 'nice to have' to significant structural (and cost) changes. These will affect the colour scheme, and therefore the way it will appear overall. Roof – dark colours appear heavier and more dominant. Your home looks to be built in the 70's, it's likely due for a new roof soon. Consider a fresh new zinc or white colorbond roof. Upgrade the gutters and downpipes at the same time. Balcony – remove the clutter (replace handrails), and extend the balcony beyond the face of the main facade. This will give the effect of elongating the front elevation of your home. The detail of the new handrail extending along the continuous balcony frontage should in turn provide a fresh new look (more contemporary). Arches – these could remain, or go (depending on your desire to keep the quirkiness). These are likely to be aesthetic brickwork only - but check with a structural engineer if these can be removed. Entrance – there are two parts to this: The first aspect is to do with the appliance from the street frontage. Prioritise making the front door the most welcoming part of your home. This can be done with a pathway from the front of the site, with garden areas and great planting to accentuate the entrance to your home. The other aspect of the entrance is how entrance 'reads' from the outside of your home. This depends a little on your location (and climate). As a guide I'd suggest revising the entry wall, including the door and windows proportions to 'open up' this part of the facade to the street. This should be designed in the context of those iras listed above, as well as benign conscious of security and protection from sun loading. I hope this helps Jaimia, (Keep in mind many of the aspects listed above will require structural design asa minimum!) Cathi...See MoreHelp! Ugly facade 1980's mottled brick home.
Comments (15)Do people lime wash brick in Australia for exteriors much? Perhaps your facade is not the type for it and anyway I think it's a really cool facade as is. It strikes me as going with a mid century modern vibe as oklouise is suggesting rather than perhaps more trad plantation shutter look. But if it is a look you like then limewashing could inspire. Having said that I like your bricks and the idea of using Domino....See More80 's Revival - how to improve the front facade?
Comments (7)On the one hand , that small upstairs 'point' is a bit weird , but I'd be tempted to leave it as it is . I'd paint the entire place in an English Cream , leave the two tall pillars in that 'light charcoal' ( it looks slightly different in a couple of the pics , but that's what i am assuming it is ? ) or maybe a more standard charcoal , and do the gutters in charcoal too . There's nothing wrong with the garage door by the looks of it , but that front door and side panels is great , and I'd do the garage door to match . I initially thought you wanted the carport on the left of the house , but now i think maybe you want it in front ? Either way , I'd carry through with the wooden features -- 300 x 50 or 75 beams , similar supports ( slightly red timber ) etc , and possibly even clear plastic sheeting so that the new garage door can be seen . It would tie everything in too , and with that slope , it would not make the entrance area look as tall . Clean the paths , the entrance tiles ( or re-tile ) and then re-evaluate . I suspect with the lighter paint , cleaner or darker pillars , new or cleaned entrance tiles and the like , the front entry may look more imposing but less intimidating ....See MoreHelp! Ugly ugly facade
Comments (29)Your home has great potential. Because the exterior paintwork is new, best you work with it. The property needs to be anchored. Paint the roof a darker charcoal shade than the plaster colour. Repaint the front door black but lighten the plaster colour around the front door verandas a few shades lighter. Paint the block work around the garden bed the same as the roof and the front garden wall needs to be the same as the roof as well. Lift the facade by changing the internal window furnishings to white shutters. Strategically place 3 pots by the front door at varying heights with varied greenery at different heights….or keep simple with a single planter and greenery with height. Do not over crowd the front walk way. A beautiful light sconce feature on the wall by the front door, With a new doormat. Paving is not the right tone but it looks to go as far as the driveway for car parking…..costly. Paint would be easiest or just leave as is. A picture of your home from a more front on angle would be helpful to pull the whole look together. Some inspiration provided below....See MoreBrooke G
8 years agoBrooke G
8 years agoBrooke G
8 years agoMelbourne44 Melbourne44Musk
7 years agoeverton_galepacific
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoTyrian
7 years agorobin_kinross
7 years agosuancol
7 years agopinkfisher
7 years agoJennifer Bradley
5 years agotkjs68
5 years agorobandlyn
5 years agorobandlyn
5 years agoHU-972465601
5 years agoAnna Wave
4 years agogwyn5
4 years agoBron Spiers
4 years agoElizabeth
4 years agoBron Spiers
4 years agogeorgi02
4 years agorobynzdesinz
4 years agoKerrie Chapman
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoHelenscolour
4 years agoBron Spiers
4 years agoHU-319610855
3 years ago
Undercover Architect