70s house needs a garden face-lift

8 years ago

Hi, this our recently purchased late 70's home. We are planning to update the front yard a little and any suggestions would be appreciated. Our house faces south, is in lovely hot & dry Perth and the natural soil is referred to as Bassendean sand, not quite coastal sand, but not much better. We have a toddler and there are lots of kids on the street that roam between yards, so we'd like to keep it as an open and inviting play space as well as complimenting the slightly unique architecture. More tree coverage is definitely needed in summer.

On the verge are two palms that have just come down that weren't doing anything good for the house or garden. All woodwork was cream & I have started updating it to Dulux Monument (which I am not certain is the best colour choice, but I had some left from my old house and put some up to sample and got a little carried away so we are running with it for now)

Thank you in advance!

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Comments (4)

Melissa Sinclair
Original Author
8 years ago
not sure if this is showing in the original post?
frostygrrl
7 years ago
The brick colour is actually good. But if the property is over $1.5mil or other properties are in the same price I would render with charcoal colour.

Coloured door will help it pop. New dark tiles on the stairs, maybe blackish hexagon or small tiles.

Some coloured fencing to add dimension:

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=vertical+fencing&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwipnL34ss_MAhVCG5QKHS6dDcEQsAQIGw&biw=1920&bih=904#tbm=isch&q=vertical+fencing+chacoal&imgrc=5CyppGlWA78mYM%3A

I think the property is quite nice without it. But it will modernise a bit. What do you think?
Melissa Sinclair thanked frostygrrl
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I beg to differ from Melwood Cabanas - rendering your home will look nothing like their photo as you don't have the classic Georgian proportions and windows. Render doesn't improve the design and propotions into a classic look, in fact it often does the reverse, and puts an emphasis on things that aren't quite right with a design, due to the loss of texture and visual interest. If the house is big enough to have a bathroom for bedroom 7 then I would be looking to sacrifice that bathroom (on the assumption that you probably have five or six other bathrooms), to improve the appeal of the front elevation. Engage a design professional to redesign the front of the home to be in sympathy with the existing architecture and proportions, and don't try and modernise it for a compromised result. It already has a charm that has been diluted by unsympathetic styling. Just cause somebody has painted the ground floor pink, added topiary and classic timber seating doesn't make it look Tuscan. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls
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Always, always these things/decisions/projects will come down to how much money there is to work with.........don't underestimate the knock-on cost effect of renovation..........the thing is, does the house need a complete overhaul anyway? If so then potentially there is opportunity for reconfiguration, but don't be surprised with the general scope of what you are thinking about will equate to $300K for pulling the whole thing apart and putting it back in a similar but different format within the general existing footprint .......if you are thinking under $100K then really the only options are strategically consolidated refit updates to critical areas without any significant structural changes......... Finally, as always it pays to get some professional design advice when you are this stage of the process, even just to give you the accurate information and options to help you make informed decisions for your investment.. Good Luck :) PD www.pauldistefanodesign.com
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First step would be outline what and why the railing and deck needs replacing , so that you ( or we ) don't repeat the mistakes . Like oklouise said , what is the front and rear deck made of ( sounds like they are concrete slabs , but just checking ) , what are the rails currently , do you know how solid the pillars are ( they look a different brick to the house , so may have been added later and/or have steel uprights in the middle , etc ) . The answers to those questions will give 'us' a base -- a concrete deck or two is harder to replace than wooden ones , same with steel poles imbedded in 2 metres of concrete etc . Just some general comments though -- what is the material between the 2 windows on the upstairs front ? And you say about not replacing the windows , but possibly changing the rear door ? Is that because of cost ? The brown frames will always date your house , but they are no where near as bad IMO as the yellow glass . Personally , that glass would be the very first thing I'd change ; 2nd thing would be doing charcoal on the gutters and garage doors ; THEN I'd update the decks and rails . Depending on what the fill panel between those 2 upstairs windows above the garage doors is made out of , maybe paint it off-white or charcoal -- add some interest in a subtle way . If you keep any part of the blue rails , paint them . Also look at some landscaping , a solid brick or maybe charcoal coloured concrete mailbox , charcoal stained fences -- but I still shiver at the yellow glass haha .
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Melissa Sinclair
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for your suggestions, I didn't think I wold get any response.

I really like your suggestions for new tiles on the steps. It is something we hadn't considered at all (one of those areas you always walk past and never stop to consider). The whole front door area could use some love actually, it is a very dark entrance with its orientaton and it hasn't been clad underneath so it is still mission brown wood and the orange tiles to suck away the light.

Do you have any thoughts on trees and their positioning? It would be great to have shade in summer, but I feel like with the height of the building on the right, that it needs a big tree on the left, which obiviously wouldn't work given we need to drive our cars there. The neighbours have their drive alongside ours which emphasises it even more.

Thanks again.
nancymiller48
7 years ago
You have a narrow garden on the left, no reason why you cant create height there with a tall tree of some sort - it would just have to be a toppy tree with bare trunk to keep the driveway clear, or tall and narrow (poplar or even bamboo comes to mind). Even a row of screening trees - Im a kiwi so dont know what would work in your situation or climate. Like the idea of lightening up the porch and colouring the door.
Melissa Sinclair thanked nancymiller48

70s house needs a garden face-lift

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70s house needs a garden face-lift

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Melissa SinclairOriginal Author

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