Updating a Garrison Colonial Exterior

7 years ago

Would love advice on updating the exterior. I love all-brick houses but there wasn't one on the market right about when we were looking. Bought this fixer upper with plans to remodel into our specific taste.

I would like to tear down the front flat roof and pillars and instead change the siding to brick veneer. Of course since the front isn't flush, my husband thinks this would look very weird.

I'm thinking one of a few options -

1. Add some moulding or similar detail around the overhang and either pop a different color or paint a similar color to blend with the brick

Colonial Farmhouse · More Info

2. Add a slanted roof to replace the flat roof and pillars on the bottom or a portico over the door to break things up.

Exterior View of Restored Farmhouse · More Info

We plan to build out over the garage and definitely want brick veneer with that so I'm keeping this in mind with the overall design.

Would appreciate all advice TIA

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Comments (5)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
7 years ago
I just looked at hundreds of Garrison Colonials, and not a single one has brick on the second floor. Don't fix what isn't broken and waste money and devalue the home. You have a very nice home that requires a freshened landscaping plan that is going to cost $$ to do well. Spend your money on that.

If you must spend money to remodel, then perhaps this will provide some inspiration.
mcauly thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
mcauly
Original Author
7 years ago
I had noticed that too - missing brick on the upper level but I just didn't want to accept it I guess

BUT this house you shared is amazing!!!! THANK YOU! This is what I've been missing - seeing such a gorgeous alternative. I'm inspired to focus on this and landscaping. So excited, you don't even know!!!!!
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Painting the front door a personal fave funky colour would be a simple start and would a more substantial letter box. A few landscape comments- because Landscape is invariably cheaper than building works. The white gum is magnificent but does not look good with the palm. Palms have a relatively compact root ball and are much easier to move. If you have a more tropical part of the garden maybe move it there or advertise it on gum tree (tee hee). It looks like you might be in Perth from the plants. You just need more plants in the front garden and to extend the beds a little. the existing style actually looks good from the photos but is not extensive enough. Decide on a simple theme with the planting that goes with the white gum and the xanthorea because it is a bit of a mixed bag with the palm, little conifer and the flax? If you get out to a native nursery e.g. Zanthorea or Lulfitz you can get some inspiration. Plants like kangaroo paws and scaevolas are fun in Perth to get a bit of colour in a native garden although both are short lived (2-3years)
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I think the red roof and teal trim suit the style of your house but do agree with the majority that the walls would look much better white. I also think that getting rid of the colonial finial and your dated screen doors as someone else suggested, would improve the look. No one has mentioned this but I do think that your terracotta tiled stairs are a jarring note. Don't know if anything can be done about this as I don't know if paving paint on tiles is successful. I think they would look better dark charcoal. Your garden edging would look better charcoal as well and this being concrete can be successfully painted with paving paint. Or will these gardens be ripped out to build the pool?
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Great street appeal! I like the grey in the last inspo photos. It seems to give the house some grounding to the setting. I would not remove the trees, rather I think they would look good pleached. Checkout landscaper Paul Bangay’s work, specifically “Paul Bangay’s Garden Design Handbook”. Borrow it from the library and pour over that for ideas. The backyard needs some serious work as the soil looks depleted and the plants look starved. I would probably live in the house for awhile before committing to a plan for the back. I would also recommend painting the back walls charcoal or dark grey to recede but if they face west you’ll make it really hot. Soo, live with it for awhile and the solutions will become much clearer.
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Travis Simpson-Hunt
3 years ago
Although I too would first think your home is a garrison because of the over hang. But the faux balcony on the second floor give it a completely different identity. I would it is “Monterey”. For a “Fake Monterey” 😉. I bet when the architect drew this home there was a railing across the top part between the columns. This homes were very popular to build from 1960-1980s. A Monterey style has a second floor balcony attached to the home but not one of the first floor.

The two pictures on the bottom are of a 1970s Monterey style in our neighborhood in Pittsburgh. It’s built right next to a garrison and had the same builder. You can seen the garrison influences here with the over hanging second floor. But that tiny 3 foot balcony makes this a “Monterey” style home now.

hope all this was helpful,

-Travis Simpson-Hunt

Pittsburgh, Pa
Emily
3 years ago
Consider using the services of brickandbatten.com. They do a great job with all different house styles and on different budgets too. There’s a cost but it may be well worth it to use their services and get an overall plan before you proceed to doing anything.
PRO
Norwood Architects
3 years ago
I would suggest painting the brick main level and the siding of the upper level the same color to give a more cohesive look. It's hard to tell in the photo but are the columns on the upper level attached to the wall or is there space between the backs of the column and the wall? Either way, I'm doubting they are structural as there are no column on the main level below them. If that's the case I would remove them. Love Beverly's suggestion of adding a porch along the front of the house. This would certainly hide the fact that it is a garrison house. The porch will add some great outdoor living space too. Good luck!

Updating a Garrison Colonial Exterior

Comments (5)

BeverlyFLADeziner

mcauly
Original Author

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Updating a Garrison Colonial Exterior

Comments (5)

BeverlyFLADeziner

mcaulyOriginal Author

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Travis Simpson-Hunt

Emily

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mcauly
Original Author