Need kerb appeal please help

11 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I can't think of a way to change the louvres, what would you put there instead, I don't want to turn it into a veranda/porch.

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Anna
Original Author

7 years ago

Update pic, thanks for all the comments. I should have been more clear when I said I needed help, I was really just looking for ideas to replace the louvres, clearly it all needed some work but I enjoyed reading the extra info and sometimes abrupt advice

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Comments (49)

Emmilia
11 years ago
Open it up? White shutters? Trellis? A lot of this style of house are near me & I love them. I personally think that verandahs look best opened up. But if you need the indoor floorspace I totally understand as we have louvres & are just keeping them so the room stays enclosed. I have seen people just put in a big window, but don't think that looks good. Paint, front fence & gardens would obviously add to street appeal also. Good luck!
Jacq Collins
9 years ago
Picket fence needed here, plus green has to go - scout your local houses to get ideas and colour schemes. Try contrasting colours, such as the gates and house boards
Tropical planting a must.
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Jacq Collins
9 years ago
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Presentation Sells
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Lisa Carll
9 years ago
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bigredkate
9 years ago
A new paint job as suggested above, a picket fence or a row of shrubs along the existing fence. Add a couple of trees too.
Louise Gibbons
9 years ago
Louvres are classic and provide great climate control -why change them?
jodie_83
9 years ago
What about bifolds? You can then have them open or closed whichever suits. It really depends what you use the inside space for.
Vanessa
9 years ago
The proportions of the enclosed verandah don't look right to me. I would increase the height of the solid boards to waist height (about 1m) and then retain the louvres above. The great thing about louvres is that they are easy to remove if a future owner wanted to reinstate the verandah. I would not remove any of the traditional elements, but work around them.
maggiewade
9 years ago
I think it would make a big difference by just putting curtains up inside the louvres.
aesthetikah
9 years ago
If you are selling, paint and landscape. Do not remove lourves. If you have bought and don't like lourves, remove per some of the suggestions above noting whatever you add will need painting also, paint and landscape. Suggest weather boards darkest, trim above ground and stair balustrade lightest/white, handrail and trim below ground/under house, half strength colour of house weatherboard colour. Show us some after photos.
Judy Blackburn
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'd go for an all white exterior - really crisp fresh white - add a colourful hammock on that front verandah on the left and/or some white shutters if you want privacy - and FILL the garden with colourful hibiscus and balsam.... cheap and will make you smile when you come home. (A dripper system will save you water. You might like to add a mango tree so you can pick one as you go inside. Solargard is great and Dulux Weathetrshield in Lexicon is a sharp white - or if you want something a little softer go for everyones fabourite "Antique White USA". Don't worry if you can't afford to repaint now as that shade of green is actually correct for the time it was built!
Oh yes and just painting those barge boards and guttering white will freshen it up immediately... Good luck - enjoy!
Jonathon Longstaff
9 years ago
I totally agree with Judy however, white certainly isn't everybody's cup of tea so as an alternative changing the green to a bold, darker grey as a stark contrast to white windows, rails, gutters, other trims etc. would create a similarly modern and equally striking look. Lush/colourful gardens and a white picket fence are pretty much non-negotiable for this style home though!
Jules B
9 years ago
Personally, I'd have bifolds. They're practical in terms of open space and also privacy and they also look fantastic. Can't wait to see what you do!
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Entice Home Staging
9 years ago
If you want more privacy, light control and ventilation perhaps aluminium shutters would solve the problem and maximise your internal space. Colourwise I've been using quite soft romantic colours on this style of house lately and they have been very popular - see before and after photos. Roof - Colorbond Shale Grey, Gutters and handrails - Dulux Ticking, Walls - Dulux Soft Dove, Trims - Dulux White on White - if this appeals.
User
9 years ago
The louvres don't match the other windows. I would consider removing them, raising the height of the solid wall under the louvres and then installing the same size and style of windows as your existing windows.
magspag
9 years ago
This is a typical queenslander and in the North solid white timber shutters are used in this type of house. Lattice might work, and you could possibly fix it so the louvers could stay. It would be darker but as I assume it is Brisbane that probably would not be much of an issue. Alternatively, the John Oxley Library, which I assume is part of the state library in Brisbane apparently has similar designs in the State Advances Corporation of Queensland 1934 book of designs. It could be that putting a balustrade with flat rails to a height half way up the weatherboard side columns and keeping the glass louvers would maintain the function and restore the original aesthetics. If you can get hold if Peter Cuffley's 1989 'Australian Houses if the 20s and 30s' it would be useful.
magspag
9 years ago
Louvre, twice. Don't you hate bad spellers?
User
9 years ago
Last time I checked @magshag this was not a spelling contest and we are not school children. Check your own post for accuracy before checking our posts. "If you can get a hold 'of'- not 'if'. Most of us hate boring know it alls. If you check the real estate sign, the number is a Rockhampton number. Don't assume so much magspag.
User
9 years ago
"If" instead of "of", twice. Don't you hate bad spellers?
magspag
9 years ago
Um, that was my own mistake I was referring to. Self deprecating irony attempted. And was on iphone upon which I find I often hit the 'i' rather than 'o'. The phone number is too small for me to clearly see. I am old and a little visually impaired. I hope the information was at least useful to rococobelle.
JR Smith
9 years ago
@rightyouare - Lighten up FFS! No need to attack someone because you don't like something in their post.
User
9 years ago
Ditto @jasosmith.
PRO
Annie Cass Landscapes
7 years ago
Honestly, the louvers are the least of your problems - sorry! If you can source windows similar to the rest of those at the front and build the boards at the front to waist height, that would absolutely improve the look. I'm with those who advise changing the colour. Do you absolutely love it? Have you only just painted it? Are you selling the house of have you just bought it? If you're selling, try replacing the light green with a nice warm grey just dark enough to distinguish it from the white.

Rocky's my home town!! If you're serious about street appeal, though, I'd focus less on the house than doing something about the front garden. That fence may be practical, but it's, frankly, horrible. Spring for a white picket fence and the house will look better straight away. And plant things!! It doesn't have to be complicated or hard work. A couple of bangalow palms or frangipani and a few hibiscus would make all the difference.
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Annie Cass Landscapes
7 years ago
Oh, and just a side note to Judy, a mango tree in Rockhampton (I grew up at 92 Talford Street, behind two mango trees my great-grandfather planted) will easily get to a height and spread of six or seven metres, and there doesn't look to be that much room in the front garden. A citrus tree or two would be nice, though!
Jess Suazo
7 years ago
A large fix-pane window, provided you get air flow from the sides.
A white picket fence.
Fresh lick of colour, a grey would be nice.
A garden at the front on the inside of the fence with purple flowering plants.
User
7 years ago
I'm going to stick my neck out here. I quite like the green. I'd look to replace the louvres with white timber or white powdercoat aluminium louvres. Plant some hibiscus/frangapani. Fitting for up north. Maybe I've spent too much time in Hawaii!?!?
Shendel Cowan
7 years ago
The louvers are not a problem. If the paint work is in good condition leave it too, Imagine the paint a different colour as suggested by many, it will still look tired if nothing is done with the fence and garden these are the major let down. A new fence, white picket would be in keeping with the home, and a front gate with path to the steps so guest feel welcome to come in, the driveway is not doing it. Good luck.
K NZ
7 years ago
Congratulations - I love how the house looks!!
PRO
Annie Cass Landscapes
7 years ago
Looks SO much better! Well done!!!
User
7 years ago
Wow that looks fabulous. A total transformation. Congratulations!
Bec
7 years ago
Amazing transformation. Congrats!
macyjean
7 years ago
It's beautiful.
User
7 years ago
That is beautiful!
PRO
Entice Home Staging
7 years ago
Did you go aluminium or timber Anna?
Anna
Original Author
7 years ago
They are aluminium Janice
Anna
Original Author
7 years ago
Aluminium shutters
Georgia Kay
7 years ago
Looks amazing!
wuff
7 years ago
Wow, and thanks for update, looks amazing
cloudpants
7 years ago
What an amazing transformation! Well done.
Creativelychallenged
7 years ago
Beautiful!
Creativelychallenged
7 years ago
Could you let us know the colours you used...Brand and Colour please.
LesleyH
7 years ago
Fantastic. Shutters look great and excellent colour choice.
day_liv
7 years ago
What a transformation! Congratulations.
Anna
Original Author
7 years ago
@creativelychallenged the paint colours are grey - Luna Eclipse by New Look (paint place) and dulux quarter lexicon for trims the door and stairs are monument grey :)
Creativelychallenged
7 years ago
Thanks Anna. It is amazing what a difference the right colours and some shutters make to the house. It looks beautiful.
PRO
Entice Home Staging
7 years ago
You've done a brilliant job! You've made great choices - from the colours and shutters, to the landscaping which complements the style perfectly. Well done!
aesthetikah
7 years ago
Well done Anna, its a beauty.