Street appeal

Mandi Davidson

6 years ago

How would you update the facade of our house? Do you think there is scope to add a carport at the front? Thanks!

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Ruth BT

6 years ago

Your house has got great bones. Are the bricks painted? If not I would give them a good clean first. The garden needs redoing but I would keep the fence if you can. I think you can do a a really great colour scheme that was quite strong as the lines of the house demand it. Personally I would worry that a carport out the front would take away from the house design but others might have a better idea than what I'm imagining.

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Comments (15)

Julie Herbert
6 years ago
I think the above comments in pressure washing the bricks on house and fence is a great idea, painting your window trims, gutters and garage door a nice grey would instantly change the look, wrought iron painted same colour also if you decided to keep it otherwise replace with horizontal timber slats, I would start again with your garden, remove existing plants and use hedges along front, ornamental pears and magnolias would give it a more modern edge, a nice water feature would look besutiful, limit your plant choice and mass plant to create a uniformed look, check out garden designs of Peter Fudge, Paul Bangay for inspiration, good luck you could make a real statement with your lovely home.
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Analysis first, then design, please. Decide all the activities that you and your family wish to occur in the front and side yards, that are not appropriate to the rear. Look at all the views as you approach the house, as well as the views from all the windows of the house. If you have underground utilities, map them out, so you and your contractors know their precise location. Think of how your guests will approach the house, that is why there is a front walk from the street. Don't trash it, resurface it, and consider charming them with the beauty and fragrance of plants on the way to your door, while admiring your home revisions. Where will you welcome your guests? How about an outdoor room with a little furniture to sit and have morning coffee with the morning news, invite your neighbor over, you won't have to invite them into your house, just your outdoor room. Will the kids want some activiies to be based on your new driveway surface? Will the new drive provide a turnaround space, so you and your guests don't have to back out onto the street? Can we see the rear yard, or is it a perfect fit to your family needs. Enjoy your new home, it's a beauty.
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Go on ebay or Zilch (free giveaway site) and look up Plants people either getting rid of Free or you can buy. Like someone above suggested, Agapanthers, English box, Yakkas are great for height, and so many people cut them back and then leave on front nature strip to help yourself. Same with a bird bath for the circular section, go on line for second hand.. I painted the outside of my house which had a Red brick European look which I hated, with a washed lime from Porters Paints. Only one coat is required as it's a wash. You need to dilute the paint down. I really painted it on really thin around windows and doors to give the impression of a different couloured brick as a feature. Honestly I'm 64 female and di it myself. Above are before This was just a normal pot plant. I waterproofed the inside. plank to hold the tub above, and you have a cheap water fountain. Since these I have planted all around the pot and have a water plant that sits in pot also. Sorry don't have a photo, Just want u to see you can paint your bricks if you choose to. The wire infront was to keep the dog out as I placed 3 bags chicken manure around before I planted.
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I wouldn't replace the fibre cement panels under the windows with weatherboards, that would just accentuate the different window heights. Instead I would paint those panels a darker colour, say a charcoal grey, with the corner posts and other window trim in the same colour. (You are right, grey is timeless, while any blue would date very quickly.) Then the windows and panels become consistent vertical elements on a lighter facade. You can also pick out the fascias and gutters in that same grey to tie it all together. If you stripped back the brown painted battens to the undercroft and the balcony timber railings, and instead gave them a coat of decking oil for natural timber warmth and integrity, you could make a similar oiled horizontal batten front fence using hardwood decking boards on 50x50 galvanised steel posts. Then the fence and the undercroft battening would match. If the garage door is a tilt-a-door I would be tempted to replace the steel with oiled horizontal battens. Otherwise, paint it the same charcoal grey. Then you have a 3-tone colour scheme that will give the place simple understated elegance: White, grey, and natural oiled hardwood. I am curious why what looks like the front door is not accessible? It looks like there might have been front steps there at one time instead of the current deck. Probably a casualty of a previous renovation.
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Sorry - know I didn’t mock up the white fret work - family had originally voted a no - so hadn’t bothered... I’ve asked the painter to do the fret work white so we can see what it’s like in real life and if it’s good we’ll keep it that way - hopefully have a photo to post in the next week or so
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JE C
6 years ago
I agree with the posters above, also, I can't see the fence by the driveway clearly but it looks as though a coast of the same dark grey (or even black) that you might use on the house gutters etc could smarten it up and give a clear delineation between your property and the one next door. You could use vibernum as a lowish hedge behind the front wall depending on where you live as it is quite fast growing and easy to grow.... or maybe something a bit neater such as box. I can't see the left hand side well but maybe ornamental pears or even tuckeroos (kept neat) to do something different, underplanted with another lowish hedge in a contrasting shade of green. One possible issue is that if you remove all the current plantings and just plant around the edges, the middle of the house may look a little bare due to the positioning of the windows, something to think about. Sorry we haven't answered the question about the carport properly yet.... one thought I had that if you did really want a car port, setting it back so that it is just in front of the garage might stop it from the lines of the front of the house. Depends on how much space you have to play with back there, I think you could safely do the work on the garden regardless....
JE C
6 years ago
sorry that was "coat" of the same dark grey etc....
JE C
6 years ago
Also, I would pave the area of soil in front of the chimney so that it looks more like part of the driveway.
Sam Mas
6 years ago
I don't know if it would be possible, but could you consider getting a carport out the front that looks like, or doubles as, a veranda/pergola/patio? Perhaps done in wood? When you have parties, you could leave the car in the street and have a lovely area for guests???
Sam Mas
6 years ago
I would definitely not put in a metal monstrosity or you would loose all your street appeal!
siriuskey
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I have always thought that the long driveway down the side of the house to park the car in the garage a total waste of space, a carport to the front of the house would look great this would depend on council as to how far forward it can be built. the carport could be made wide enough to include an undercover walkway to the front entrance
Gallifrey
6 years ago
Don't put a carport at the front. It will ruin your street appeal. Put it to the side in front of the garage.
siriuskey
6 years ago
I was suggesting to put it towards the front over the drive way, if it's done right it won't challenge the house but add to it
siriuskey
6 years ago
Carports can really add to a houses appeal and give privacy from the street so as to make the out door areas more usable
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misslizzie21
6 years ago
Mandi, your home is very appealing, it's a good solid mid century home. Personally I would prefer to see the carport at the end of the drive as close to the garage as possible, keeping unimpeded access to your front door. If you don't have room for this I think Siriuskey's suggestions are good, if you can separate the carport and pedestrian traffic to the front porch.
Even if it's a separate path parallel with the drive.
I'll go with previous suggestions for the garden, in particular a viburnum hedge.
siriuskey
6 years ago
Mandi some better examples of carport ideas for your lovely house. I would look to using the garage as a studio/workshop/office or even an outdoor kitchen BBQ.

someone mentioned using slates on the front fence
JE C
6 years ago
I think on reflection, the front or back could both work for the carport if the look was carefully chosen. It might depend on the rest of the street-scape as well- eg if all the other houses are set back, it might not work quite so well. If definitely makes the house feel a bit more private, having it at the front.
Fiona Anastasia Whitefoot
6 years ago
Render the facade - it will add value to the home! Update the yard so it compliments the house!

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Ruth BT

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Julie Herbert

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