Street appeal suggestions welcomed!
Lee & Laura
6 years ago
Hi all, we have just bought our first home in the outskirts of Brisbane, and would love your input and ideas in the first of many things we'd like to to with our house - fix the street appeal!
This house is north facing in a very modern neighbourhood with architecturally designed modern homes, and there are covenance stipulations on designs and colours, however that said this is probably the ugliest house in the street, possibly the neighbourhood.... I don't know how it made it through to the keeper to be honest!
So far, here are our thoughts..
1. The tiny (lounge) window just looks off, and it's a shame as it would have a nice view.
2. The horizontal brace(?) is also right in the way of the view... If it can be moved, we'd like to. Otherwise perhaps some kind of timber feature running along underneath perhaps?
3. The colours aren't nice, perhaps looking at a very non-orange UV responsible colour roof (for heat tolerance) and then walls painted to match perhaps?
4. Knock out a decorative wall behind the letterbox and extend a pathway out to the driveway, exposing the stairs to the front door to take the emphasis off the garage door.
At the end of the day, we dont yet have a particular style or colour scheme picked just yet, but the area is mostly under 10 years old so modern and abstract homes are in abundance.
We hope this isn't too much or little information and would really love to hear some suggestions.
This house is north facing in a very modern neighbourhood with architecturally designed modern homes, and there are covenance stipulations on designs and colours, however that said this is probably the ugliest house in the street, possibly the neighbourhood.... I don't know how it made it through to the keeper to be honest!
So far, here are our thoughts..
1. The tiny (lounge) window just looks off, and it's a shame as it would have a nice view.
2. The horizontal brace(?) is also right in the way of the view... If it can be moved, we'd like to. Otherwise perhaps some kind of timber feature running along underneath perhaps?
3. The colours aren't nice, perhaps looking at a very non-orange UV responsible colour roof (for heat tolerance) and then walls painted to match perhaps?
4. Knock out a decorative wall behind the letterbox and extend a pathway out to the driveway, exposing the stairs to the front door to take the emphasis off the garage door.
At the end of the day, we dont yet have a particular style or colour scheme picked just yet, but the area is mostly under 10 years old so modern and abstract homes are in abundance.
We hope this isn't too much or little information and would really love to hear some suggestions.
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Comments (23)
Lee & Laura
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Will our Renovation Look Appealing from the Street?
Comments (9)Having a closer look at the house, it could be possible to replace the small window next to your fireplace on the left with a door, and still enclosing the side if the garage, I would also install a timber balustrade form the original front door between all posts, so hat door could remain, but be within an enclosed walk corridor rather than wLk our onto a drive. The ballustrading could become a real feature, and be somewhat of an enclosed verandah if people were en lined to need fresh air, or may want to pollute it with a cigarette?? Either way, it will make better use of this side of the home, your windows are too beautiful to conceal and the light they bring in would be priceless. I think removing the brush front fence and installing a picket fence further beyond your front window could tie into the new balustrade m suggesting, and create a new front of house, and still enclose enough behind this feneline for a private and safe yard. I think I can see a timber gate or fence? This is where I would at a minimum put the new picket fence. Maybe say 1500mm high, which is still a nice view fence height from the street but dprivate enough not to see clothes hanging etc. Glad I could be of some help....See MoreFrom bland to beautiful - street appeal needed!
Comments (33)I like all the garden ideas ( it does look a bit sparse and 'rental property' look about it IMO ) , with a low fence along the front , a wooden screen a couple of metres in front of the door , etc , BUT when I looked at the very first photo -- the wider angle one -- the one thing you notice first is the yellow marker post on the left hand side of the driveway fence . So take that as a cue , and paint the garage door a bright colour to stand out -- primary or metallic or trendy , just one that you like , and personally I'd probably change the curtains ( or even dye them ) to the same colour as the garage door . Right now , everything is various derivatives of off-white and red brown earth brick -- needs a decent spot of colour to lift the houses look IMO . Another option would be 'natural' timber blinds , especially if you had them the same shade of stain as the screen and the front fence , but I'd still do the garage door ( and maybe the guttering ) your current favourite colour ....See MoreStreet appeal for the front of this house
Comments (28)Judy, do you know if the stepped facade on the art-deco extension is hiding a roof gable or is it purely decorative? If it is only decorative (and heritage regulations allow) I would remove those top 2 courses to make it a simpler box shape. Not essential, but in my opinion that stepped gable is not very attractive, and makes it look more like a public building than a residence. This would simplify and give it more of a modern look, but still be genuine art-deco. The house is already a combination of different eras, so adding a bit of a modern touch will not detract and is more honest when you are renovating anyhow. I would paint the driveway terra-cotta to match the tiles, garage door green to match the roof and change the cladding on the garage front wall to flat fibre-cement panel rendered and built up to a straight line parapet on the front. Paint all walls white, including the rendered panel over the garage door (IMHO this is the only colour that really works with art-deco). Remove the shutters and paint window frames and other trim the dark charcoal you already have on gutters and other trim. The middle section of the column should be that same colour as the top and bottom for its shape and proportions to read well. I would probably leave the stone paths as they are, as they seem to match the dark surround to your front porch tiles. With the front fence I would remove the wrought iron, then extend the pillars up to 2m and fit batten screens between them. To alleviate the sun-load on the western window after those shutters are gone I would instead plant a screen of high growing vegetation inside the front fence, e.g. a row of bamboo. That would give you a better outlook and still provide sun shading and street privacy....See MoreIdeas please- 1990’s house street appeal needs invigorating
Comments (5)You could replace front fence with a more modern type, add electronic gates for added security while away, your path could incorporate large pavers to add a stylish look, remove large conifer near letter box as they look a little dated now, use water wise plants like lomandra, ornamental grasses, black mondo looks wonderful planted amongst bright green foliage, add an automated watering system and stone mulch as this retains moisture , hopefully you can save your tree, you can cut the roots away from where they are damaging path and relay path, our trees did that and we removed part of the root and added a watering system and that seemed to work , exciting times ahead for you....See MoreJE C
6 years agoHi I think the horizontal brace is obviously part of the problem, I would seek engineering advice on what you can do to it before you go too far.
Screens can detract well from sub optimally shaped or placed windows, see photo. Agree roof colour is dating the house.Good luck, sounds like a good project.
Lee & Laura thanked JE CLee & Laura
6 years agoLee & Laura
6 years agoI don't think it would be possible to change to that degree due to the roof structure. The below images may show a little more (photo below was quite a long time ago prior to the jungle encroaching!).
siriuskey
6 years agopeoplespace
6 years ago- PRO
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6 years ago siriuskey
6 years agoWe can really see the entrance from this lower floor plan, once the plants are trimmed back and the planter box re planted it will make a big difference until you are ready to do more externally cheers
julie herbert
6 years agoHi Lee and Laura,
On seeing more of your house in your last photo I think it is quite unique, I think landscaping would make a huge difference and compliment your house, A new path , some formal hedges and some designer trees would look gorgeous, maybe you could add a water feature, pots at your front door, doesn’t need much , so nice to see a house that has dared to be different,
siriuskey
6 years agoElite holiday homes, Summerdayz" featured on Ready Set Reno with this Gold Coast home reno, they clad the old round posts in timber and made a big difference to the street appeal for not too much expense cheers
legendaryflame
6 years agoLee & Laura
6 years agopeoplespace
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoIf you are referring to the window looking toward the street, I would not put in a full height window that will visually cross over the beam. They won't work together. The beam will interrupt the view from the window, and the window gets chopped by the beam when seen from the street.
Instead, you could widen the windows lines to emphasise the horizontal and work with the beam, by having an area either side of a change in cladding or screens of the same height.
It would be cheaper too.
I'd also lessen the prominence of the garage door with a slight change in colour
wrighth38
6 years agoJE C
6 years agoHi Lee and Laura, did you see this photo on house, the horizontal aspect is similar in some way but on this house feels aesthetically pleasing because of the other aspects of the house. Not sure if it helps but may be food for thought.
PROEvergreen Walls Pty Ltd
6 years ago
siriuskey