the shutter implies that you have a noisy street and/or hot afternoon sun? so first check with local council to confirm legal height of front fence and then consider adding a front courtyard wall with entry gate off the driveway (a solid brick wall would be my preferred choice to have more appeal and privacy from inside the house) then, if you love the tiles and the tiled floor is all in good condition, match the colours in the tiles to paint the garage door, gutters and, if the shutter is still functional, also paint the shutter in the darkest colour... something like Colorbond Jasper should look good with the new stone coloured walls and green roof and consider painting the driveway and paths in a deep terracotta colour to match the tiles add tiny front lawns (or gravel groundcover) with white and terracotta potts of geraniums and olive trees to continue the theme

Yes, I agree withJE C It looks like an Art Deco frontage

Removing the awning sounds like a good idea, as it looks a bit 'commercial'

As the lines are so strong in the architecture, the garden needs to be the same

Strong hedges at the fence line (shoulder height) would give privacy and shade

Then create a quiet area behind the hedges with low plantings of box edging

Within the box edges plant lots of pretty flowering plants

Add a water feature following the Deco style

If you can manage it, create paths of encaustic tiles through the garden to compliment the porch

Some photos to inspire ideas!!

Surrey Hills · More Info

Transformation of a 1950's ranch · More Info

Highgate walled garden · More Info

Happy gardening

These are very grand frontages, but may give ideas on alternative shading for front of your home

Waterfront Stucco Home in Rye, NY · More Info

utopia projects · More Info

I love the perforated screens as they would create lovely shadows inside!

Remember that one building style did not abruptly finish and a new style begin. There will always be a transition period where shared features appear. Go with the character of the building. It is individual.

Those columns could be Art Deco, but could also be Spanish Mission, (they are around the same period) and those were known as Barley Twist columns. This style looks beautiful with slightly softer colouring than you have at present. The dark green on the details looks too harsh.

I would choose a lighter colour that complement those you cannot change, such as the roof, and use a couple of shades to gently pick out the details. Then use stronger colour on the fine detail of the fence railing, and consider adding a little awning in character rather than the shutter.

I agree with the suggestions of planters. They add softness and detail, and can be done in character.

Here is a restored example of this style from New Regent St, Christchurch NZ.

Talk to a concreter - the driveway can be stamped over to create a whole new look.

Turning the front garden into a courtyard with a spectacular formal garden would definitely add a lot of value to your home and create an air of mystery.

As the window shutters keep out the hot afternoon sun, I would keep them. Maybe they could be painted all one, light colour. A few tall pot plants could be placed in front of the window. The veranda column could be replaced with a load-bearing timber or brick post. As the tiles are original, I would ask a professional tiler for his/her opinion on their condition and if they are suitable for keeping. The front fence and ironwork could be painted. The concrete and stones at the front could be replaced with some lawn and/or garden. Australian native plants are best as they don't need much attention, only an occasional trim. Ask a concreter if the driveway is suitable for revamping. It all depends on your budget, as to how much can be replaced.

Crikey. What a jewel of a house. Lucky you and everything offered is valuable

Oh yes keep the paving tiles they are beautiful, and a courtyard garden would look great and be practical as well. The front window shutter thingy could be replaced with louvre shutters inside as a window covering if it is for privacy.

Keep the twisted columns and the floor tiles as they are both part of the history of the house. So is the front shutter but it has to go. If you build an awning over that window make it match the front verandah style. I agree with painting the garage doors the same as the house to lessen it's impact. Paint will make a huge difference to this lovely house. Good luck.

As others have said, painting or staining the driveway is a great idea. Something that will contrast with the colour you decide on for the garage door should work best!

Thanks, the Clipsal Team

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.

I agree with siriuskey that the front needs some serious green. Murrayas are very hardy but have lush thick growth (plus flowers) that is great for screening and can be trimmed to the height you want. Personally I like the wrought iron on the fence and would keep it rather than put up a wall. Plants would provide privacy, but are not as good at blocking noise as a wall, if that's what you need.

Agree about keeping the tiles and the columns. Others have given good advice on colours.

Hi Judy,

A great base to work with! If you’re looking for low-maintenance have you considered using a mix of real and artificial plants? A lot of our customers love this strategy. Check out some examples on our profile :)

Good luck,

Richard

Thank you so much for your comments. It has helped greatly with the decisions.

Yes it does look art-deco and federation. I got the mediterranean idea from this article:

http://www.periodhomerenovator.com/portfolio-items/1915-1940-mediterranean/ 

Either way I agree that white works best with art-deco. Can anyone recommend an exterior white colour that is art-deco?

It is west facing but it is good to let more light in as the interior is on the darker side, which is why we think to take off the window shutters. The shutters are there for security.

For me the only way to visualise it is to draw it up so below is a version with:

White exterior walls, white window frames, dark grey front door, black fly screen door, painted driveway, painted front fence, hedges at the front and sides, and for the two square beds at the front to utilise the first image from Julia Herbert where there is boxed hedging and taller flowers growing in the centre.

We have a budget so would leave the art-deco extension. We don't know if the stepped facade on the art-deco extension is hiding a roof gable or if it is purely decorative. It would be interesting to find out though.

There is paving behind the front fence so if the hedges are to be there, we will need to re lay out the formation somehow, either expose a thin section to plant the hedges in, or extend the square beds out to the fence.

If there are further ideas after looking at the combination of ideas below, feel free to comment! Thanks

I disagree with the suggestion of removing the detail on the parapet. That parapet feature is completely in character with the period and style, adds visual interest,and emphasises the central window in that wall. To remove it would leave the column rather stranded as a period element with not much else from that style.

Colour-wise, Art Deco was surprisingly colourful, but we are used to seeing it in plain white paints that are not the original colours. There was cream and off-white, but they would pick out the details in light colours. Don't wash the details out in the same background colour, or you lose the visual interest. If you don't want to use colour, use a couple of soft greys that work with your planned door grey.

Thanks,

Does anyone know what colour this off white is, or recommend an exterior Dulux white for the outside? There are so many whites to choose from.

I cannot tell what white that is, but I would start with a hue that compliments the terracotta and cream in your beautiful paving tiles, such as Dulux Whisper White, with details picked out in Half or Quarter Spanish Olive and full Spanish Olive for a fresh but elegant look. I think this would work with the roof colour, but do check as it is difficult to tell with photographs.