Colour and Design Advice for '70's Blonde Brick House
Hi all,
Im sitting on the fence about what to do with my two story '70's blonde brick home. My partner and I are not really keen on the colour of the brick are considering painting it. We like the texture of the brick and think if we rendered it would make things a bit plain.
Ive seen recent discussions where it has been suggested to keep the brick, I just find it hard to see how it can be given a facelift considering the colour it presently is.
There is black iron balustrades
and an iron gate at the front that would be nice to keep.
We have a lovely developing garden, a pool and nice long deck out the back. Our new kitchen will be Hamptons style and we love to bring the outside with plants etc.
Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Comments (14)
3 years agoI would normally say, do not paint the brick. But in your scenario I would definitely consider painting a light grey. Keeping the white and dark trims as you have them.
just one suggestion, remove the security screens from windows and sliding door and front door. Replace with flat mesh crimsafe screens. I do not know why the security screens are in the windows upstairs, unless you have a Spider-Man burglar.
Steve Warren thanked dreamer- 3 years ago
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Advice on how to make our 70s home more modern?
Comments (8)Your home does look a little tired and dated in its design and form. Rendering will not modernise it, as the basic shape and form remain unaltered - it will just look like a rendered '70s house. I would be looking at updating the windows, getting rid of your silly, narrow, decorative shutters, and replacing the georgian paned windows with something cleaner and more contemporary. This would give you the opportunity to introduce more thermally efficient double glazing. It looks like the previous owner may have done something like this downstairs? The decorative brackets on the verandah posts should go. Then clean the roof tiles, possibly reseal the roof, and paint the gutters, eaves and trim. However the biggest difference you can make, which gives you the most bang for your buck is in landscaping your blank canvas. If you spent the cost of rendering on engaging a local landscape design professional and getting some semi-mature trees established then it would transform your house. You can't do a lot with the form of your house, so make it the backdrop to your street's best garden. Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls...See MorePlease help our Brady Bunch 70's Orangey Red Brick House!
Comments (2)I would not replace balustrade unless you want a glass one, but I would replace gutters to match your roof so either black or charcoal. Paint the window frames in the same colour and replace front door and remove hand rail in front of the door. If the garage door is in good condition repaint it in a lighter shade of grey. Awnings need update as well you could go for B&W stripes or black and grey, white and grey?? I am so glad you don’t want to paint the bricks. Maybe update outdoor lighting and add a large black pot with red geraniums or something flowering in front next to the front door....See MoreHow do we update our 70s orange-brick Brady Bunch house?
Comments (25)There's some great ideas there . The first thing that stands out is that pipe handrail downstairs -- I hate them with a vengence . Remove it , extend the step to fill the space , with 1 or maybe 2 small full-width steps . Just me , I'd do in charcol or black non-glossy 400 x 400 tiles . Most of the windows are black framed , and look okay in my opinion . Paint the upstairs balistrade in black or charcoal -- will tie it in and even though the style is dated , I don't think it would matter -- it would then look like part of the overall concept . I like the English White of the front door , but here's where I'd get colourful -- do the door jamb and the diamonds in the brightest citrus orange you can , and then carry it to the garage door ! The garage door surround ( including the 3 window surrounds above it ) I would paint in charcoal or black . And here's probably the most controversial part -- leave the awnings , but also paint them in Citrus Orange , with the ridges on them in a beige , maybe veering towards an apricot ! This will really lift everything visually IMO , the orange brick will tie in and bland in without looking overdone , the Bright Orange and mainly charcoal or black is modern but not too modern , with the English White door breaking everything while still having Bright Ornage to tie it all in . There looks to be a Butterscotch Orange gate to the left of the house -- obviously , you would repaint that in the brighter orange too , to look cohesive , but you already see how it looks more exciting than the Burgundy Red existing colours . Which leaves 1 thing I don't like the colour of -- the top fascia board or gutter . I suspect Vitamin C Orange would be too much , so probably play it safe , and go either charcoal , or a lighter greeny/grey to match the roof tiles . Probably not what everyone would do -- but that's what I would do with that pallette !...See MoreNeed some ideas on modernising our 70’s brick house
Comments (5)I guess it depends on your budget . I'd tend to initially keep it 'simple' , and do the retaining posts in charcoal , or even a silvery grey . The trim I initially thought charcoal too , but your windows look like they may be white frames , or aluminium , so in that case stick with the white theme too , although the existing garage door/gates in mostly white is then too much white IMO , but you want to change that anyway . Because of the shape , the door is going to be custom -- I'd do a cedar panel type door , or possibly a single piece tilt door may close flush , but I suspect it won't . So clean lines , a clean look to the house , with a darker contrast in the retaining wall . If that doesn't look right , and/or you have a bigger budget , then a new retaining wall in concrete or blocks , with an off-white render , will look classy , but its mixing up eras and styles a bit too much for my liking -- next thing you'll want to square off the garage and all thge windows , and render the whole house . That would work , cost a lot , and look good -- but why ? Apart from the yellow , theres not too much wrong , so embrace it !...See More- 3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
Thank you for your feedback.
What would you put in place of the cement? Its a fairly large double driveway. Check the photo, there is even more concrete.
I will check3 Birds Renovations, thanks again.
- 3 years ago
Soften the driveway and also make it more permeable for rain water.
take up the centre concrete section on each driveway, and replace with lawn, or the paving which allow grasses to be grown inbetween.
Steve Warren thanked dreamer 
3 years agoSome great suggestions, I would paint all trims black this would make the cream bricks shine, very stylish, painting bricks look great but they require ongoing maintenance same with render, updating the security screens by using Crimsafe on doors and windows would certainly add a complete new look, landscaping and it will look fabulous.
- 3 years ago
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- last year
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Hi Steve, I would paint the garage doors black also then stand back before painting underside of balcony, this ties in with the eaves, it could look too dark, do garage doors first then decide on the colour. It’s going to look beautiful, dark trims with your bricks.
- last year
But if you are very brave you could paint the eaves and underside of balcony dark also, this could look fabulous also, but start with the trims and garage doors, then decide.. sometimes daring to be different looks great.
C P