Help. No street appeal!

last month

We purchased our home about 11 months ago, and while the back garden and view are beautiful, the front of the house could really use some love! The all-white weatherboard gives it a rather bland look, and that large south-facing overhang feels more like a shop than a home.

We’re located in the lovely Perth Hills, surrounded by charming country-style homes. From what we've gathered, the house has a unique blend of styles—there’s an extension from 1990 on this mid-century modern home that features a more traditional country vibe.

To freshen things up, we’re in the process of replacing the dark blue and green trims with Surfmist Colorbond, and eventually, we plan to have the roof re-sprayed in the same color.

I’d love to bring some rustic character to the front of the house, similar to what we have in the back.

Here are a few challenges we’re facing:

The house sits at the top of a steep hill.
The driveway is quite steep and narrow.
To avoid reversing onto the hill, we need to back the car towards the house, which means adding a porch or posts isn’t feasible.
We typically park one car on the driveway and often use the shaded area under the overhang.

We’re not looking to change the roof shape, but we are excited about painting the house soon!

The old solar heating tank on the roof is going soon too as it doesn't work.

I need some help elevating the front as I really don't know what to do!

Thank you

Featured Answer

Julie Herbert

last month

I think the fretwork will really date the house, the colours you have chosen like surfmist and maybe dune will lift the house beautifully, definitely extend the right garden to give a defining entrance between the brick columns, mirror planting either side of path, I do love the paving. Maybe a new feature tree like Michelia alba, forest pansy, or look for something that grows well in your area

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Comments (8)

Pottsy 9 And A Bit
last month
I like the house , but you are right -- the front is a bit average , but with a few nice features .

At least initially , I'd do something with the garage door . Replacing it with timber the same as the timber door half way along the side would be classy , but maybe then the black entrance door would look a bit average ?

Of course , doing the garage door in monument / charcoal similar to the gutters would also work , and be cheaper , as well as suiting the other entrance door on that wall . I'm a timber fan , so I'd personally get all 3 doors timber , but its up to your choice and budget .
Kate
last month
I think it has appeal. Pull out as many driveway bricks as you can and create bigger planting areas. Garage door can be addressed. Windows and door are great.
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Julie Herbert
last month
Great house, surfmist will be great on the roof and trims, also the overhang on front door, dune could be a contrast colour and looks beautiful with surf mist. You look to have some beautiful paving there, I would pressure wash to show the uniqueness of it, looks like someone has put a lot of effort into it, removing your pots and replacing with a few extra large planters would really look great and add a beautiful look, maybe a water feature in the garden bed, and some fab outdoor lighting that will add a gorgeous new look to your front.
HU-2239103
Original Author
last month
Thanks for your ideas everyone.

Im glad you mentioned adding some planting, as I was thinking of pulling out some bricks and adding more plants to soften the front and create a bit more interest. I'll definitely buy some nice large pots. The previous owners had some lovely large ferns in pots, but now it looks bare with all the bricks.

The dooare and windows are all timber, and front door is the larger of the doors. The door to the left of the garage is a bedroom, and it has an ugly bronze flyscreen door which I'll remove because it makes the bedroom too dark. It does look black in the image I attached.

I was considering painting the weatherboard a creamy white and the garage door Surfmist to match gutters. But I like the Dune colour idea too. I'll take a look to see how Dune looks this weekend.

I'd love a timber garage door, but it seems such a waste to remove one that's in good working order, maybe when it breaks I'll change to a timber one. 😀

I'd love to direct visitors through the brick and timber columns to the front door. Do you think by adding planting 1 metre out from the house (in front of the high long window) could create a path and some further visual interest? (Shaded area in blue) below.

Also, I have been considering adding some fretwork to the overhang like the attached images. But I keep thinking that the fretwork is colonial and the front is a mixture of colonial and MCM. I'm not sure it will work adding fretwork. What's your thoughts please?

There is a small window covered with board. We're guessing the previous owners covered it because it was broken. We're going to take the board off and fix whilst gutters are being replaced. The ugly gutter pipe is also being replaced and redirected downwards. This will make it look nicer too.

Thanks for your ideas 😀 I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Pottsy 9 And A Bit
last month
Ewww -- on the second your your new pictures HU-223 ( if I may be informal ) , the uprights are mission brown haha ! Do them in charoal ( Monument or similar ) to match alkl the other trim .

That 'side' veranda / terrace is a bit narrow , but also there is a gate at the end . Is that where the entrance you want visitors to use is ? The other larger door is easy to see , and theres no gate to open -- I suspect no matter what you do , that is where most people will head .

But back to the big picture -- I like the brick driveway . It is basically bespoke , and adds character IMO . I couldn't quite decipher , but I think you turn vehicles because of the steep driveway too ? Anyway , personally I'd leave as it is .

The slightly funny piece of roof that jutts out I can't quite work out why out is as it is . The 4 or 5 height weatherboard adds bulk , and then the end steps down more . I accept it is what it is , but I just wonder about softening it ? You'd need to consult an engineer , because I'm working on the assumption you don't want poles , but I'll try and explain my idea --

-- have a solid pole ( possibly steel ) dug in as deep as you can , about where that garden is by the 'side gate' . Basically , the pole would be 150x150 or thereabouts , the garden stays and surrounds the pole , the pole is at least 2 metres deep and a bit less than 3 metres up out of the ground .

-- have a 2 metre wide black/charcoal sailcloth at roof height , same angle as the roof . Lots of anchors along that weatherboard panel ( as high as you can get ) while the other side will need to be stretched and anchored on this new pole ( above ) and the other end above that bedroom door . Maybe have a stranded wire along the length , and anchor it somwhere 'up the front' . I probably haven't explained it well sorry , but the end result is a 2 metre wide by 8 or 10 metre long 'canvas' extension along there .

It will look good , fit the theme , but also hide some of the bulk of that weatherboard panel ? Of course , if you can have a couple of poles along there , it woulod be better , but if I understood about vehicles turning correctly , maybe it won't work and/or will droop or tear in wind or rain ?

Just ideas .
Julie Herbert
last month
I think paint the front of your home a very light colour with the surfmist roof, here are some beautiful colour combinations that would work perfectly, but of course it’s entirely up to you as to what you love.. Dulux offer an online service where you can upload your photos and they offer advice on colour combinations that you might not have thought about, I have used this service and it is great.
Pottsy 9 And A Bit
last month
As a Kiwi , a lot of the colours on our colour charts are named after New Zealand locations . I always assumed they were just NZ specific . I see on your example @Julie Herbert a couple of places I know well -- Mount Hikurangi is about 20kms north of Whangarei city ; St Clair is a suburb and beach in Dunedin city !