Exterior Update Help - 1960's Yellow Brick Ranch
hodierne87
9 years ago
My wife and I want to give our house some more personality. Currently, our house has zero curb appeal. The front exterior of the house is boring and drab. The landscaping is virtually non-existent. We have driven past our own house several times because many houses on our block look virtually identical. Like many people (I assume), we want to make as much of an impact as possible without investing too much money.
We want to give the house a mid century nod. We like clean lines and de minimus designs. We have considered painting the brick but cannot make up our minds. We want long, low, horizontal cedar planters. We have a large fenced in back yard. Eventually we plan to replace the current privacy fence with a privacy fence made from matching horizontal cedar.
Our house is short and long... rather than fighting those features, we think we should try to play to them. I have posted some photos, which we hope are helpful. In case you cannot tell from the photos, the shingles are a bluish grey. Obviously, the bricks are light yellow.......
Any [constructive] input is appreciated! Thanks in advance.
We want to give the house a mid century nod. We like clean lines and de minimus designs. We have considered painting the brick but cannot make up our minds. We want long, low, horizontal cedar planters. We have a large fenced in back yard. Eventually we plan to replace the current privacy fence with a privacy fence made from matching horizontal cedar.
Our house is short and long... rather than fighting those features, we think we should try to play to them. I have posted some photos, which we hope are helpful. In case you cannot tell from the photos, the shingles are a bluish grey. Obviously, the bricks are light yellow.......
Any [constructive] input is appreciated! Thanks in advance.
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Comments (49)
kairouriahsmom
9 years agokairouriahsmom
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Help with exterior of 60's house!
Comments (36)Would love to see any photos of the New England style cladding, we have a 1960's house that we are updating and are considering both render and cladding. We are making the top windows deeper and are trying to decide whether to use white or grey aluminium/pvc frames. We have had grey (covered in tape in pic) bifold doors installed but can have these powder coated in white if it is better to stick to white windows. Thank you!...See More1960s Blockwork
Comments (10)Hi Chris, If you want to change the look and at the same time significantly improve the thermal performance of the walls external wall insulation with a modern render finish would be a good solution to covering up the brickwork. The eaves would need extending to accommodate the thickness of the insulation plus render coat and, if you can stretch to it, it would be an ideal time to renew the windows (triple glazing would complete the new highly insulated overcoat). However, dependant upon your Local Authority you may need planning approval so worth checking this out first. Assuming you are not in a conservation area, to do the works under Permitted Development rights the material used to clad the exterior have to have 'a similar appearance to those used in the construction of the house.' A timber clad rain-screen could also be used as the exterior finish but again planning approval and details around the windows and doors at the eaves will need to be sorted. Martin McCurdy W: www.mccurdyarchitecture.co.uk...See MoreHelp with ugly 1960s house
Comments (15)I think the first thing to do would be to paint the wood or look to reclad - could go for a tile? I think the biggest issue may the be rest of the terrace and those around you, so you may not want to go all out. subtle changes you make will likely have the biggest impact...See MoreFront exterior help, please
Comments (14)Hi Ispendl, Sorry took a bit longer than I thought it would. Thanks for the extra pictures. Your house is detached which is great news! Btw you are not limited by the 60's or the brick colour! And I'm glad you like contemporary. What I'm going to propose might seem a bit radical, but the changes are actually quite easy to do and not that expensive if you are thinking of changing out all the windows anyway. The large bedroom window should have above it a lintel that holds up the roof, and if the ground floor ceiling joist run parallel to the windows, everything below the lintel is removable (obviously you would make sure via a structural engineer.) So.... I would remove both windows and the walls below each one and replace with one large glazed wall, and replace remaining windows with single openings. I would also replace the sloped porch roof with a flat one. Finally I would render the whole front to get rid of the tired yellow brick colour (you could, if budget allows, add external insulation before you render) and add wood cladding to the new area created by removing the sloped roof, a nice solid wood door and a glazed garage door. Something a bit like this?...See Morehodierne87
9 years agokairouriahsmom
9 years ago
PROMaltby Design
9 years agoThe planter is is the beginning of a good direction. I might increase their height a bit to align with the Living Room window sill and possibly pull them forward of the house to give enough room for a front patio/terrace. It might be nice to have room for sitting out front and watching the world go by. The shutters don't really lend themselves to the MCM feel you're after so I'd be inclined to remove them. I don't recommend painting the brick as that can cause moisture retention and becomes a maintenance issue. I would replace the garage door with something that emphasizes the horizontality of your home such as the frosted glass, segmented doors I specified on this project:
Forest Hills, North Vancouver Exterior Renovation - After · More Infohodierne87
9 years ago
Teresa Rutherford
9 years ago
snobunyz24
9 years agohodierne87
9 years agosnobunyz24
9 years agoI love the yellow door in trhe third photo, you could consider adding natural wood to either side of the door like picture two, and I'm just obsessed with the first photo (I added for good measure)
snobunyz24
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agohodierne87
9 years agonanasuesto10
9 years agonanasuesto10
9 years agohodierne87
9 years ago
hodierne87
9 years agolinlac
9 years agoHodierne, I have the same yellow brick dilemma on my 60's ranch. I bought the house with the full intention of painting the brick. Reading the posts on Houzz and advice from others scared me away from painting the brick immediately. I made small changes like new windows and trim to match the brick. Well guess what? I still hate the brick and could have made better changes going with a color I truly like. Do you like the brick. If so, work with it. If you don't like the brick paint the house a color you love. Hope you post what you decide. By the way, I have a sage green in mind for mine. My roof is brown.
partim
9 years agohodierne87
9 years agohodierne87
9 years agohodierne87
9 years agoUser
9 years agoI would add some flowers to the front of the house. It would add a pop of color so it doesn't look, as you said, drab and boring. Also, having a cherry wood door with a simple but pretty glass design would complete the look.
hodierne87
9 years agohodierne87
9 years agonanasuesto10
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoHopefully my photos can give you an idea what you can do with a 'ranch' house! Believe me when I tell you that mine was very similar to yours. The front door was moved to the right; the porch and front door added; dry-stack stone under windows, the base of columns and chimney; false dormers and new garage doors. The siding was replaced with sage green vinyl siding with creme colored trim. The windows have also been replaced [were very old and dated] and chose the Craftsman theme...
nanasuesto10
9 years agoThis is the new front door [can't figure out how to add more than one picture at a time!]
nanasuesto10
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoThis is the view from the other end of the house... the new landscaping is next, come spring!!!
Teresa Rutherford
9 years ago
PROCraft-Modern
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoHere is another fun option for your mid-century front door...totally customizable.
- PRO
Craft-Modern
9 years agoI forgot to add the rainbow door. I like the symmetry of this one. There are 9 colored acrylic lenses to choose from, and 2 glass options (clear and frosted).
dassms
9 years agomariaemohin
7 years agoclarepdx
7 years agoallisonmicheles
7 years ago
Denita
7 years ago
cesira17
6 years agoDanny Leal
6 years ago
Rhonda Gilbert
2 years agoHi all,
I’m wanting to change the roof colour . I live on a rural property and would like a colour that would do justice to the countryside ! Any help would be greatly appreciated !
Rhonda Gilbert
2 years agopartim
2 years agoRhonda Gilbert
2 years agoRhonda Gilbert
2 years ago
groveraxle