Make me pretty...

8 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm looking for ideas on how to make this nicer without breaking the bank. We have some thoughts...warmer colour cladding, putting the odd placed window central in the wall, planting and relaying the drive, changing the garage door colour. We are debating removing the porch (I think it looks odd?). Do you know if we would need planning to change the front window?
Thanks for your ideas

Featured Answer

Rob

8 years ago

Firstly, you do not need planning permission to replace, insert or brick up an existing window as this is permitted development presuming you are not in a Conservation Area and there is no Article 4 Direction in place.

It all rather depends on how much you are willing to spend really but perhaps:-

1. The driveway actually looks okay, pressure wash it to lighten it. I would put a decent sized evergreen tree in that area which is loose slate with box hedging round it. This would provide a new focus from the road instead of the house and soften the large hard area and hide some of the house. I would do the same with the other two raised beds you have. This would make an enormous difference and be cost effective.

2. Put two large plant pots either side of the garage door with something large growing in them to soften the edges.

3. The bow window is odd and totally out of keeping with the style of house. I would replace it with something flush and with a slender frame. If you are going to centre it and make it larger this would be great but will add to the expense. You need to consider if it is worth it when viewed against the benefit for whatever room it serves.

4. There is too many different materials going on, two colours of brick, white cladding, roof tiles, garage doors and plastic windows and doors make it very busy and they all look cheap. I would try to keep things simple and go for one base colour with everything else to match. If it were me I would aim to render the entire facade and get rid of the cladding (if this is too expensive simply paint the lot the same colour). I would paint it taupe or dark grey then go with grey or black windows and doors to blend everything in. If you don't want to replace the doors and letterbox windows above them you can also paint the UPVC. Get some modern uplighters attached to the exterior whilst you are doing this. Lighting can make a world of difference.

The beauty of using a darker colour is it will hide a multitude of sins and look great against greenery (which you will have more of if you follow 1 and 2 above). If you also paint the cladding on the dormer dark it will blend into the roof rather than jarring as it does now. A dark colour will look instantly make the house look like an expensive scandi-designed house then rather than a 70s box. Don't forget to also paint the electricity /gas meter cupboard the same colour as the render /walls.

I hope that helps.

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Comments (12)

Emmanuelle
8 years ago
Nice coastal feel! And love the 70s style! Particularly love the narrow long window above front door!! However, I totally agree with Scoobyjoss. Too many colours/ materials going on. The first 2 things that jump out to me are the bay window & the yellow bricks by front door. ( love the grey bricks on the side though: don't paint them! I would:
- replace the window to a flush one
- paint yellow bricks white
- paint garage door coal/ slate colour
- add planting + dark grey oversized pots
- jet wash paving
Your house could look stunning! Good luck and post the " after" pic! X
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Jonathan
8 years ago
For me the bow window is wrong- I don't mind it being off centre but think it looks too small- I would consider getting a much deeper window or even French doors and Juliette balcony.
For me the porch is fine but the pitched roof is wrong- it should be flat.
I think you could make this look more expensive by changing the white cladding for cedar.
Alternatively you could embrace the architecture and make the horizontal line above the garage door and porch more prominent by building it out like a canopy.
Or you could make it a cleaner more contemporary look by unifying all the materials by rendering everything- remember if you do this you can add insulation at the same time.
Jo DP
8 years ago
Get rid of the plastic doors & put in lovely double doors. I like this house & love the 70's. Sooo much potential. Have lots of fun transforming your not so ugly duckling into a Swan. Do it slowly...
Jen Tindall
8 years ago
I would go with a costal look, I like the grey bricks and wooden boards. I would paint the boards a pale blue or very pale grey. Get rid of the porch as you say, and replace with an open timber porch. The drive is fine, just pressure wash, as suggested above. If you can afford it, I would replace the UPVC windows with timber ones, then paint them a toning colour with the colour you pick for the boards, but if not, I believe you can have UPVC spray painted. I personally think the placement of the bay window is ok! I can't see your front door behind the porch, but again, I would get a nice timber front door, and paint it a third toning colour to go with the boards and windows. I would probably paint the garage door the same colour and the boards to blend it in a bit.
Margot Rowland
8 years ago
Definitely agree with most here - too many different materials on the front of the house. I like the grey and white colour combination - the yellow brick is a little jarring, although I can see how it goes with the driveway and raised brick beds. I'd plant something in the plum slate covered area too - maybe not a tree, but a little hedge? That way you can keep it low-maintenance and under control. Double doors would be amazing, and the porch roof needs to be white, I think - don't get rid of the porch! I don't agree with putting a flat window in - I think the front of the house needs that bit of extra interest - it would be amazing to put in a balcony the whole length of the garage, but would you ever use it? I'd think about replacing the round bay window with a square version with either a flat roof or an angled one to match the porch.

On the other hand, you could go wild, get away with replacing the bay with a flat window and just paint the house (well, the cladding) stripey? Different shades of blue or whatever colour(s) you like :-)

Some sort of barrier between the house and the road as well - even if it's just a hedge, fence or something along the roadside edge of the slated area.
PRO
Pat Oliver Interior Design
8 years ago
I agree with the earlier comments. There are too many different materials being used and the drive looks very hard. Consider the following:
- Extend the upper cladding of the house to the corners. Then the upper storey window will look better positioned. Paint white
- Change the window to a modern, flat style to coordinate with the longer horizontal windows over the entrance and the extension to the right.
- Stone or brick clad the lower areas of the house all the same. A warm rusty red brick would look inviting.
- Extend the roof over the garage door and the entrance further out to create an overhang. Use a dark grey tile. Support the overhang with finished posts on brick bases and grow climbing plants up them for colour.
- Change the front doors to double wood doors in a welcoming colour like dark mahogany stain or painted red or soft green. Alternatively, have a central door with glass side lights.
- Cut back the shrub nearest the house and plant colour, either shrubs in other shades or flowers. Plant up the loose graveled area with a mid-sized tree and ivy or pachysandra at the base for easy maintenance.
- It's a lovely shape house, but needs more uniformity.
I hope this gives you some ideas.
chesterfrench
Original Author
8 years ago
Wow, thank you everyone for taking the time to help us out - so appreciated. You have eased our minds on this odd shaped house now. We have only recently had our offer accepted so will be armed with lots of ideas when we move in, and yes, we will take our time to be sure to get it right - thank you
noisettes
8 years ago
What great ideas everyone ! I will definately be asking for advise if we decide to take on my husband's parents' 70's semi ! Unassuming house with a spectacular sea view ...so I am considering this ...in spite of all the work needed !
moorlikeit
8 years ago
Hi, I thought Rob's ideas were spot on and don't have much to add except to say that I would live with the cladding as it is quite popular again and could look excellent in a dark grey. I would like to ask Rob a question: Can you really paint uPVC window doors and frames successfully? I loathe them but am about to buy a house with many ghastly examples. Any ideas from any Houzzers would be very welcome.
minnie101
8 years ago
Moorlikeit, see attached thread https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/can-you-paint-upvc-window-frames-dsvw-vd~3249153
PRO
Wood Window Alliance
8 years ago
I like the idea of a bay window - but rectangular, not your bow. It would give the house real character and give the room a greater sense of space inside. It would help to have real wood windows and doors and to replace the boxy (plastic) barge boards with proper timber boarding. Have a look at what wood windows can do for a home.

Make me pretty...

Rob

Comments (12)

Emmanuelle

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