What would you do?

7 years ago

Just moved into the property above which hasn't been loved as it has been rented out for some time. You can see "vegetation" growing on the house...Im thinking of the following, what would you do?

1. Taking the door at the front porch out (its crumbling) and put two column pillar to hold the porch up.

2. Replace the gravel with aggregate concrete which shares the same colour tone as the house.

3. Rid of the wooden planks at the front and brick it up. Should I brick up the left side as well to be symmetric?

4. Plant a tree at the left side of the picture where the house borders the road.

5. Repaint exterior with a new coat of the same paint?

The end goal is to not be the ugliest house on the street, low maintenance, keep the space for two cars, affordable and dosent end up looking "characterless".

Would appreciate any advise as its our first project and wont want to mess it up.

Thank you houzzers.

Featured Answer

Lesley In

7 years ago

Agree with above comment. Replace door if necessary - get a reclaimed one from ebay that is 1930s, or google and find timber merchants to source you new but authentic wooden 1930s door.
The gravel is nicer than anything else will be. Remove fence or just paint black ( Cuprinol black ash good) so it disappears. Balance it with same at other side. Pop some bamboo just inside fence to give you some privacy..

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (17)

catherinehale7
7 years ago
I don't think you need do a lot - new paintwork would totally brighten it up. I'd be inclined to pollard or remove the fir tree to the side before it causes problems and beaten up hedge opposite side. Maybe couple of planters outside for colour. Looks like the makings of a lovely home
Pete thanked catherinehale7
Related Discussions
Decorating the Attic....what would you do?
Q
Comments (20)
If you are making a studio that you can actually paint in, then you'll need bare boards varnished or silk-gloss painted - otherwise your rug will get ruined! Also, think about a system for hanging your works - either permanently or whilst they dry. No point having a beautifully-painted wall getting pockmarked with pins or blutac, or never changing your wall display because you want to keep things 'perfect'. A system of 'washing lines' running parallell to and close to the walls works nicely. (Jute string and clothes pegs for an old-fashioned look; steel cable or malin wire and metal hooks for contemporary - yacht chandlers are the place to go for the latter. ) Have a look at Gwen John's paintings for colour inspiration. Even though her painted interiors were Parisian, her palette remained rather English. On damp - limewash is magic. It doesn't seal off damp but processes it. Years ago, I painted the north wall of my very unfinished kitchen in Normandy with limewash, but didn't do the patch where the sink was. When we took the sink out to put in the floor(...) we found that the unpainted patch was DRIPPING but the painted parts were dry.
...See More
What would you do with this room?
Q
Comments (38)
I was going to comment but Amber done it all for me (Amber rearrange my tiny room plz.) This room has so much scope and basically just needs key pieces already there to be placed better. I agree with curtains longer poles let them FREE no tie backs get closer with your seating for conversation areas plz lose little rug in front of harth. Group some of your ornaments so not so granny looking. A few plants and flowers to give the room life. Take care hanging pictures on walls they need to be hung straight with thought to viewing height if too small as some are group them for more impact. Get a large picture or mirror over fireplace they are not expensive one that reflects what you love. Keep all the vintage toys especially old horse he's great adds charm and old car lovely. I would repaint but wait till furniture rearranged then sit back in there with light flooding in from your beautiful windows and see what colours the natural light loves then decide. Well I was there with you for a moment :) Beautiful room and great pieces just need sorting have fun
...See More
help me finish the ensuite bathroom - what would you do?
Q
Comments (2)
Hello Nathan - Thats a lovely bathroom with lots of potential and I am sure you will be able to transform it into something amazing! I suggest painting the vanity unit a dark color - it will help ground the unit and add structure to the room. I think may be a dark blue or a green would look nice. You can also update the handles to match the chrome fittings in the bathroom. With regards to painting the wall - I suggest you paint the wall a light colour like white (unless you want something more colorful) and add in a big mirror on the wall. As big as you can get with the mirror so it frames the vanity unit. I also suggest painting the ceiling and the wall the same colour - it will blur the slanting walls and you will not notice them! I suggest adding some open shelving (wood) on the wall behind the loo to soften the overall look and add in some warmth. You can use this for storage as well as some styling like baskets and plants. And if you can add in some wall art! Here is an inspiration image! Hope this helps!
...See More
What would you do to the front?
Q
Comments (4)
Any & all ideas welcome. Let’s just say an unlimited budget for now- its hounv to be a project over a few years. Its a detached house but the 2 doors is weird isnt it?! one is to the utility room?
...See More
Lesley In
7 years ago
I would paint the rendering a similar colour to next door or take it really dark - railings farrow and ball would make windows and bricks and porch pop out and look really contemporary - add lots of pots at front of house or make small shaped bed (work out where cars will be and see how Dee you can make this. Save money by ignoring the rest you said!
Pete thanked Lesley In
Lesley In
7 years ago
Here's railings external paint - imagine this with your red bricks and white windows popping through - door (1930s) should be painted strong colour too! ( make sure colour does not clash with bricks)

Can a joiner not just replace rotting bottom of door - much cheaper!
Pete thanked Lesley In
Pete
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks Lesley, Catherine for the very practical advice.

I'm totally on-board with giving the house a new lick of paint. Whilst the railings looks good, Im cautious that it might start a revolt on the street against the "newcomers"!. the other houses on the street shares the same colour palette and rendering. however I'm now inspired and looking to see how I can use the paint inside of the house.

on the door, i'll get home and snap a picture of the door inside the patio which its hiding hence my thoughts about taking the front door out.

On the fence, love the idea of having it painted black and having bamboo behind them, will explore that this evening. What height would you have the fence, im thinking of wheelie bin height so I can hide them behind?!
Lesley In
7 years ago
I thought youwould think that about Railings! Just pushing your boundaries....

Maybe try 'Manor House' grey or 'pigeon' ( grey/ green) shade - farrow and ball - can have colour matched in Dulux weather shield paint. Not so extreme but still making a statement, ( remember any colour is much lighter outdoors so go a wee bit bold!) then a 'railings' front door!! Or bright orange or yellow!!! Go for it!

Yes wheelie bin height is good. - maybe make them a wee shed and cover roof in sedum plants for a green roof?

Remember to add pics as you transform this house, it's going to be lovely!
Dundrum 16
7 years ago
I think your period house is really pretty and feel that any exterior transformation should respect the style and the streetscape - in other words enhance and improve what's there and as you're semi detached make sure that whatever you do works well with the neighbouring house. I think the wheelie bin disguising fence is a great idea and also tidying the hedge and tree. Am I a voice in the wilderness if I beg please NO MORE grey? I'm expecting to wake up one of these days to discover that someone has given the sun a coat of Mole's Breath or Railings!
PRO
Branwhite Properties Ltd
7 years ago
Be very careful with bamboo. It can be an extremely invasive plant with roots that will appear everywhere. Make sure that you do your homework before buying as some varieties do not spread aggressively.
PRO
Create Perfect
7 years ago
Hi,

I too don't think you need to do much. Its a great looking house.

I would refresh the paint - similar to the neighbours. I love the idea of the pillars instead of the porch but still giving the canopy (if you afford to lose the internal space for coats and shoes) if you can do that then I think its a nice idea but maybe not essential.

I think changing the gravel will make it look hard and a little cold so wouldn't recommend that - but that's a personal choice as I know many people who don't like gravel.

All the best, Gina
msclelluk
7 years ago
I would paint the outside the same/similar colour as the neighbours, cut back & remove any plants you don't want, paint the fence black ash & live with it for a bit. Just tidy it up a bit. Walk around the neighborhood & get some ideas. I like that look of house ( I live in one very similar).

Our porch is invaluable to keep shoes, pe kits, brolly's & coats out of the way ( plus insulation for winter) so I personally would rebuild it, but if not needed, just the door may be enough without pillars?

Will you want to put your car on the front? If not a brick wall may look nice but if you do, I'm not sure two half brick walls would work. Get a builder/landscape gardener round to give you some ideas/prices.

Have fun, good luck!
Pete
Original Author
7 years ago
thanks for the advice, in the short term I'll probably paint the fence ash, tidy up the hedge and speak to the neighbour about the tree if they're ok with me trimming it on our side.

the picture is our main door which is being masked. good point on its a very useful space for kicking off our shoes which we already do!

will live with it for a little longer and have a think a few weeks down.

thanks all!
PRO
User
7 years ago
Hi there!

If you would like to see a complete transformation of the front of your house, feel free to take a browse upon our page for a fantastic range of front doors in various colours and styles, completley bespoke to each and every customers. We can also add side windows to support the feature of your open porch.

If you would like to get in touch for more information, please do not hestitate to contact me on 01872 222300 or elliot@rkdoorsystems.co.uk.

Best of luck with your rennovation project, I hope it works out well for you!

Kind regards,

Elliot
mrplunk
7 years ago
Lovely front door behind that porch! Agree with tidying up for now and looking around and taking time to decide. Mine's a mid-terrace similar era to yours and I've clipped these pics while thinking about mine (still thinking - all I've done so far is paint the front door bright yellow and it's cheered me up no end...):

This planting's not too high-maintenance, could reconfigure it to get quite a bit of parking in, and breaks up the hard surface?
Contemporary Landscape · More Info

(also thinking about incorporating bin storage into a front fence/wall)
Bin storage · More Info
PRO
Wood Window Alliance
7 years ago
I would urge you to save up and replace the plastic windows with authentic timber double-glazed and factory-finished to the original design. They'll last a lifetime, only need re-coating every 8-10 years and will transform your house.
Here's an example (in a rather different style) to show how important the right windows are.
Sandra Marshall
7 years ago
I would want to be able to see your front door. We have horrid plastic Windows on our 1930s semi, but I had to lose the icky fauxgeorgian plastic door. Maybe you're an engineer, but I'm not sure it's easy to replace walls with pillars in a porch. Lovely house though, just needs love.
PRO
Tierra Designs Ltd
7 years ago
do as Dundrum says. although your pic doesn't show the rest of the street I suspect there is a strong symmetry with the other houses. this needs to be kept. a statement is what this house eally doesn't need. As has been said, refresh the exterior paintwork keeping it the same as the neighbours and/or in line with that of the other houses on the street, and generally smarten up what is there.
the hedge on the left should be clipped. the tree on the right is a yew and should not be touched. it is a slow grower and will cause no problems. if it is bothering you the whole tree and not just your side can be trimmed by a third. one thing that would be good is to remove all the weeds from the gravel, possibly relay the gravel if needed, and introduce some sort of threshold between you and the road - it may already exist underneath the weeds.
Helen C
7 years ago
Gorgeous house, congratulations. I agree with the comments above. Just a couple of other points: I'd get rid of the satellite dish, paint the fascia board at the top white to match the porch fascia and definitely renew the gravel with a similar colour to existing. This house is easy to freshen and tidy up. Do the other houses on the street have porches?

What would you do?

Lesley In

Comments (17)

catherinehale7

Related Discussions

Lesley In

Lesley In

Pete
Original Author

Lesley In

Dundrum 16

Branwhite Properties Ltd

Create Perfect

msclelluk

Pete
Original Author

User

mrplunk

Wood Window Alliance

Sandra Marshall

Tierra Designs Ltd

Helen C

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

What would you do?

Comments (17)

Related Discussions

PeteOriginal Author

PeteOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Pete
Original Author

Pete
Original Author