What should we do with this frontage

7 years ago

Hi all, we are unsure with what to do with the exterior. As always your thoughts are so much appreciated :)

Ideas to play with;
Render
Cladding
Wall/no wall?
Fence
Gates
Driveway
Front garden

Thanks! Justin

Featured Answer

minnie101

7 years ago

Hi Justin. Are you removing the pebbledash? I was under the impression you had to if done properly but may well be wrong! I'd try farrow and ball ammonite or maybe purbeck stone for the render. Paint the door and side lights in either Paris or traffic green or oxford blue as per link. I'm not overly familiar with their colours but their pale scotch mist or pumice grey may also work for the render. I'm not too keen on the garden wall either, it looks like my back garden wall which I don't like! Is it in budget to rebuild? I was originally thinking about adding pointed stones on the pillars (not sure of the correct term but something that looks like a pyramid!) And then rendering and painting the whole thing but I can now see the bottom juts out so not sure if it would work as well. I like gravel for drives but would check if it would work with the slope at the start but the existing surface would need to be taken up anyway.

http://www.papersandpaints.co.uk/1930s-colours/

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Comments (34)

Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Also, considering which colour for the render...
Daisy England
7 years ago
The front garden wall definitely needs demolishing.
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Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
I like that idea, but was wondering if we should respect its history ;)
Daisy England
7 years ago
There's no history in it in my opinion. It's just an eyesore.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Haha! Ok that's on the list to go
A Babbsy
7 years ago
You front wall is the brick one with 'panels'? If so I'd keep it & paint the panels to match the house.

Consider replacing the vertical tiles on the bay with wood effect cladding.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks, yes had considered painting the wall and adding a curved dwarf fence painted white to match the gate
minnie101
7 years ago
Climbers over the front door and gravel although I'd go for warmer coloured gravel. The other pic is ammonite.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
That's great Minnie, thanks for the color inspiration. I am now thinking about removing the wall totally and the concrete around the driveway, replacing with a cedar fence and gate to the drive, but also slope the whole frontage to make access more fluent.

Budget is what it is, and may run out, but the frontage may be a job I take on personally so could span over a period of time.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Yeah that's really nice
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
I like the white accents on the stone colour
Jonathan
7 years ago
I have no strong feeling about the pebbledash but a darker colour will have the opportunity for a bigger impact.
I think you may find the bay is poorly insulated so it may be worth replacing the tile.
I actually don't mind the wall- personally I would add a fence on top with vertical panels then paint it in a colour to match the house
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Jonathan. Yes definitely worth checking the insulation :)
Liz
7 years ago
I agree with the other contributors regarding the colours. Painting the render a grey colour would make the house look more on trend. I'd paint the gate and front door a darker grey like anthracite. I'd also fit a matching gate to the driveway and maybe some matching fencing all along the wall. I wouldn't remove the wall. I'd just paint it.

Maybe use sleepers to create some raised beds behind the wall and plant up with green and white planting.

The house is attractive I don't think it would take much for it to look really great.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Liz, that's really great help
Liz
7 years ago
Regarding the drive I wouldn't recommend gravel because of the slope. I have a similar sloping drive and have had a flexible resin drive installed. Is sort of stuck down gravel and comes in a range of colours.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Brill, thanks Liz!
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Update of what we have planned for the wall.

The plan is to remove the brick posts and replace with wooden, the. Install a wooden fence on top of the wall with the existing wall bricks cleaned and render painted to refresh the look - white panels with black base.

Driveway is subject to budget, but I will get the profile right myself before looking to get it surfaced properly...
PRO
Decopierre Stone GB
7 years ago
This was rendered over brick then Decopierre arrived, Lime based, breathable and reduced damp . GO
Jonathan
7 years ago
I was just thinking...... You don't need to remove the brick piers, instead put the fence on top of the wall.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Jonathan, we need to open up the gap, hence removing the pillars. It's a breathe in moment reversing up that driveway ;)
PRO
Esther Jury Landscape and Garden Design
7 years ago
I would remove the wall, add an attractive good quality wooden gate and an evergreen hedge, either Yew or Prunus lusitanica. Within the garden keep it simple with a small tree such as an Amelianchier or crab apple and a climbing rose on the front of the house by the front door. It will add value to your home as well as improving your view out it will have the effect of pushing the street further away by adding a layer of greenery.
Liz
7 years ago
Just a thought. How about removing 1/3rd section of wall where gate is and making it an in and out drive. Would save all the reversing and helpful if you are a two car household.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Ooo that's a conundrum. I like both of those last 2 posts :) ....!
Liz
7 years ago
Looking at your house it has a lovely big entrance porch but it's not made the most of cos the gate is sort of squashed to the side and offset from front door. Cos the gate is offset from front door the entrance to the house is sort of obscured. I bet loads of people walk up the drive to the house so sort of approach sideways and from the parking area which isn't the best view.

If the gate was altered to be in-line with the front door or the section widened to be an in out drive then could approach the front door straight on. Big pots either side of the front door would then make s nice statement.
Lauren
7 years ago
I would want to get rid of the magnolia coloured exterior - go back to white and then paint the hanging tile to match the brickwork so it ties in.

A 1920's style front door would also look nice rather than the newer white one that is there at present.

I would also choose to paint the render sections of the front wall and add low metal railings to the top. Finally grow some low box hedging or roses behind and it would look lovely. I do also quite like Minie's idea for using stone pyramid newel caps on the posts to help it look more finished off.
Lauren
7 years ago
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi Lauren, thanks for that. yes the magnolia definitely needs to go and the mockup you sent really helps to picture this.
PRO
Ecoflap
7 years ago
Hello. Do you have a good idea of how the house looked originally? Do any others in your road still have original features? As an architecture bore, I think your house is a lovely period piece, albeit with newer windows (I'm all for good insulating windows but I've never quite got over old buildings with modern windows!), so I'd look to its original features for inspiration. You can then decide what's going to be necessary for you to live there in the 21st century and get the best of both worlds.

From your photo I love the red flowers. Together with the red brick and pale housepaint to me it presents a cheerful aspect to the world. Lauren's mock up is great - painting the tiles red really brings everything together.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Ecoflap!

There are not many original frontages in the street, and all are different, but it's a great idea to take inspiration from these.

I agree the red tiles and red brick look very well tied in, we are looking at some colours since the current exterior is a little too yellow for us, but find the white a touch too cold.
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eDEN Garden Rooms
7 years ago
Have you thought of imprinted concrete for the drive material? We are considering it for our drive which has a slight slope. From research it looks like it will be modern looking, clean and easy to maintain, relatively affordable. Currently we have pebbles which are a pain as walked into the house all the time. I'm not keen on block paving as weeds grow in between.

We are also considering tarmac as this comes in other colours, like grey. Not just black.
Justin Eames
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes I had thought about it but was leaning towards going with the gravel/resin idea further up.

Might be worth researching further however, and if anyone has experienced the imprinted concerted it would be good to have feedback on it.
PRO
Decopierre Stone GB
7 years ago
Imprinted concrete can dry up the sub ground if its clay as no water gets through it, The patterns can look too Faux and if shiny a bit Disneyland . Also very slippy when wet and frosty. Resin pebbles can be made porous though not ideal over loose ground or where heavy vehicles go or park. Block paving with a good 300mm sub base not only drains but can always be repaired and economical.

What should we do with this frontage

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