Outside 1920’s less ugly ideas needed
Rachel Pinker
6 years ago
Hi I’m really keen to make our house look less ugly from the outside but not sure what I should be aiming for: main problems include,
- the horrible pebbledash render - it needs painting I know but reluctant to do this if we should get a new type of render instead? It’s such a large surface area not sure on what the best thing to do is.
- windows, hate the plastic, I know I want wooden ones but what else can I do to make them look better eg the one above the front door, the surrounds are so flat, can I add framing/sills around it to bring it out more?
Also the top bay, I hate that it has no ‘hat’ what I can add on top of it?
- hate the plastic porch and front door but it is SO useful, is there a wooden enclosed porch that could look good? Or should I give up and just have a storage box in the front garden for parcels etc.
- I think sprucing up the garage and front wall and front garden are more straightforward
- the horrible pebbledash render - it needs painting I know but reluctant to do this if we should get a new type of render instead? It’s such a large surface area not sure on what the best thing to do is.
- windows, hate the plastic, I know I want wooden ones but what else can I do to make them look better eg the one above the front door, the surrounds are so flat, can I add framing/sills around it to bring it out more?
Also the top bay, I hate that it has no ‘hat’ what I can add on top of it?
- hate the plastic porch and front door but it is SO useful, is there a wooden enclosed porch that could look good? Or should I give up and just have a storage box in the front garden for parcels etc.
- I think sprucing up the garage and front wall and front garden are more straightforward
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Comments (7)
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6 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (7)We moved from a 2000 new build to a 1906 build. It is a very different way of living in a house. Before you call/hire anyone, do your own research. Find out how your house was constructed. Is it solid or cavity wall (more likely to be solid, ours is). You have double glazing but how many chimneys are in the house and how draughty is it? These houses are not meant to be hermetically sealed, they can suffer dreadfully with condensation and damp if they are insulated incorrectly. We don't use the chimneys so have invested in a chimney sheep to block the draughts but still keep the breathable aspect. https://www.chimneysheep.co.uk/ Really thick curtains on the windows help enormously as does keeping the internal doors closed over most of the time. If you can't afford blanket lined curtains, an easy trick is to get cheap fleece blankets from somewhere like The Range and sew/velcro them into your existing curtains. Careful of fire regs though, we don't do candles as we have cats and they are wonderful yet stupid, so no open flames for us! Roof space insulation is a good start, again, research breathable insulation. Lining your walls with 10cm of internal insulation is a terrible idea if you want to keep the original features in a house. However if you are gutting it because there are no features left, get someone in who has a proven track record of old house renovations. Ask to see their portfolio and you also shouldn't be able to book them for at least 6 months if they are good! There is a Haynes manual for Victorian to Edwardian construction in which you may find some info on the construction of you house, though yours is more interwar period. It's a good read nonetheless. There are loads of sites on the internet which give info on house building, This one describes the various periods with how to recognise them. We often go for a walk around our area and try to guess the house age (and this was before lock down!) https://fet.uwe.ac.uk/conweb/house_ages/flypast/print.htm These are just my thoughts from having experienced the joy (and pain) of owning an older house. Get used to having to fix stuff, don't worry unduly if hairline cracks are appearing as the house naturally shifts (cos they do and it is usually ok!) Get a structural survey done on the house. Also get used to a much higher fuel bill, plus investigate HEPA fans that can help reduce particles (we got one for our bedroom and it has worked well). Keep asking on here for help and advice because the community is super and helpful and has helped me transform my tired old house into a home that I love. Oh and live in it for at least 6 months before deciding to do any decoration. The house will tell you what it wants. :-) I wish you all the best in your new home....See MoreHelp with fireplace in 1920s house, please
Comments (6)I don't think you should replace it with something plainer. If you want simpler lines I'd remove the clock and candlesticks and put a vase of plain greenery and that would instantly update and make it look cleaner. Also if you were able to lift the mirror higher or a narrower, less chunky frame would make it cleaner looking....See MoreRachel Pinker
6 years agoA B
6 years agoAgree! Replacing the windows will make a big difference. I personally would go for an off white crisp render, redesign (but keep) the porch to remove some of the windows a bit like the image, put a beautiful front door in, a wooden garage door, then landscape the front garden. It will end up looking stunning!
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Rachel PinkerOriginal Author