HELP... ideas for modernising and improving our house frontage

5 years ago

Hi all,

We are really keen to make some improvements to our house and would welcome any ideas, suggestions and help to allow us to move on and get it finished asap.

Namely:

- what to do with the hanging tiles (they are solid like roof tiles) we are thinking to paint them matt black to match the other new black paint work any black paint work was previously red from when we bought the house.

- Window frames and door, paint them too?

- Accrington brink at the bottom - should we also paint to match up (lol, a theme is showing here)

We don't have a huge budget after all the other refurbishment we have done recently but would love to improve the curb appeal and our imagination is blurred right now...

thank you all in advance.

Featured Answer

Jonathan

5 years ago

I wouldn’t paint any brick or tile as I think they suit the house.
Instead I would paint the front door and frame to help give it more prominence.
I would put some planting under the window on the left and then pressure wash the slabs to clean then up.

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Comments (27)

verdigrisjane
5 years ago
Hi
I think I’d paint all that is red, black, but stop short of the window frames.
Ryan K thanked verdigrisjane
Prince Fafa
5 years ago
paint all red black or paint all black the preexisting brick colour...nice house by the way!
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Hi Lena, here are some ideas: First, the windows. They are the eyes of the house and have the biggest impact, especially on properties of this period as the windows were generally large and wide. Here are some pics of a project with which I was involved, where the new owner wanted bays to add some depth to a charactistically flat 1960s front. We added 5 vertical panes rather than 4 to strengthen the vertical lines. The side panes were only very narrow but they worked well. Note, these are bay (square) not bow (rounded) windows that are more in keeping with the period as the curves don't conflict with the modern straight lines. Second, pick a smart front door that is in-keeping with the period. These were generally flat not panelled (again, avoid Georgian pastiche). There are some superb contemporary doors around in oak and other hardwoods or for painting. If you paint, pick a strong colour to add interest. Don't be a sheep with ubiquitous dark grey. Third, cladding. Often tile hung, weatherboarded or rendered in the 60s, you can update cladding easily. Painting tiles with masonry paint is a cost effective way to brighten outmoded or dull tiles quickly and cost effectively. Pick a good paint with a 25 year guarantee. Wood cladding is also popular but think about different styles rather than wide plank, as shown in the pictures. Rendering can replace tiles or wood or uPVC cladding and can look very sharp against surrounding bricks. Again, an opportunity to play with colour too.
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Emily
5 years ago
I was just looking up something on google and saw this pic and thought I’d show it to you. It’s crazy bold and I love it but not saying you should do it since I think it will be a love hate thing and people might stop you in street to congratulate or abuse you!
Ryan K thanked Emily
nasmijati
5 years ago
I agree with the idea to paint the front door and door frame and not paint the bricks or tiles. I would paint the rain down spit the same color as the house and keep it the same color at the bottom where it is in front of the bricks.
Would it be possible to plant some kind of evergreen plant in front of the window on the right side of the image?
Ryan K thanked nasmijati
nasmijati
5 years ago
Oops. Looks like you have pavers under one window. Perhaps plant an evergreen in front of whichever window has the best soil for plants.
Ryan K thanked nasmijati
PRO
Desiign
5 years ago
Obviously depending on budget. Not my expertise but my suggestions and reasonings below;

All cornices above to black (match door and window)

Pressure wash front (good idea!)

Two bay windows replace from trapezium to round like left window. More work but they need redoing.
Try and keep window cornices to reuse. Living room usable windows look small?

Two plants either side of door?
Stone slab in gravel to match round windows

Solar panels also make houses look modern!
Ryan K thanked Desiign
Jonathan
5 years ago
Absolute rubbish that the two storey bay needs replacing with a round bay! Not only does it not need doing but different bays on the same property has been a consistent design feature since Georgian times.
But painting the cornice black sounds like a smart suggestion.
Ryan K thanked Jonathan
rickyconrad
5 years ago
I think one of the biggest problems here is that all the windows are different in some way,but if budget does not allow them to be changed then try to make some kind of connection between them.
Firstly lose the black paint around lower left windows and again lose the black paint from lower front door and lower front bay window then paint all the windows cills black.
Also change the tiles between bay windows are theses look tiered and tiles are very cheap to replace.
Ryan K
Original Author
5 years ago
All the black painted areas are original sandstone which was painted red when we bought the house but we painted black as the plan is too have black window frames and sills to tie it together.
T Gray
5 years ago
Other posters have highlighted the fact that there is white red and black in random areas. Whichever colour you go for make it uniform. Perhaps keep all the windows white and where there is a red or black around the windows, across the bottom etc., choose either red, black or for a more contemporary look a dark grey. There are a few folks on here who do wonderful things with photoshop, perhaps they could mock something up for you?
Ryan K
Original Author
5 years ago
Yep thanks everyone, ideally we would get rid of the red but concerned about painting the Accrington bricks and tiles (short term plan is painting the tiles then long term eventually is to remove the tiles and render white to match rest of house)

The black is a matt black and goes with the garage and our fence next to the house.

Any mock ups would be brilliant to see any ideas
Ryan K
Original Author
5 years ago
Another pic
rickyconrad
5 years ago
I was going for a budget plan but if you are going to change the windows to black then as you said render between the bays change the front door for a more contemporary style, couple of up/down lighters either side of front door would look great.
PRO
Desiign
5 years ago
Jonathan,
Due to state of bays- they need redoing so personally I think I'd go with round.
They are nice Georgian features but he wanted to modernise the property which this would 100% do :)
chloeloves
5 years ago
If there is sandstone under the black paint I would be inclined to strip the paintwork to try and get back to that. Personally I’m afraid I think the black looks far too stark against the white, whereas the red looks ok. I wouldn’t put any more black on and would either return the black highlights to sandstone or paint them white. I also wouldn’t put black windows in to try and modernise you need to enhance the original features instead of fighting them.
Jonathan
5 years ago
@Desiign - yet again you are wrong. Firstly the bays are not in such a bad state they need completely replacing - the only issues to be seen on the pictures is a little rotten timber and some tiles that have slipped. Both of these are minor jobs.
The second issue is that if you did have to replace these bays you would choose ones that match the other side of the semi which would also mean that you wouldn’t need planning permission.
rachelmidlands
5 years ago
For me I think the black isn’t working. I’d perhaps go for a much paler gentler colour such as a pale stone or light grayish green and keep the windows in white. If you went down the anthracite windows route then I do think a remodel of the bay windows (with planning permission) is in order but I quite like the detailing that is already there. Agree with Jonathan and think a quick fixing up is all that’s needed. Here’s some inspiration pics, included a modern box shaped bay with anthracite windows for comparison. Also have a look at this website for more inspiration: https://www.backtofrontexteriordesign.com
Ribena Drinker
5 years ago
Please, please, please don't paint the window frames black (or anthracite), if anything I'd get rid of all the black, I feel that's unbalancing it all, whereas the red and white look like they belong on that house.

It's a beautiful house with lovely characterful features, please don't kill it by trying to make it look like yet another soulless, modern box by following the latest fad.

As Jonathan says, make the front door the focal point with a lovely colour and add a couple of shaped box trees or a pair of bay trees either side of the front door.

Other than that, for economy just get the tiles on the bay tidied up until you are sure what you want to do there.
Juliet Docherty
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Black and brick red look smart together in my opinion, but not with the cold white render colour. A more sympathetic pale stoney off white render paint would soften the whole look and maybe lessen a bit of the black around the lower part of the house.
J C
5 years ago
Totally with Ribena on this!
Sam
5 years ago
Don't paint the tiles! Keep them as is or have them removed completely and render in white like the rest. And you can sell them on for a lot. I love the tiles!
E D
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Great house Ryan K. Looks to be spacious too, especially in your second photo.

I'm no expert but I don't think it needs changing that much. I am with others here, the black details are not working atm.

Can you perhaps delve into the house's history and find pictures showing what it originally looked like?

I feel a sure way to add kerb appeal is by generous planting. Make the front exterior more of a front garden than just a drive.
Ryan K
Original Author
5 years ago
Got some new buxus and will be putting some plants in front border.
PRO
Desiign
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Glad you went with the plants! :) Plant pots really make the black work for some reason!
PRO
Litecraft
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Hi Ryan

Absolutely love the exterior of your house, i've done a design i hope you like it. I have gone with a touch of modern but also in keeping with the original features and style and history of the house. I've gone for a more Georgian/Tudor door for you in black which i think accentuates the black tiling. You could just paint the door you have and add some DIY stained glass for the pannelling.

Adding some lantern wall lights are a great idea to illuminate your entrance space in a safe and also decorative way. Think about adding Drive over lighting around your graveled area to help with parking. I think you should keep the white and exposed brick, maybe just a clean up with a power jet and then a paint should do the trick.

I really think you should keep the black features, it adds contrast, so I've kept this in and chosen black outdoor lighting to compliment this.

For the garden area I've chosen an alpine and topiary style, alpine succulents and cacti are really in at the moment so if you're wanting a more modern front then definitely go with alpine. Plus you can find some alpine succulents that have a hint of red in them which will compliment the red brick.

You could also get some spike lights too, stick them amongst the plants to create a feature.

Here are the products I have chosen:

Colone Outdoor Lantern Bevelled Glass Wall Light Lantern - Black

[Stanley Caspian Outdoor Surface Mount LED Drive Over Light, Black[(https://www.houzz.co.uk/products/stanley-caspian-outdoor-surface-mount-led-drive-over-light-black-prvw-vr~112925188)

Georgian Front Door

[Nelson Outdoor Adjustable Spike Light, Black[(https://www.houzz.co.uk/products/nelson-outdoor-adjustable-spike-light-black-prvw-vr~124908534)

I hope this helps, let me know what you think.

Kind Regards

The Litecraft Team
special morning
5 years ago
Is the black original? If so I’d keep it, but loose it if not.
Just smarten up tiles. You need a front door in keeping IMO, so not Georgian etc.
The house looks 1930s?