Help make this a pretty house!
We have bought a great house, however it isn’t very pretty to look at! The pipes at the front of the house are an eyesore and always imagined myself in a house with lots of charm. How can we make this house prettier and give it some character?
Anyone know how tricky it will be to move the pipes?
Comments (7)
PRO7 years agoYour house is lovely! As with everything it all is dependent on budget and effort so I will make some generic suggestions since I don't know how much of each you're prepared to invest!
The guttering pipe can be moved and it shouldn't be a big job depending on where the soakaway is. The shorter pipe seems to me it could be from a toilet and that's harder to move but since its near the edge of the main building you might be able to move it just around the corner to make it less apparent in the facade. I have planted a climbing rose in front of such a pipe in my house to conceal it and to prettify it a bit. Climbing plants add much charm and caracter to exteriors, make sure you avoid invasive species though. Wisterias and roses are great.
Going a step further you can add timber or composite cladding or install bay windows in place of the current ones on the ground floor. You can also replace or spray paint the upvc. I hope this helps!
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Please help make my ugly house pretty!
Comments (29)paint-wash the stone of the square part of house to blend w/the color of the rear house; pick up roof color w/the terra cotta awnings and pots of trees (could be 3 different shaped pots) add trailing plants on roof at left to balance...some flagstones to create a little path to entry and create a low step to door (concrete or flagstone) add off white window covering where turquoise is----easy fixes...See MoreStarting from scratch... What makes a house a ‘home’?
Comments (7)Most of us would be excited to "start from scratch"! Well, I would, because what I have to work with is a mishmash of inherited things from our two, very different, upbringings. I think what I'd do first is make the space minimally functional and livable (bed, linens, bare necessities in the kitchen and LR) with some plan or idea of what I envision later in terms of colors, style of furnishings, etc. To personalize it and make it feel like a home... look for things that remind you of your idea of "home" whether that's a color scheme or a style of furniture or a collection of accessories... keeping in mind that homes evolve over time, and that is the fun of it! Maybe it would help to write a list of things you consider essential for your home... and go from there. For example, my daughter just moved across country, and her first priority was getting the bedroom to feel like her sanctuary, so she spent most of her energy getting that put together first....See MoreMake me pretty...
Comments (12)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....See MoreHow to make our tired 1930s terrace look pretty?
Comments (19)Not sure how it works in the UK but in France if you are changing the appearance of your house that is visible from the road, you need prior permission. This is to avoid people doing things that are completely out of keeping with the neighbourhood, whether rendering, paintwork, or windows. Here you would probably have to go with cream rendering and retain the tiling, in which case choose a colour for the front door that picks up or contrasts with the brick/rust colour. My own first priority for the outside would be to deal with the garden, which you are very lucky to have, to get things in before the winter. One idea would be to get rid of the tiny patch of grass and lay thick gravel (not attractive to cats) plus a retaining path, create a simple structure to hide your dustbins (and bikes?), and invest in a couple of huge pots with some permanent planting and spring bulbs....See More
7 years ago- 7 years ago
PRO7 years ago
PRO7 years agoPaint your pipes in the same color as wall, make them invisible.
Jonathan