1960's chalet exterior - suggestions on frontage
We want to improve the look of the frontage of the 1960's chalet that we bought last year. We both agree that upstairs we want to open up all of the loft space, so instead of the one window in the roof, there will be a second in the front.
My partner wants to change the frontage dramatically to modernise it. This includes creating to one side of the front door a new gable and squaring the bay windows.
I feel that we could improve the appearance of the frontage without such an 'extensive' rebuild. This is by replacing the PVC windows with dark wooden or steel framed windows, and replacing current dormer with a smaller version and adding a second small dormer of the same size.
Any suggestions?
Comments (8)
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Comments (23)I too would ditch the vertical blinds. Our last house had horizontal wooden cladding that had been replaced with red roof type tiles, overlapping vertically roof style. It was done before we bought the house but looked so much better than the other houses in the street. And didn't need any further upkeep. Having ditched the blinds I'd plant something spectacular in the front garden to soften the view from the road and to give a bit more privacy. Maybe a Japanese maple, which is stunning in the autumn? Not so much good in the winter though! Angie...See MoreBrick bungalow exterior dilemma!
Comments (13)Dear lord, this style is identical to mine, especially the humungous front window, that I am bricking up the bottom third and reducing the side by one pane width. I. Am replacing them with flush sash casement windows in painswick to go with my barn door garage. I intend to do a complete before and after on mine as I don't like the look of the 1960 era but it is all a matter of personal preference so go with your gut feeling and look at hundreds of options on this website. I lived in mine for 5 years before I got to work on it. I love your wood wall and parking, it has massive potential...See MoreRender? Cladding? Both? Help please...
Comments (10)If you look at the 'black band', there are two air bricks in that area, typically they would be just above the oversite (the floor foundation) and a minimum of 6"(150mm) above the outside ground level. So the front garden most likely was higher and has subsequently been graded down to the drive, the garage floor is much lower than the house which is more or less at the same level as the house next door in the photo. As long as a planter feature stays at least two courses lower than the airbricks it would be fine, and would definitely improve the appearance of the windows being too high above the ground. My specs regarding air brick placement might be a little dated as I haven't built in the UK since the '90s and regs may have changed but the age of the house looks about right. The black band is probably what is left of a bituminous painted plinth that used to be common on many houses....See More60s semi detached facelift
Comments (6)A good architect should be able to improve the frontage along with your extension. I agree the wonky porch is very odd! Also the problem with block paving is the huge amount of weeds seeds that plant themselves in the grout, a real nightmare. My sister recently had her drive covered in resin gravel and it looks amazing. She left a sweeping border on one side which she has planted with plants from Morrison’s. I think that would look nice. Not her drive but similar...See More
Emmanuelle
5 years agoA very nice house... I would personally start with a good clean up and jet wash the slabs, stairs etc. It always looks better already after a good clear up and it’s free!!!
-Redefine and refresh the flower beds: get rid of old plants and put fresh shrubs, flowers, evergreens, climbers.... turn up the earth, add mulch or bark for a neat looking flower bed!
- add an amazing outdoor light
- put a house number
- get symmetrical pots on each side of the front door!!
Et voilà!
Bridget Candy
5 years agoJonathan
5 years agoAlthough probably not original I don’t mind the round bays, for me white windows offer a good contrast to the brick and for me the bigger issue is that the windows don’t have enough presence.
Personally I would add a gable above both windows, render below the bay window, move the dormer so it is above the front door and then build a full width dormer at the back to maximise upstairs space.
You should also consider if it is worth raising the roof.
Sonia
5 years agoSuch a pretty house, who would have thought it was a 60’s property. The flint walls are lovely (are you in Norfolk or Suffolk?). I think you’ve had some great advice already. All I would suggest is maybe paint the front door in a soft country colour such as sage green or cream. Think country cottage rather than modern. I think some large pots on either side of the door with frothy planting of pretty annuals such as petunias, Geraniums and lobelia would look lovely.
Bridget Candy
5 years agoSonia
5 years ago
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