Help make our ugly house a lovely house?!

4 years ago

Help! We are attempting a loft conversion and exterior renovation in 2020 and stuck with what to do with the frontage. A pitched roof dormer will go onto the front of the roof (to provide headroom for stairs/follow existing stair flow) and the windows will be changed to aluminium anthracite.

The current idea is to just flat render the top half (go over what is already white today) in an off-white/beige and change the porch. We like modern/light/oak but live in a traditional road so need to blend too. Thanks in advance :-)

Featured Answer

catkin001

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Tart it up! I don't think it looks ugly. Add colour and texture. Front entrance could look amazing with a beautiful new door, lighting, potted trees, new plants to add colour, stone, granite slabs, paving, etc

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Comments (17)

Ribena Drinker
4 years ago
I don't think it's ugly at all. Can I ask your reasoning for going with anthracite windows?
Caro RTW thanked Ribena Drinker
Caro RTW
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks @Ribena Drinker thanks but it just doesnt have anything about it? too plain/flat fronted?

we chose anthracite grey as the doors for the back /kitchen looked the best in that colour. we're open to an alternative colour on the front.

PS I love ribena ;-)
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PRO
Construct Atelier Ltd
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Hello

I'd concur that your building is not ugly. It is a vernacular, of a type, part of a set... albeit that set is of an era where the buildings built where functional and aesthetic was not held in high regard... but neither are many new builds today...

The image below is a project we executed a few years back of a building not too dissimilar to yours, the main note is the choice of replica critall windows which is homage to the age of the building. We aimed to get crisp straight lines with the wrap around porch and by bringing forward the garage door we gave movement to the facade; I would also consider the window adjacent the door. This brings plenty of natural light into the entrance during daylight hours.

Would I do anything different? Maybe. The drainpipe annoys me in this image so I would have like to move it to the side haha ... plus we were not able to truly light the external facade which I think could have really enhanced the building.

Good luck and if we can help do not hesitate to ask...

Ewell · More Info
Caro RTW thanked Construct Atelier Ltd
Gordana Donnachie
4 years ago
The facade is lovely, symmetrical and inviting as is now, however, with the change in window colour, it will give it a fresh modern feel. Me, I'd be steering towards landscaping to give it a lift and giving it a while new modern and inviting vibe.
Caro RTW thanked Gordana Donnachie
Jonathan
4 years ago
I think this architecture is a little functional and absent of decoration so I don’t like the sound of your plans.
The windows on a house like this are one of the few features- if you make the windows plain with very slim frames I think the house could look featureless. I would rather see the earlier mentioned crittal style or a casement window with leaded light. Furthermore slim aluminium frames might not be my choice as the slimness of the frames suits very contemporary houses best in my opinion. I also prefer black windows with this brick.
Dormer- I think front facing dormers look ugly and I don’t see how you can add one that suits the house. Is it possible to rethink the stair position or to build forward in the centre of the house to create a gable to raise the roof space for the stairs?
And render colour- I think white lifts this brick and any kind of cream is cottagey and clearly it’s not a cottage.
Perhaps you should be thinking of employing a design professional to ensure you add to the house curb appeal and value.
Caro RTW thanked Jonathan
Caro RTW
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks @Jonathan we have had 2 architects provide 2 sets of drawings. I'll take a look at white render with black windows, nice idea. We have had 3 builders in who all say the stairs need to go middle front unless we change the layout of our ground floor (aka big budget) I had thought of bringing out the front but a house close by has done the same and it looks so imposing? Our house is up a slope from the road so already quite imposing. All ideas welcome and thanks for the thoughtful response.
Jonathan
4 years ago
Moving stairs does have a budget implication but is often not as much as people imagine. You could try posting your plans to see if there is an innovative fix that hasn’t been spotted earlier.
Caro RTW thanked Jonathan
Caro RTW
Original Author
4 years ago
Aha ok. Sorry new to the discussion forum part of Houzz. Just add images here or start a new discussion? Thanks @Jonathan
E D
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Lovely house. Lovely kitchen dining/room.

Images here. :-)
Caro RTW thanked E D
Caro RTW
Original Author
4 years ago
Original house layout (estate agent plans) with internal architect plans, putting 2 bedrooms and den in the loft and changing 2 bedrooms into 1 on the first floor.
Caro RTW
Original Author
4 years ago
Current architect external plans. Front, side, rear.
Jonathan
4 years ago
It’s actually pretty easy to avoid the front gable by swapping the ground floor stairs for ones that go front to back and then have stairs to the attic level a little closer to the front of the house
Caro RTW thanked Jonathan
Caro RTW
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks @Jonathan Absolutely an option. The only issue here will be the entrance to our lounge would be under the stairs?
Jonathan
4 years ago
No you would move the living room door to the front of the hall so it’s at the bottom of the stairs
Caro RTW thanked Jonathan
Caro RTW
Original Author
4 years ago
That's really clever. I didn't think we would have the space in the hall but we do. Thanks @Jonathan

I will get the architect to redraw. I need to think through a long lounge too, the door currently cuts it into 2 thirds but maybe that's no bad thing.
Jonathan
4 years ago
@Caro RTW
Much easier to put a sofa on the long wall of the lounge if the door is at an end rather than the middle of that wall
Caro RTW thanked Jonathan