Windows and render ideas!
This is our house that we have purchased recently after having lived in it as tenants for a few years. It was originally owned by the local school, who in fact built it back in 1961 to house school employees.
Over the years, it’s had basic maintenance with no thoughts to design or care, hence the current bright white busy windows, which with the square detailing, don’t take advantage of our great view.
We have just had planning permission granted for lots of work:
New access and driveway
Double garage at the side
Ground floor extension at the side (this would be rendered, with bi fold doors at the side and a large picture window at the front and a long rectangular skylight)
1st floor tweaking and adding new bathrooms
Attic conversion
In addition, we have permission to render the whole house plus change the windows.
We are more or less inclined to leave the brick, and just have the extension rendered, but what colour? We think white is too bright so we are inclined to a magnolia / cream colour but not too yellowy!
The biggest issue we are currently struggling with are the windows. We don’t know what to choose - I suspect it will be either aluminium or uPVC, but we don’t want featureless blank windows as the space is large, however we don’t want anything that is too busy either which is what we have at the moment. Colour wise, we like pale green or grey green, however I was thinking that we should perhaps go for a window colour to match the extension render, ie a magnolia or cream.
What do you think?
Comments (36)
sarh123
3 years agoPhil Coates
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Need advice on colour for render, windows and doors
Comments (10)Hi Charlotte I understand where you are coming from about the brick detail around the windows and sills which are lovely but they are small designer details whereas the porch is a much bigger area of bricks and if it were my home I would certainly render it as the rest of the house.Also although the porch has always been like that, it looks like it has been added on later, I may be wrong and just been left with bricks exposed.You have also got the nice brick paving around the house. Why don't you just print the picture of the house out, put a tracing sheet of paper over it and just colour in the porch the same colour as the render and you will get a better idea of how it will look. Or maybe render the porch and just as you have the brick detail around the windows just do the same around the porch, this would look really good too. Good luck Jean, Art Decor Designs...See MoreExterior makeover - render and window frame colour advice
Comments (36)That colour was f&b stony ground which is actually red based but I think must have some green in, I thought it would work with the terracotta tiles. Something like the lighter shaded white may also work although colours are normally a couple of shades lighter on the exterior. The previous owners of our house painted it farrows cream, I swear it gets more yellow each day! I don’t know anything about the render tbh but I don’t think it needs any maintenance for 20-30 years hence the initial application cost is dearer. I’ve attached this link as I’ve come across a few similar comments (but as I say I don’t know anything about the render and you’re always going to get negative reviews of things). It might be worth creating a separate post on traditional versus through coloured render if you have any concerns? http://www.ebuild.co.uk/topic/15160-traditional-render-v-k-rend/...See MoreExterior make over - window and render colour advice
Comments (22)Changes of fenestration such as changing the shape of the arched window will require planning approval so you should probably decide on everything you intend to do and then make an application. Designers, Architects and architectural technicians can all help here- I would expect them to be showing you in CAD how the house could look. How far you go depends on the available budget. In my opinion the house could benefit from swapping the current leaded light windows for something simpler. Your current windows are not very deep and and the fan lights exaggerate that so perhaps replacements without might be better....and these could look great in all the colours you suggested- personally I just like to see a contrast with the brick so would rather see a light colour choice with this brick. I would probably choose sage green. In my opinion the front door looks undersized next to the big arched window but painting the door and side panel the same colour will make it look bigger. Also I wonder if you are thinking about changing the arched window because it is sitting uncomfortably next to the window next door..... perhaps it is the window above the door that is wrong...... in fact if that is a bathroom and you could get away with a skylight instead I think I would rather leave the arched window and block up the one above the door. However for me the 1950s proportions of the windows slightly let down this house and the suggested full height windows of the garage conversion seem out of place too. If you have the money for a full facelift I would be looking for your CAD expert to show you how the house could look with different shaped window apertures- for instance the two windows to the left of the front door in my opinion would have more presence if they were deeper and fanlights would also work better then. The window above the front door seems too wide and too close to the corner and should relate more to the window next to it that is currently arched- perhaps get rid of this door above the front door or perhaps make it narrower. In my opinion continuing the garage roof towards the front door and building forward the ground floor window to the right of the front door would unify the garage extension with the main house and make it easier to choose a window style for the garage conversion as you would then likely choose three matching small windows. I might even consider making the window of the room over the garage a little narrower. However the room over the garage is a later addition and does illustrate that it is possible to match these bricks so using render to cover your changes may not be necessary and I agree that the brick and the climbing plants help make this a pretty and traditional looking house and unsympathetic changes could ruin that feel....See MoreRender/brickwork ideas
Comments (5)I would use a wire brush and a blow torch to remove the remaining plant remnants on the wall. I would then have the windows and front door painted in a lighter, neutral shade if replacing them isn't an option. If there is stained, coloured glass in the window I would replace it eith a clear, plain glass panel. After doing all of that I would look to have rhe render repaired and repainted a softer white. I think you could make a massive difference to your house without a massive budget....See Morecatherinemoore
3 years agoLike @sarh123, I love the colour of the brick! Green or grey windows would look good... a sage green would pop out nicely but not look as stark as the current white, or grey would compliment the brick in a more subtle way. I would steer away from cream / magnolia render - these tend to look dirty quickly. I have a lovely green render on my house which contrasts with the brick (see pic) and because there are two layers of brick before the render starts at the bottom (you can just about see it on the pic), it stops it looking dirty from splashes at ground level. A pale grey render would also work well. Keep the window designs simple so the focus is all about the view out.
sarh123
3 years agoLindsay Blackford
3 years agoJonathan
3 years agoIn my opinion the house benefits from having decorative windows- the originals were probably quite plain so restoring a 1960’s original style probably is a backward step. I do get that the internal glazing bars don’t look as good up close (especially from inside) but perhaps there is a decorative style of heritage casement window that would work in your rural village.
I am glad you are keeping the original brick. The extension will read as an extension if it is rendered and perhaps you should therefore consider different styles for the different parts of the house.
How about if you put a heritage style window in the main house in a soft grey/ green and then contemporary black glazing in the extension. I also think white render sits uncomfortably in rural settings but think the opposite (soft black or dark brown or dark green) help extensions fit into green and leafy settings.
Lindsay Blackford
3 years agoHashim Talbot
3 years agoI personally like the brickwork on the house, gives it a sense of history and character. I've seen lots of rendering and whilst they look good I find you lose the character over time.
For Windows I personally will also keep them white but get rid of the white lines in between. What you can do is have smaller openings at the top of the windows which will automatically create a white bar to split the windows a bit whilst also being more practical (see below image of new windows on a house with smaller openings at top of each window). This will also allow you to open the windows during colder periods. I've also attached a photo of white rendering and grey windows for inspiration if you still prefer that look.
Hashim Talbot
3 years agoAlso think about having a statement door in anthracite grey and windows in white. It provides a nice contrast without having to spend money on different coloured windows.
sarh123
3 years agoLindsay Blackford
3 years agoHere are the original windows - also white and quite busy! We can’t see what the front door would have looked like as it’s recessed. When we do the work we are bringing the porch space back into the house to make a bigger front hall. So a new front door choice will also be key!
E D
3 years agosarh123
3 years ago
Alix W
3 years ago
Lena
3 years agoJonathan
3 years agoFor me if you are choosing heritage style windows the front door should also be traditional. My preference would be for a door colour to match either the render it windows in order to keep the palate sophisticated.
However some contemporary colours would be worth considering. Changing the door furniture from brass to chrome can also make it feel more contemporary
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