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Design Dilemma Exteriors

Help! Need ideas for garage door, front door, front step and walkway

3 years ago

Looking for some advice on exterior enhancements for better curb appeal for our 1980s brick house. I’d like to make some changes this spring and have about a $20-25K budget (CDN). Must haves: garage door, new front door, and front step and walkway alongside driveway.

I really want to tone down or get rid of the peachy/rust colours in our house but unfortunately it’s part of the brick, so wondering if a dark grey/brown should be used as accent colour (i.e. for garage door, front door?). Some day we may just stucco or paint over the brick but until then we have to live with it.

What style of front door and garage door do you recommend? I do like to maximize windows to let the light in to the house and garage.

What should we do with the existing trim above the garage door – should it be replaced with new trim, and if so what colour? Should it be the same colour as the new garage door? Should we consider replacing the soffits and fascia or is this something that should wait until later when we tackle the brick.

For the front step, we were thinking of making it a wider landing so two people can fit on step at the same time, and then create a walkway to align with driveway to make it easier to get out of the car. I like stone steps but would be open to other materials if it makes sense. Not a fan of patterned concrete though (a lot of people use that around here). What materials and colours would you suggest for the front step/walkway, and should it have railings even though it’s only going to be one or two steps?

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can post more pictures of the house if it helps. Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

HU-187528210

3 years ago

I personally don’t think you need to paint the brick. Especially if you plan to stucco sometime in the near future. I totally hear you on the rusty colors needing a tone down. But I think that’s because of your garage door. I would paint all the trim black. With either brown or black doors. Or maybe start with that, leave the brick and if you don’t like it ( which I think you might) you can do the brick... I would love for the porch to be bigger. What’s the bay window? Would you hear your budget to adding French doors instead over there and then doing a bigger porch from the left of the house to the front door?
These are all just brainstorms to help get the ball rolling start with what you like and with what you can. Very cute pretty well kept home. Here are some pics for inspiration on keeping the brick color

Comments (14)

K Backman
Original Author
3 years ago
These are great ideas and inspiration photos! I like the idea of extending the porch, we would need to figure out if it's in our budget, what materials (i.e. stone or wood?) - the windows are flat not bay, and that is the living room. I also love the idea of painting the window trim if we can find a good paint that will adhere to vinyl well, and the garage door in the photo is gorgeous and would really enhance our house.
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What a beautiful house. So pleased you have embraced the age and style of the house rather than deciding to ‘modernise’ it as so many posts on this forum want to do to their homes. The door is a lovely colour - agree with you about using that instead of the white on the surrounding woodwork - I’d use it on the inside of the door too. Crest idea is smashing. I think all it is missing then is some softening up ... I would add some beautifully simple planted larger tubs either side of the porch - I think the box look a bit too restrained & out of proportion - I’d go for white flowers spilling over the edge and silver foliage. Maybe something with height - olive trees? Bay ? Maybe echo the planting in window boxes on the ground floor cills (obviously without the trees!) ? White/silver planting looks smart during the day, but just glows in the evening & in artificial light so ideal at the doorway. More colourful planting would compete with the door, keeping the palette restrained would, instead, complement it.
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stiley
3 years ago
Such a cute house! My thought is that the white trim is too stark and the black door is too black. I think you need a softer contrast. Check out this thread of a house with similar color brick. They painted things SW Gauntlet Gray. Or you might go a bit darker, like the shade that's the darkest part of your bricks.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/1694870/need-help-with-trim-color-for-this-odd-peach-orange-brick?epik=dj0yJnU9NHRLNGw1RDVrX3JmeS0zNFk2QnM5WlFQTkN2OEFISWgmcD0wJm49STFqbnM3MUtOTy1MN3UxUU1rZ1pDQSZ0PUFBQUFBR0FZTkFR

I think I'd paint all the trim and the garage door the same color. Can you paint the white storm door to match your front door? Your potted plants are so pretty. I like your idea of a larger porch. Do you you like the large pavers?

https://www.houzz.com/hznb/photos/colored-concrete-pavers-and-gravel-entry-walakway-los-angeles-phvw-vp~115566814
K Backman thanked stiley
HU-187528210
3 years ago
@kbackman great!! I’m so happy you found those pics pretty. I’d prefer a stone porch.
K Backman thanked HU-187528210
K Backman
Original Author
3 years ago
@stiley I think the softer colour works too, and since we are planning to replace the door and garage door that is definitely in the budget. I did a mock-up of the house to see what it would look like without any white trim and it makes a dramatic (good) difference!

I like larger pavers - I think I know what you mean but your link didn't work.
K Backman
Original Author
3 years ago
These ideas are great and already have changed our plans!

Question: In order to change the trim around windows we would have to paint vinyl - I did some research and some say not to do this because it will warp and peel in sun (house is west facing, very sunny). Others say that SW and BM have special products for vinyl - does anyone have experience with these products? (Eventually we will be replacing windows and will get dark ones instead of white but not for a few years.)

Also, should door and garage door be the same colour?

For extended stone patio that goes across width of house, should it be the same level as the step up to the door or should it be a step down from frontdoor landing ("sunken" ? I don't know right term).
felizlady
3 years ago
I like the color of the garage door: it fades into the background. Go ahead and enlarge the front steps and landing area, and add the walkway next to the driveway all the way to the sidewalk. I would look for a stained wood front door with a small window with a mini-door on the inside, or a peephole so you see who is there before opening the door. If you live where winter can be harsh, consider extending the roof to protect someone on the porch from rain or snow.
K Backman thanked felizlady
stiley
3 years ago
I see that you already have some pavers. I think doing more along these lines would look clean and updated, and you can surround them with rocks that have some peachy tones to coordinate with your bricks. You could have pavers connect your front porch to the driveway and also straight out to the street.

For your porch, I think I'd enlarge the "high" part. You'll have more space for pots and people won't feel crowded at your front door. Your house has such great potential. I'm excited to see what you do!
K Backman thanked stiley
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Some option with making welcoming and neat entrance.
RedRyder
3 years ago
I first want to say that your house is adorable. I lean towards Celery’s rendering but I would consider a deep grey instead of the stark black. Your bricks have a deep grey in them. I like the doors being dark. There seem to be products now for vinyl window trim, so do the research. It won’t be a problem if you can change the window trim. I also like the style of the house door and garage door that @Celery did for you.
K Bkmn
3 years ago
@Celery I really appreciate the rendering! I am not able to visualize these things so that helps so much. We actually have people coming by to give us quotes for the door and garage door, also windows to see what kind of $ we are looking at if we decide to just get new rather than paint.
I also like the style of door and garage door you pictured, we need the natural light provided by the windows.
I agree with you @RedRyder about a deep grey rather than stark black.
We are really liking the idea of extending the new front step across the left side of the house and with the right plantings making it a bit private.
Hoping to get some of this work done this spring but I have no idea how busy everyone may be with renovating these days.
I will post pictures of our progress as we go! Thanks so much for everyone’s input it has helped us land on a direction.
RedRyder
3 years ago
Look at SW Urbane Bronze for the garage and door color.
K Backman thanked RedRyder
PRO
Deuren
3 years ago
Might be able to get some ideas from here https://www.deuren.co.uk/our-blog/kerb-appeal-7-tips-to-make-the-most-of-your-homes-exterior/

Or see some of the pics here of what our clients have done.
PRO
Deuren
3 years ago
Might be able to get some ideas from here https://www.deuren.co.uk/our-blog/kerb-appeal-7-tips-to-make-the-most-of-your-homes-exterior/

Or see some of the pics here of what our clients have done.

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