Curb appeal help please on this former bungalow

3 years ago

Looking for some ideas to improve the curb appeal of this poor house please. Rendering has been suggested but too pricey at the moment. I’ve been advised against painting the pebble dash because of the type used and how hard it will be to cover. Would love to change the front door colour but not sure what to? The drive needs a good clean but other than that I am really stuck for ideas and not good at visualising things. Please share any suggestions. Thank you

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Ellie

3 years ago

I just think its as simple as if the front area that is full of chips, if instead that was lovely green shrubs it would be beautiful!

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Comments (25)

minnie101
3 years ago
I agree with Ellie re planting but also don’t think the green tiles work. Maybe you could work with your neighbour so both sides are done? It may also be worth cleaning up the front wall too?

A solid door (or nearly) may look nice but what are the light levels like?
Lucy T thanked minnie101
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Hi Stacy. I think weatherboarding will work for the look you're after. Would you paint it all one colour? My only worry was whether it would all be a bit one dimensional and whether the boarding would make the ground floor look lower ( I've drawn it out though and it doesn't seem to make any difference but that could be my lack of drawing skills!) I wonder if you could add a porch with weatherboard like this with either side of the front rendered and painted? The porch doesn't have to be as complex/expensive as this with the steps etc. I've had a similar size ŵall rendered and it was about £150 from memory so the cost would really be for the porch. Can you or your husband draw? It may be an idea to sketch out various options (with colour!) to see what you like then get quotes on the various options http://linleydevelopments.co.uk/portfolio/bungalow-to-a-chalet-style-conversion/#prettyPhoto[portfolio]/1/
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Curb appeal help please
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Comments (40)
Tanks all so much for these amazing ideas!! I think once I have implemented these the overall look will work - I just need to picture the final result as I do each bit separately. @south Wales - I had considered grass but the front of the house is covered by a huge oak tree canopy in the summer, the tree would probably dry everything out. It blocks most of the direct sunlight out completely. Do you think grass is still achievable? @suesykes - yours looks amazing, is that a rhododendron I can spot? @michaeldbutler - I used an iPad app called color effects @sorayasohal - thanks for your great ideas, I am very keen to use a couple of potted plants in front of the pillars. I just need to make sure they don't get stolen! @arthur road - many thanks for this excellent list, I hadn't really considered using a variety of different plants as the bed is small, but it's a great idea! @ensign - I wanted to use a taller tree each side of the pillars but the drive is on a slope and it might look a bit lopsided. I wonder if there is a way I could correct this by digging out and leveling under each pot or would this look weird? @amanda hunter - it's a great tip looking at local house styles! Mine is quite modern (1996) and is situation in a lovely village with quite a lot of older style houses with authentic wood doors etc. sadly this is a composite door and I added this as the wood door which was on the house was in a terrible state, so my options are limited to having it sprayed a suitable color. So far I think I will: 1) add flagstone path 2) lower globe buxus type pots in front of each pillar 3) paint door (still wanted red) 4) use some of the plants recommended here and go to my local garden centre. The porch also has built in flower beds flanking the steps so once flowers are in there it will look good. The darkness of the north facing house sheltered by a large oak tree is an issue for me, the house looks great but looks dark and gloomy, hence I don't want to have a door that looks too dark and dull, unless it was black. The company who will be spraying the door can do all farrow and ball colors, so I am going to check out some more heritage colors as per Laura and other suggestions. I'm going to get some blue and red samples this week!!
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Comments (21)
As far as the driveway is concerned you appear to have a sound concrete surface there already. If you can find a good local contractor who is properly trained in Resin Bonded Gravel then you could give you price to change the finish your driveway without digging it up at all. That would avoid a lot of cost and wastage so it is likely to be cost effective. The edging and any areas which are not would need to be considered carefully. A contractor may want to drill out core samples to check the thickness of the drive but it has been used for some time and not cracked then it should be fine. Resin Bonded Gravel is stuck onto the existing surface which will need to be clean and dry at the time. Check that any contractor has been trained and is properly insured.
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Help.. curb appeal needed
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Comments (2)
Hi Emily congratulations on your home and the work you have done so far I almost feel like your home needs to have its entrañce defined. I feel it lacks the welcoming of a proper entrance. i have attached a couple pics foe for inspiration. I think ot could really benifit from a great porch entry and nice landscaping.
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minnie101
3 years ago
PS I meant to say paint the tiles rather than replace as note you’re on a budget atm
Lucy T
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you both. I definitely want some greenery in the front garden. I hadn’t thought of painting the tiles but that looks so much better than the green, what colour would you suggest?

Some light through the door is needed. a door is something I am really stuck on as I can’t quite find anything that works
kazzh
3 years ago
Hmmm, you could be really bold here and stain the brick to a darker shade, charcoal even, to contrast with your white windows and rendered sections. The charcoal or dark shade could then be repeated on the green tiles. With a clean up of the roof, you could have a different exterior look.
kazzh
3 years ago
A quick coloring...
keiblem
3 years ago
I would reserve all painting to the timber. Leave the tiles and house bricks well alone.
The garden wall is what lets it down. If you can afford to then maybe build a low brick wall, taller than existing, in bricks that match the house. You could either finish with coping stones but I think bricks on their side look better (just like you have done on the staggered wall dividing the garden from the drive. I would be inclined to increase the height of this staggered wall to bring it up to the same level as the front wall, again in the same bricks as the house wall. I wouldn’t be too concerned that the existing don’t match. It will create a two tone pattern in the wall which you already have on the drive.
I agree that more planting would improve the front. You could keep the gravel as mulch, to reduce watering and suppress weeds, and plant small herbaceous plants and perhaps a few low growing shrubs and bulbs into it.
It is difficult to see the door clearly. From what I can see it seems to fulfil your need for glazing to let in light. Without seeing it properly may I ask is the glass clear or patterned? Do you think different textured glass might update it and perhaps new door furniture? If you wish to paint the door then, before you commit, I suggest you buy a few tester pots of colours you like and paint some paper and hold it up to the door to see which you prefer. You could also paint the garage door the same colour to tie it all in together.
HU-290967725
3 years ago
I think it's the blocks on the driveway let the house down. but a new colourful garage door, and more planting will help. Also have painted the facias Black to lift the house and make it pop.
keiblem
3 years ago
Your driveway is lovely!
Lucy T
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks everyone, this is really helpful. I like the drive too and was glad the previous owners had put that in, but don’t know why they didn’t do the front wall at the same time. I think some plants and attention to the front wall would make a big difference.

I’ll try and get a better picture of front door, it definitely needs a change of colour from the wood.
Lucy T
Original Author
3 years ago
Colours for the front doo are where I am really stuck! Nothing seems to quite tie in. I still like the idea of painting the green tiles so maybe that will allow for a different front door
User
3 years ago
I'd have the same colour for the front door and the garage door. I have anthracite cladding and an anthracite front door with white windows. So I think if your dormer was the same colour as your doors it would tie them in well.
keiblem
3 years ago
A place to start is to search Houzz for photos of front doors or front elevations. Farrow and Ball’s website also has good tips and photos of front door paint finishes. Finally take a look at your neighbours front doors and garages etc. You just never know inspiration might be right under your nose!
minnie101
3 years ago
Are you wanting a traditional door to tie in with the garage and the other neighbour? Maybe you could just go part glazed? farrow and ball Inchrya blue may work. Will it be a composite door? Some companies just do the standard RAL colours but others will do any. RAL limousine grey blue looks quite good

or do you want a modern door?
Lucy T
Original Author
3 years ago
Yes I think traditional will work better on this house, just to try and tie it all together
HU-809979615
3 years ago
Why not get the door and window spray painted. I'm going to do this to the kitchen of a place I am in the process of buying and was looking at their pinterest and they do this a lot. Probably cost a couple of thousand £, but I do think the effect looks really good (they can spray the entire exterior if you want)? www.sscoatings.co.uk
PRO
Ensign Accessories
3 years ago
Just to add a spanner in the works - whilst I agree with most of the suggestions above, I really think that the main problem is the block windows - the ground floor level ones are not interesting at all, and possibly think about replacing these. Get a quote to see how much it would cost - probably not as much as you think. The size of each pane could be much smaller, and would give you bigger windows to open.
lisabaker10
3 years ago
If money is a consideration, I would suggest power washing the roof, tiles, Brickwork, garden walls, and driveway - to freshen them up then paint the windows, facias, gutters, downpipes, and doors an off black. The grey blue gravel is fighting with the red of the driveway I would use buff to blend with the border of the driveway and add lots of green shrubs. ( sympathise with the green tiles of the dormer) I am assuming the brick wall is the same as the brick on your house.
PRO
Amir
3 years ago
Please replace pebbles with nice grassy area. Add plants with different color shades in 90 degree formation I.e on the road side facing and to adjacent property.
Add protruded borders around windows in white colors.
Give an ivory or almond color to garage door to add elegance.
PRO
Expand & Build Ltd
3 years ago
Planting shrubs and flowers in the front would make the front of the house more attractive and appealing.
Trisha Goodwin
3 years ago
I think the house is quite attractive; but the bit under the window (some sort of pebbles and a circular thing going on?) could be better. What about planting that up, remove the pebbles or chippings, even if can't remove the circular thing. Front doors can make a lot of difference, but make sure it goes with the window style, nothing looks worse than different colours or fake period style!
Dave Pearce
3 years ago
I'd paint the tiles dark grey. What about planting up the two square bits at the front of the drive with something evergreen in the middle and coloured trailing plants at the front. Then some dark grey troughs or planters with a similar planting scheme by the wall. That way, the eye would be drawn away from the actual bungalow itself to the attractive plants which would brighten things up considerably. Get rid of the existing shrubs which look to be old and unruly. Put a large, modern door number (possibly illuminated) on the wall. Look at Etsy - there are loads on there and you'll be spoiled for choice.
Sammy Roberts
3 years ago
Maybe a bench seat under the window at the front in a bright colour and lots of plants in big pots that you can move around.
Clare Dowling
3 years ago
I think it would be a lot better if you were to get some yellow and red flowers and get a modern door and mabey power wash the walls and roof
Clare Dowling
3 years ago
also I don't really think the green tiles work .I think it would be nice if you were to replace them with the tiles on your roof

Curb appeal help please on this former bungalow

Ellie

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