Bland 1970's terrace house - nothing to work with?

3 years ago

Hi and thanks in advance for any help its appreciated. I have this rather bland looking house actually built 1968 and I just want to give it some kerb-side appeal but I feel totally governed by several factors.

1. These houses don't have much to work with from the start. The only feature is the ugly bolt on PVC porch which now has sellotape adhesive stuck all over it, yellowed panels and gaps in the seals. That thing has got to go, but what do I replace it with? I liked the idea of a half-height brick porch in a lighter shade to match the buttress either side but I found form neighbours that doing this can either cause it to be colder and cause damp or seriously impose on the interior. (think 70mm PVC frame vs 300mm cavity brick + plaster) So I wonder if the only thing to do is buy another PVC porch?

2. I am in a row of terrace houses and everyone looks the same. I don't really want to drastically change the front white paneling or brickwork so that it looks totally out of place with the neighbours so I think the best I can do there is tidy it up as best as possible and grow a nice dwarf hedge under the front of the window.

3. Windows - the only thing left. I live in an otherwise very attractive town with stunning georgian and amazing Victorian houses. I think that's what torments me. ( I have acquired this house through family if you are wondering why I have it, I also cannot sell it) Window wise, i wish I could pull off georgian windows or maybe arts and crafts diamond leaded type but I just don't think the house could pull it off. I think the safest thing would be just newer fresher windows with only the vertically opening casements and not the horizontal ones for a cleaner look.

4. The garden i feel I can always do something with - even if its growing plants to cover up the house - plan b lol.

I dont mean to offend anyone if this is your taste but I do not like the render and grey windows look which 60's housing often gets treated to. In the past decade lots of wealth has come to town and the owners have been carefully and tastefully restoring their victorian or edwardian homes to suit the period (as per 95% of pintrest content) - I just wish that was me.

Featured Answer

Ro Ro

3 years ago

Well, Gary, you have got some great ideas coming in.

I turned 70 last year and my family in 1967 bought a brand new townhouse that was an exciting place to live. It had three split-level floors making about 7 levels (not quite designed by Escher!)

My advice is look at the inspiration for British 60s houses - that came from 1950s America (and earlier). Draw out the essence.

Think: Clean lines / Timber / Brick / Harmony / Balance / Simplicity (and I am sure you are!)

You are so right to steer away from the grey format you describe.

Attaching

1) a contemporary colour chart for door inspiration

and

2) images solely for the cohesive simplicity of window shapes.)

These are some thoughts that I have:

1) The porch:

Could it be constructed out of SIPs - thereby giving more insulation? Possibly cheaper, easier and cleaner to build with than brickwork? The side panels could be clad with cedar that just wraps round onto the front wall each side - maybe 15cm? (To give depth.)

Maybe a very slightly sloping crimped zinc roof on top?

Look at the front width of the porch and pretty much divide it into two.

Have perhaps a door with a square clear glass pane on the right (like your image above) AND make the adjacent window the same size square aperture as in the door.

Maybe some cedar cladding under this window?

2) The other windows:

If these could be based upon the same square format (as above) and tip / tilt. The kitchen window could comprise two tip/tilt opening almost square windows and these be echoed in the first floor bedroom above.

The bathroom window naturally lends itself to a square pane. NO frosted or reeded glass anywhere! ...Even if it is 'authentic'!

'Roller blinds' were used a lot then and provided an interesting layer to the windows plus a nice slice of colour! Surely no-one would consider vertical strip blinds!!!!????

3) The front door colour:

(I really will have to 'get over' the fact that PVC double-glazed doors cannot be painted like a good old wooden door...!)

So, my recollection is that mid-sixties colours in Britain were actually not quite so primary as we think but often a little bit 'slubby'. This makes them more interesting I think.

...Ignore the contradictory red doors below!! 🤣

Images of evocative clean styles - windows mainly.

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Comments (25)

kazzh
3 years ago
I'm looking to the other side of you for inspiration.... would full length glazling be something you would consider? Next to you has 2 panels in a vertical section, but am thinking that just vertical glass could give a more modern look. The glazing could be in smaller widths for added interest. If privacy is needed, an etched design or day/ night roller blinds. The door could then echo the vertical design and be a more modern style.
kazzh
3 years ago
Using reeded glass, or privacy screening cut to mimic the effect could be an option. The second example could be scaled down but demonstrates how full glazing might work
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Gary Whapples
Original Author
3 years ago
I think that is the right direction as this era of housing was all about large windows and lots of light which came with the technology of the time. I like it. That reeded glass looks quite retro too, was it used in the 60's do you think?
Gary Whapples
Original Author
3 years ago
https://www.dalejoinery.co.uk/files/2015/06/timber-entrance-doors-Uckfield-Becvar15.jpg

what do you think of this door next to full length vertical glass? Maybe without the bars in teh glazing.
kazzh
3 years ago
Am thinking that these styles would suit more that your suggested one, which has a bit of traditional cottage feel rather than modern take on 60's vibe. There are styles which are just a door, without the added side panel. Just do a search of modern external door here on houzz. I am thinking that reeded glass was popular in the late 50's and 60's here in AU so Ithink it would work well in your streetscape. A modern look but not out of step with the style.
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Gary Whapples thanked kazzh
HU-886808735
3 years ago
We have the same problem and I’m planning a porch makeover. I totally agree that it needs to be a more modern front door to fit the period. These are some of the ideas I’ve gathered so far. I want to change the cladding too. We already used reeded glass in the bathroom window which looks pretty cool. I’m going to use reeded or cross hatched glass for an internal sliding door too.
donut99
3 years ago
I love this style of house! And I love the glass porches HU 8868xxxxxx has
glendevon
3 years ago
There is nothing wrong with this house's look - at least properties built in the sixties generally have bigger rooms than the modern equivalent! I think a fully glazed porch would be the way to go, too. You could improve the front by replacing the concrete path with perhaps a brick one, and you have a good front garden which you can landscape and plant attractively to make your property look more attractive. If you plant anything under the front window, make sure it is shallow rooted. Is it in full sun? Lavender would look good, and it likes it dry and sheltered too.
Bernie Watt
3 years ago
A great idea to the above comments. I live in a 1970’s home and the front of the property is not the nicest, but the size of rooms are bigger and more spacious than new builds. This summer I intend to work on the outside of my home, by painting and rendering. Also working on the garden.
Kelly Kelly
3 years ago
Following this, my house looks very similar! Bernie, thinking of rendering mine so would love to know how you get on
Jan
3 years ago
Everyone has come up trumps with porch ideas!

Would you consider having your porch and door in oak or similar and the wooden panels on the front in the same colour? Then painting your windows black or would this be a step too far?
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Nina Cartwright
3 years ago
Remove the white plastic strips and replace with brickwork design to add some visual interest? I think leaf shape patterns are very much of the time period. Look to 60s clothing and culture for inspiration and I think the project could take on a whole new energetic vibe. Good luck with it and I hope you get the dream house one day!
Jon R
3 years ago
I personally would prefer the more fully-glazed options that @kazzh showed first -- I always feel like the 'modern' doors with a thin line of glass are unwelcoming. I see a lot of them on over-priced, new-build flats in London. Yes, I live in London and yes, I have strong opinions about those doors. :-)

Redoing the glazing on the other windows would also be one way to give the whole terrace a more modern look and let in even more light. The older casements (and what is still done now on the cheap) are so heavy and look even heaver when they are whiten brick. Slim-line (or, at least, slimmer line) windows in a darker colour could make it a lot more attractive perhaps? Though I couldn't say how well it would still match the rest of the terrace.
Gary Whapples
Original Author
3 years ago

This was what I had in mind - that door would really stand out! This is what I think would really say 1960's if you wanted to celebrate the era of your home rather than covering it up.

When you look around at everyone's doors here most are either white PVC georgian/victorian or a dull blue composite. What's funny if you think about it is how we came to have PVC front doors and porches, it wasn't buy design, It wasn't the style of the era. The guy who likely designed that bland PVC monstrosity we currently have was camped out in my parents dining room trying to close a deal until 1pm in the evening and pick up around £800 commission LOL.
Gary Whapples
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago

With the help of graphic designer for a partner we put this redesign together today. The door looks a bit basic but the colour pops! Might go for that solid door. We have also shown the sides bricked up in the lighter colour brick (the house has 2 different brick tones) and a change to the front window to have more glass, less PVC openings as suggested @Jon R.

@kazzhYep, those are definitely the doors from down under! I like them on those more modern style homes but not for this one.
HU-846169578
3 years ago
Personally I would put on a fully glazed porch but with a pitched roof with the gable end facing out to the road. You need to get the size of timber just right. Too heavy or too thin and it will look all wrong.
Gary Whapples
Original Author
3 years ago
@Kelly Kelly your's looks a bit too white I think you need some contrast there between the windows. Have you thought about tile cladding (like above pic with solid blue door) or a darker timber cladding?
Kelly Kelly
3 years ago
Gary I’m thinking of rendering the brick work and changing the cladding for timber - might paint the window frames dark grey
sharon daly
3 years ago
The cladding changed to timber would be a good move. i prefer the glazed porch that your other neighbour has, rather than brick. you could have a modern vibe if that is what you wanted to go for. DO NOT PAINT YOUR WINDOWS DARK GREY! They would stand out very loudly against the row of houses and not in a good way. It is a major trend - the whole world seems to think dark grey windows is the answer! if you want different go for a muted colour [ a warm, mid-stone would be good] or leave them white and bring colour and warmth from the wooden cladding.
Gary Whapples
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@sharon daly I am right there with you. Loads of people are moving here in the last 10 years and if they have a victorian or edwardian house it gets tastefully restored back with original features. If they have a 60's house it gets rendered with grey windows - alright for some but i too find it a bit of a tasteless trend. one thing with the wood cladding is people tend to go for cedar and let it naturally discolour like a fence panel. Looks better lasts better treated and the wood must have a pigment in it to protect it.
Sputnik
3 years ago
There are such brilliant ideas here! The only thing I would add is to beware of changing your house too drastically away from your neighbours. However lovely the design, you don't want your home to stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the row. Apart from the aesthetics, there is a slight risk of your 'poshest home in the street' being targeted for burglary.
Personally, I love the concept of the bland exterior opening up to reveal a jewel within.
Gary Whapples
Original Author
3 years ago
@Ro Ro Thank you so much for your reply. I was reading about the housing and planning that drew inspiration back and forth between Britain and America. I believe i live on a Radburn style estate with the houses all facing the green.

I did wonder about the porch construction because double skin brickwork with cavity is going to be so intrusive into the hallway which is already small. I will look into the SIPS method with my carpenter and see what we can do.

Interesting colours, ithink we actually had a zenith blue door to begin with back in the 80's! I am talking myself into a solid door with no windows or mouldings but maybe not such a bright colour.

To be continued
Ro Ro
3 years ago
Look forward to you posting pics of the end product! Good luck! I am sure you will get it absolutely right.
Joyce Brereton
3 years ago
You need to take a look at this 1970s makeover for inspiration: Tierney Terrace Makeover https://www.instagram.com/p/CG9fesjnBJF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link