Improve curb appeal

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Hello,

Can anyone suggest how I would improve the look of my end of terrace home (white house on the left in pic below), to make it more in keeping with the neighbouring homes.

I'm not too worried about the brick, it is more the window and door detailing. As I understand it, my house was originally a shop and so had a shop front which has resulted in a lack of bay to the front room.

I would lose too much internal hallway if I were to try to recreate the bay and set back the front door, but just wondered if there are options for making it look nicer and more in keeping.

Also an idea of costs/contractors if at all possible.

Many thanks in advance for any help.

Featured Answer

Sarah U-S

2 years ago

I think the thing for me is that there’s quite a big expanse of white on the lower level around the windows and the door. The rest of your street has a fanlight window above the front door - which again makes for better proportions. Adding a fanlight or adding height to the windows would probably need lintels adding - so could be pricey though. A relatively easier change could be to swap your front door for something more traditional. You also have a huge expanse of white wall at the front -maybe look at changing the wall to lovely railings or if it needs to stay, paint a different colour and add some plants?

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Comments (15)

Daisy England
2 years ago
Are we talking the house with the white wall or the one next to it?
G_ Unit thanked Daisy England
G_ Unit
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Sorry I'm the white house on the end - has amended in description. Thank you
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Just a few things:- I don't think you need to make a radical change, however, the thing that stands out most is the fact that the wall all around is crumbling. The wall at the forefront shows the worst damage, so i would be tempted to render that to improve it. Also, nearer the top up by the front door, the frontage does not match with the other side and it has very dated stone inserts. I would also remove that part so that it matches the other side. Although this time of year is awful for the garden, I think it's better to present it as tidy as possible with no dead plants and a little greenery, so maybe you could put a couple of evergreen standard box up by the front door. I don't think huge changes are needed, but the wall won't help as it's dated and crumbling, so if you can make it look better, prospective buyers will not think that they may need a new wall soon after they move in. It also makes for a better looking entrance to the property and invites you in more.
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It's really not bad! And I love pebble dash as its all over our bungalow. Same colour as yours, we thought of painting it but believe the maintenance is tough. You've got some greenery under the window, good. check what type it is, you might want to change it for something with more texture or color. Sorry I'm no help here but I really think it's a nice looking house!
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Pictures will probably help! Ideally I don't want it to look like a small replica of my neighbours house.
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Sarah U-S
2 years ago
Is yours the only one on the street to have been rendered?
Sarah U-S
2 years ago
I guess it all comes down to budget…. The proportions seem a little “out” compared to your neighbours, and there’s the odd wall between you and next door - it makes me wonder if it used to be a corner shop? The main windows look like they are too short for the street - is it possible to change them for taller ones to match your neighbours? (Also putting in sashes at the same time). The porch looks like it’s a small in-fill addition. It again makes the property different to the rest of the terrace. I’d be tempted to remove it if possible.
G_ Unit thanked Sarah U-S
G_ Unit
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks Sarah U-S. Yes it used to be a corner shop which was converted (way before my time) which is why it looks odd compared to the other houses. In our terrace of 4, the house at the other end is also white, but painted brick and not rendered.

I thought about changing the windows to taller sash windows, but couldn't visualise if this would be enough (would it still need the detail around the windows) and how much work would be involved - would a beam be needed etc to support a wider opening.

I'd like the space in the hallway, and think removing the infill would compromise this space inside. And the costs would be quite expensive for limited return.
minnie101
2 years ago
I agree with Sarah, the lower window and door is out of proportion for the period and obviously your neighbours. I would change the window and door and add a fan light (i couldnt find one in the right scale to add but it’s just a very rough photoshop anyway! ). The white is quite harsh against the neigbouring brick so I’d paint the render, maybe keeping the white surround around the upper window so it’s in keeping. Painting the garden wall if a change isn't in budget and defintely some greenery
G_ Unit thanked minnie101
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Eliza Gray Gardens
2 years ago
If amending the windows is too expensive, look at greening up the front garden. A bit of height with planting (no trees next to the house though), with a climber such as evergreen jasmine (trachelospermum jasminoides) or evergreen clematis armandii across the bit above the window will help.
G_ Unit thanked Eliza Gray Gardens
Bambi T
2 years ago
Plant wisteria growing up it?! My answer to everything!
G_ Unit thanked Bambi T
G_ Unit
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Thanks you all for your comments, food for thought and direction to further explore.

I couldn't visualise how the windows would improve so thanks @minnie101 for the mock up. I was focusing on the need for the surround but even just having taller windows could work.

Would it be a window/ installer or builder that would make the opening larger and fit the lintel (appreciate I'd need a structural engineer to calculate the loads etc).
Bambi T
2 years ago
Both I think!
G_ Unit thanked Bambi T
J
2 years ago
If it used to be a shop there may well be a lintel higher up already
G_ Unit thanked J
G_ Unit
Original Author
2 years ago
That's possible as in the bedroom above the floor steps up in to window the bay area.
cavgirl
2 years ago
Could you use contrasting cladding above the door? Or even simply paint to evoke the style and contrasts you see in the other houses. That together with the taller windows might do the trick. By the way, I had a new front door put into my Edwardian end terrace. The light above the door had been removed but I had it put back and I think it only added a couple of £100 to the price. I’d also be tempted to look at how you use your hall and consider whether the original bay couldn’t be restored. There may be other approaches that allow you to have the best of both worlds.
G_ Unit thanked cavgirl
G_ Unit
Original Author
2 years ago
Thanks cavgirl - good to know that the light above the door, was a couple of hundred - this is helpful. Great idea about contrasting cladding/paint.

In terms of reinstating the bay, my reluctance has been the position of the door into the front room from the hallway, as this is currently in the middle of hallway. I am going to mark it out to visualise how much space will be left and perhaps the light above the door will improve the feeling of space also. Thanks

Improve curb appeal

Sarah U-S

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Daisy England

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