Exterior makeover

5 months ago

We are considering making an offer on this house but are put off by the very austere exterior and are at a loss of what to do to improve it. It needs softening up and we also need to include some planting to absorb some of the road noise. We are happy to change the sliding gates to accommodate a hedge and throw some money at the project. Has anyone got any suggestions please?

Featured Answer

Jonathan

5 months ago

I’m going to echo earlier comments, the tarmac looks lower quality than the house and there is too much of it. If it were my house I would:-
1/ remove the tarmac in front of the front door and window in order to have a wide stone path and lots of greenery. I would also create a border on the side fence.
2/ I would resurface the drive with something that looks higher end- perhaps pressed concrete, block paving or resin?
3/ I would paint the garage door and front door in a prettier colour.
4/ paint the side fence in with a stone colour or a pale version of whatever you choose for the garage door colour. I would also add slim planting on the side fence which means pleached trees or climbers such as clematis.
5/ I would replace the window above the garage door- personally I think three vertical divisions would be nicer proportions.
6/ I like the front of the house to have welcoming lighting. I would have wall lights both sides of the front door and the garage door. I would have dawn to dusk sensors.
I would also have additional lights such as an illuminated house number on the gate so that deliveries and ambulances can find you in the dark. And spotlights that spill light across the drive so your security cameras get a better picture quality at night.

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Comments (12)

Isla Cherry
5 months ago
A hedge is a lovely idea but I also like your gates. Very secure but great visability. I think I would paint the garage and front door a lighter colour closer to the colour of the house. I would also remove some of that paving close to the house and add a lot of plants. That garage door is very large to be so dark. Depending on your parking requirements you could also add bushes along the drive further in from the hedge.
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
5 months ago
Thank you Isla
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Point noted. Four different colours at the moment. Black, brown, white and the garage door. All okay alone, but all four together do seem to be a little out of balance. I suppose the windows and front door are UPVC, so painting them would be out of the question and replacing them would be costly, so that would remain as the starting point. The side door next to the garage door - does it lead into the garage and if so is it necessary? A skilled bricklayer could brick that up or a (white UPVC) window could replace it with a panel either also in white UPVC or coloured to match the cladding from waist to ground level would complete that space nicely. With the side door sorted we are down to 3 colours. I can't help thinking the panelling looks nice in black but I think a black garage door would be rather gloomy, so perhaps a white garage door? An alternative would be grey and grey panelling but getting the shade right would be hard. Depending on the neighbourhood (near the sea perhaps?) you could be quite playful with the garage door and the cladding - anything from pastel colours through to a rich dark red even. It is nice to see a house where there are so many options really. So many simply don't appear to lend themselves to anything but one single colour, either white or wood. To be spoiled for choice is a luxury really. Please do post pictures of the finished product.
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Sonia
5 months ago
The house looks lovely, it’s just the expanse of tarmac/concrete that is a bit “prison yard”. You could dig out some flowerbeds under the front window and plant some small shrubs there, things like Hebe, Skimmia, Euonymous and Cistus. At the front I think a trio of Himalayan Silver Birch trees would look good. I can’t see what fencing there is so maybe not too close to it. Or if you have the budget how about installing a resin bound drive? My sister has it and it looks like normal gravel but tidier! It wasn’t cheap but it does look good and it’s bouncy underfoot. I like the gates and they are pretty expensive things.
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
5 months ago
Thank you as well
Jonathan
5 months ago
And the bins need a home out of sight
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
5 months ago
Wow thank you for taking the time to give such detailed feedback and what great ideas
PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
5 months ago
Hi Elaine

Just a quick couple of comments here.
1. I agree - the problem here is the driveway occupies all the space and makes it look like a prison yard as someone else said.
2. I would make large planting beds, not narrow ones. Larger beds enable you to plant a good mix of shrubs and perennials that will really make a difference to the feel of the space, particularly if you can add in a small to medium tree. Narrow beds do not make for less maintenance, on the contrary the plants quickly outgrow the space and flop forward onto the drive. They then need regular cutting back which creates work and also makes them look ugly and hacked about. Give them space to flourish and keep their shapes! Larger plants will also fit with the scale of the large front garden. Use different heights and sizes of plants to create layers and more interest.
3. Most drive surfaces rely on a robust edging to maintain their strength and integrity. I think the photo looks like yours a driveway blocks, which definitely do. If you change the shape of the drive with planting beds, ensure you have a good strong edging put back in place or the drive will breakup.
4. If you are replacing the drive, make sure it is a permeable surface as this is now a legal requirement.
5. Just to warn you, plants do not reduce road noise. They have lots of air spaces in them and so the sound just passes through. Only solid objects like well made wooden fences will reduce sound.
6. I would keep the gate - it would be expensive to remove and once your planting is in, it will look fine. Consider an evergreen hedge behind the fence for screening.
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
5 months ago
Thank you Peter. Appreciate your comments. I think the drive is some sort of tarmac. I would rather not replace the gates but they slide across to let you in and I thought that would stop me putting a hedgerow up?. I did not appreciate the point about small and big borders. We are not keen gardeners but did want to allow visitors to park on the drive as there is little parking nearby and so are a bit restricted in that respect.
PRO
Peter Reader Landscapes
5 months ago
No - that is fair enough.

You can plant a hedge behind where the gate slides too. Just make sure there is enough space for the gate runner not to get caught in the hedge, and keep the hedge clipped.
Elaine Crittenden
Original Author
5 months ago
Thank you Peter

Exterior makeover

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Isla Cherry

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Sonia

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Peter Reader Landscapes

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Elaine Crittenden
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