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Design Dilemma Renovating Exteriors

How could I improve the look of front of our house?

last month

Hi, we can't work out what to do to improve the look of the front of our house or would you keep as it is?. I've attached the back as well as we don't want too much of a contrast. Underneath the tiles and cladding is just blockwork, so we can't go to brick. We'd really appreciate any advice :)

Featured Answer

lspendl 828

25 days ago

I think a mono pitch roof across the front would look good (like Sarah L is suggesting , I think). The little peak above the door looks too small to me for such a large frontage.

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Comments (42)

Sarah L
last month
Definitely replace the hanging tiles with render or cladding like the rear
Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
Thanks Sarah, I did do a mock up of the cladding from the rear over the tiles and think it would stand out too much on our street
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Paint the doors black matt and the fames cream add silver crome door furniture. Huge silver mirror above the covered radiator then add a runner of any colour you like and match it with the lamps and lighting. hey presto done.
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Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
What do you think to this?
Sarah L
last month
I'm not keen on that. I think white rendered houses look better with dark windows.
Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
Yes, I think you're right. We can't afford to replace all the windows though. Would cream render work?
Sarah L
last month
I found this image of a rendered house similar to yours that looks good. Not sure what the colour is, could be an off-white or pale grey. I still think some cladding on the front would be nice.
tamp75
last month
I’m not so sure about the two colours of brick on the front. Could you keep the red brick & render the rest in a toning colour? Also, not sure if it’s just the photo, but getting the roof & the front overhang tiles cleaned would smarten it up.
Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
It's had a new main roof, but still need to add the lower new roof, more up to date photo. It is actually stone cladding to the right. Think if I render the right brick coloured it will never match up to the brick on the left
Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
Sterling white looks a nice colour
chloeloves
last month
I would give the stone cladding a good jet wash it looks like it has gone green over time - you might find the colours better after a good clean. Looks like you are proposing to enlarge the little slit windows which will help. Are you thinking of updating the curved windows and front door?
Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
Yes, it will need a new front door. Looking at widening the hallway to have a door with side glass. The curved window will need replacing soon. Cladding has gone green, but as the back needs rendering I feel that the back will as well to tie it in.
irenacoales
last month
If it was my house, I would make a veranda with wooden decking. It can be styled very nicely with plants, lanterns,.... maybe trellis on side.
Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
I like the idea of a veranda, but would the living room darker at the front.
Robert Colder
Original Author
last month
What are your thoughts on this lovely people? (Off white for render though)
Robert Colder
Original Author
28 days ago
Does this look OK with a porch?
siobhanmcgee90
28 days ago
Im sorry but the porch does not sit well with the rest of the structure. There’s a pokey little space to the left, nothing lines up and there is no symmetry. If you are rendering the back then do the same on the new build on the left. Then either extend this across or add larch, cedar or composite cladding on the right original building. Now you are replacing the slit windows, are you making all 3 on that side of the building match?
Robert Colder
Original Author
28 days ago
Thanks Siobhan, we aren't going to render the back now (changing the rear steel to add brick). We don't really want to render the front, but would like a open porch somehow. The cladding on the right is a issue. Was thinking keeping the hanging tiles and adding brick slips to replace the cladding. Not sure best how to do a porch. The two slit windows will be a bit smaller than the adjacent (feature) window on the stairs.
Robert Colder
Original Author
27 days ago
Would a porch like this look ok for our house?
Robert Colder
Original Author
26 days ago
Canopy or no canopy? Any comments gratefully received.
Shimaa M
26 days ago
Wise Porch will look nice.
And can you paint all the bricks same colour ? The green/black bit looks odd. Unless you make the porch matching colour
Shimaa M
26 days ago
I mean *Wide porch
Robert Colder
Original Author
26 days ago
The black is hanging tiles. Would it look better of the 3 windows on the right were the same size?
Sarah L
26 days ago
I think a canopy with a roof like your low roof (in Rightmove image) would be good. And make all 3 windows the same size and style if possible.
Robert Colder
Original Author
25 days ago
Thanks All. Does this look OK? The two windows on the right are into a bathroom, so we can't make them as big as the other feature window with stain glass, especially as the bathroom has a toilet right next to a window.
siobhanmcgee90
25 days ago
It’s definitely better to reduce the materials to 2 if you can match the bricks. The windows jar as it would be better to have some symmetry across that section. Power wash the driveway and add some large pots with olive or bay trees to soften the front. Would you need a step at the front door.
Robert Colder
Original Author
20 days ago
We're going to rejig the layout, moving the front door where the study was going to be. Please could I have your thoughts on window sizes and cladding? We are thinking of keeping the windows the same size except the bow window. Brick slips would go on the bottom right with a central bunt red cladding on the top right. Or would dark brown be better? There is no match with the rear light wood though, which might be a problem
Robert Colder
Original Author
20 days ago
Robert Colder
Original Author
20 days ago
With brown central cladding
lspendl 828
19 days ago
I think the front door looks better in this position - gives it more prominence. The window proportions look better too although I would replace the bow window for a flat one which would be more in keeping with the age of the house. I don’t think the front elevation has to match exactly to the back one.
Robert Colder
Original Author
19 days ago
Thanks Ispendl, really appreciate your comments. Do you think if we replaced the bow window for a flat one it is OK that it is bigger than window above? That window above is a bathroom window, but thought if it was made caller than shown it might look odd. Which is your preference on the coloured cladding, burnt red or dark brown? Do you think a sage green door matches OK? Many thanks
lspendl 828
18 days ago
I don’t mind the different widths of the bow window and the one above it. I think though, that the two windows at the bottom would look better if they were the same length (drop) if that were possible. I think a stronger door colour would look better - the one you’ve mocked up looks a bit wishy washy to me. Is that the safe green one you’re referring to? I’m really not an expert though so I hope someone else joins in.
Sarah L
18 days ago
I'd try to match the cladding with the door to give a more cohesive look
Robert Colder
Original Author
18 days ago
Thanks Ispendl and Sarah, I agree with both your comments. We're thinking to make the whole of the right side brick slips as we can't agree on a suitable cladding. Do you think it would look better if we make the downstairs window on the left bigger as the right-hand side is window heavy?
lspendl 828
18 days ago
Yes I prefer that look and the windows do look more balanced.
Robert Colder
Original Author
17 days ago
Thanks, me too, maybe it needs an archway above the window too...
Robert Colder
Original Author
17 days ago
*door
lspendl 828
17 days ago
That looks good but equally good without it. Sometimes simplicity is best but I say that as someone who has a mono pitched roof on my porch. I think that’s down to personal opinion.
siobhanmcgee90
17 days ago
It looks much better without Robert.
Robert Colder
Original Author
16 days ago
Thanks both, I haven't seen a mono roof above a door before with a gutter above, and was worried it might leak down, but good to know it's fine without. What do you think to the blue colour for the front door?
Sarah L
16 days ago
I like the blue. It's stand out better against the red brick than a red door.
Robert Colder
Original Author
16 days ago
Thanks Sarah

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