Last weekend, we celebrated my niece Isla and my nephew Clay’s dedication. It was so special to see both of those sweet faced babies up there in their parents arms as Norn & Boots promised to teach them to love others and to love Jesus. The best part was hanging out afterwards. My sister invited us all over for a cookout and during normal conversation, my little brother told me that he was thinking about fixing up the outside of his house.
The problem was that he and his girlfriend had a difference of opinion on how it should look. That’s the name of the game folks….we always have a difference of opinion. And this my friends is why Photoshop tutorials should be part of premarital counseling.
Tim sent me a couple photos and what he thought they both thought. Then being the bossy big sister I am, I told him what I thought he should do.
Okay – so here is his house. He can’t paint the siding. The roof is new. He doesn’t want to invest a bunch of money in taking out the brick or the stone steps and he said that the landscaping is fine. Basically this was a foreclosure that he doesn’t want to over-improve. So all that being said….here we go…
This is his girlfriend’s idea – painting the shutters, the columns and the arch with a dark brown. It’s okay but I think the overhead archway is way too bulky to be painted.
Tim’s opinion was that it should be painted lighter neutral like a medium gray. Again…too bulky. I think the shutters don’t pop enough.
So here’s my opinion. Instead of going brown or gray….go black. With the yellow siding, everything looked so washed out. I think that the black shutters is like the eyeliner on the face of the house. And I totally nixed the idea of painting the arch or columns. I think they should stay blended in with the siding. Then instead of investing any time or effort into the front door or front porch….I would spend about $50 and update the garage area. In the original photo, you can see the light is old…so a quick $20 would update that…and then I would add some cheap carriage door hardware just to add some style to the big front facing garage doors.
I told Tim that if he wanted to spend any other money that I would update the front door hardware. Other than that, I think that when it comes to first houses, it’s better to throw money into improving bathrooms and kitchens.
So what do you think?
LOVE! Definitely go with the black shutters. We had those plastic shutters that were held on with clips at our old house. We spray painted them (over 2 years ago) and they are holding up just fine!
http://www.createprettyblog.com/2012/09/finishing-outside-shutters.html
The front door is screaming for some color too. Love the hardware on the garage.
Love your look the best, Katie, but how about adding a “cargola” like the Petersiks did to their second house? There’s just too much empty space above the garage door and an enhanced light fixture still wouldn’t be enough to visually weight that space. Love your shopping skills, Katie!
first thoughts:
*Color match the shutters to either of the visible roof colors.
*Paint the brick to match the siding, or figure out a way to incorporate the brick red color in another way (maybe the shutters go brick red?)
*Add a pergola around the garage, YHL-second-house-style.
I agree with you…black shutters are timeless…my favorite and the hard one the garage would dress it up considerably.
I think the trim around the roof, garage doors and windows should also go dark, but I agree with not painting the arch around the door. I can’t tell if the front door is wood or painted, but if it’s painted it would be nice for it to be a third color to add some depth. Personally, I would probably whitewash or paint the brick, but I’m also not a big fan of brick.
Here’s the “cargola”: http://images.younghouselove.com/2013/04/Pergola-Before-And-After.jpg
I would do it in black and plant some creeping vines to build up the visual weight and interest above the garage doors.
I love your ideas and rendering. The brick sticks out a bit too much for me, though. I usually hate it when people paint brick because you can never go back, but I wonder if adding some whitewashing (or grey-washing) to play off of the roof color would look good. Hey – it’s photoshop… sky’s the limit, right?
Ditto, ditto, and ditto. The only thing I would add (and this is only if they don’t open the windows on the top floor) is to remove the dark window screens. If you throw open the windows a lot, leave them in, but if not, that’s what garage storage is for.
OK, just to add… I know the landscaping is fine, and it is, but I think the big square bush at the front of the walkway should have that corner softened just a bit. You could round out the bush, or just replace with a curved edge border of plants.
I totally agree! I love the garage hardware and the colors look great in your version (their versions are nice too, but yours is a little more balanced). Pretty house!! Congrats to your fam.
I totally agree with you. They could maybe add a window box under the window over the garage. Trim the shrubs a bit, add some more colorful landscaping. I think that would do a better job of changing up things without painting the porch area.
I agree with you totally. The archway and columns should NOT be painted a different color!
I love your taste! With apologies to your brother and his girlfriend, but I think your suggestions have much better curb appeal…
Definitely Black!! and don’t paint the Arch/Columns. I like your idea, the simple on the outside of an already fine house is what it’s gonna take to increase the “Curb appeal”
Plus, the black shutters coordinate with the roof of that bay-window, which ties it all together.
What about painting the garage doors to match the shutters?
Black shutters are the way to go! It makes everything look so clean and updated. I’d also definitely keep the columns and doorway white. Looking good!
And this is why I need you to come make over my house! If i owned it that is. You have the gift! I agree hands down!!! Painting the archway looks Awful!!! Black for the win!!! 🙂
Your idea is my favourite
Although possibly go a little more chunky on the hardware on the garage doors to beef it up a little more like the rest of the features on the house!?
Leaving the columns white is definitely the way to go!!
I like your suggestion the best, but I’d also paint the front door, probably burgundy or slate blue for a little pop of color.
Black shutters are the best idea. And paint the front door too! Something to bring light to that dark area.
Maybe some nice house numbers in black in the archway area? Good for safety, not expensive and would break up all that white area.
Your ideas are the best. Such an improvement.
Good call on the black shutters. What about some kind if architectural detail on the garage? There is just too much siding there above the garage doors. Even, maybe adding some wider molding around the garage doors. Something that could hang on the siding would be easy.
And I really thing adding some more interest to the landscaping would go a long way. Trimming the bushes down, away from the bay window and a little color could add so much.
That’s my two cents anyhow 🙂
Jennie
Yes go black! I wouldn’t do the columns or the arch either, and a big chunky new light to replace the old one would be great.
I actually hate the carriage door hardware, but I haven’t ever seen them on a house I like them on.
I think $30 and a can of paint to that door would also help a a lot. It’s just so dark. Maybe a peacock blue or a bright red.
We added black vinyl shutters to our ranch this year and it makes a world of difference in curb appeal so I like your simple solution #3.
Totally agree with the black shutters & updated garage area. If they still wanted to do something more they could add a pop of color by painting the front door.
Love the mock ups! What about adding some other pieces to make it more of a carriage garage door?
Fake windows – http://www.apinterestaddict.com/2013/07/18/creating-a-faux-carriage-garage-door/
Faux wood – http://www.prodigalpieces.com/2013/10/diy-faux-wood-garage-door-tutorial.html
Or even all black garage doors…?!?
Your idea wins hands down! Painting the arch & columns makes them look so heavy and the house feels like it might fall forward or something. Anyway, I love your idea, plus the black is so classic!
On board with your version 100% (although I wouldn’t mind dark grey shutters, maybe). I would totally not paint the arch and columns! And the strap hinges on the garage doors look great, in my opinion. Looks like a great house!
I prefer the shutters being painted brown but I feel the overhead archway should be kept white. 😉
So it’s 50/50 to your brothers girlfriend and you!!
http://vodkaandarose.blogspot.co.uk
Totally agree with you Katie. Especially about NOT painting the bulky arch. And I love the black shutters and carriage trim on the garage..
I like yours the best, as far as I can tell from the pictures your color matches with the roof and it does pop! I agree with you 100% not to paint the arch and columns.
I’m with you on the black shutters and leaving the arch and columns as is. The garage light needs a bigger fixture as the little one there looks dinky in all that broad space. The carriage hardware is a nice touch. I would also put some pretty flowers down that slope in front of that first brick walk wall, and remove that mysteriously tall bush between the front door and the garage. Its going to interfere with the fascia and gutters soon and isn’t providing enough balance.
I like your suggestions. Black is a good neutral color and leaving the rest that white/cream color is best. I would also suggest picking a red color from the brink to paint the front door. At least then it would tie in the brick in the front without having to go over board. I think switching out the hardware then would be a good suggestion.
I agree with you whole-heartedly, Katie! The carriage doors hardware is a must; such a great idea! And the black shutters pop perfectly. It all looks classy. Please, I beg you, don’t let them paint the arch/columns, oh dear, NO. That would be a big mistake! People would drive by and wonder what those new owners were thinking.
You could also paint just the columns black? I would have to see it to know for sure 😉 Good job bossy big sister!!
I think a whole new front door and replacing the windows beside it would be worth the $$ as well. And that tall overgrown bush next to the front door has got to go, too!
I agree with most posters here about bringing some color to the front door and not painting the arches. It’s so DARK around the entry with the red brick, the big bushes, and the dark wood door and then so LIGHT at the garage with zero color. If there could be some balance (remove those bulky bushes and bring in colored flowers and some potted leafy plants behind it on the porch and then paint the garage doors maybe a subtle grey/brown color), it may help to even out the “heaviness” of one side and the “lightness” of the other. I was also thinking the same as someone else said here about whitewashing the brick to tone down the red a little bit may be a fun idea. You’ll have to show us more options via Photoshop! Looks like a BEAUTIFUL home!!!
Yep, agree with you 100%! I don’t mind the brick but I don’t like the colour of the siding. I think white siding would look so much nicer with that brick. But, you are right, spending money on kitchens and bathrooms is better thinking.
I totally agree. I think it looks great, black is the way to go.
He says he doesn’t want to over-improve but there’s not much improvement with the Photoshopped pics either. It helps a tiny bit but a bigger impact is needed. Whitewash or tone down all that red brick. It’s very distracting. I know he doesn’t want to do anything with the landscaping but photoshop at least that huge squarish corner one by the walkway out. Show him what a small landscaping change can make. That sad little light above the garage doors… ugh. To really make that better, put three lights up, one one either side of the garage doors and one in the middle.
Wait. Hold up. Who cares about the house..Hot Tim has a girlfriend?!?! My heart just bled a bit… 😉
Totally agree with what you did (who knew about garage hardware like this)! Those front bushes are screaming at me. They look overgrown and distract from the front of the house. Cut them out and put in cheap mulch and a few small plants. If money is truly an object there is no need to even change the size/shape of the beds.
I like yours the best. Only other thing I would add is a new light on the garage. Something a little larger and beefier. That’s all!
If they MUST paint, I like yours best of the options shown, but it’s still not doing it for me. Perhaps if you changed the door color? But to be honest, I think the house looks bigger in its existing color. The contrasting accents chop it up and make it look smaller (are the shutters too small?). If it were me, I’d try to find some other way to add interest. First thing I’d do is add a shallow pergola over the garage for architectural interest. They can grow vines on it, if so inclined. And then I’d work on the landscaping to take your eye where you want it to go. I don’t think the color is necessarily the problem, I’d focus on enhancing the sense of scale it already has. You can accomplish a lot with landscaping and add a lot of curb appeal at the same time..
Black shutters, new garage light, no garage door HW though – perhaps paint the garage doors.
The big bushes to the left-front of the brick and in the middle of the house brick are overgrown and need to GOW-HO!!!
Black is BEST! The garage doors look fine w/o black handles.
Maybe add some red pots on the porch and red flowers in place of the old bushes.
I agree with you. Don’t paint the porch. I think black shutters are classic.
I was just about to suggest that! This house is begging for a Cargola! It would break up the front of the house and soften it up.
I like yours best! I would also add some windows to the garage doors. And consider some colorful flowers or plants to add more interest/dimension to the landscaping.
Like the idea of the black shutters to match the roof. However, I just don’t think that makes the house pop. There really needs to be a big pop of color- colorful pots, porch furniture, front door! A teal or lime green or red door would do a lot.
As some others have stated, I also don’t like the brick color. It would be a lot of work to take it out, but painting it or disguising it would help.
The bushes on the side of the walkway are too big, and not attractive. I hate those darn bushes. I’d take them out or make them smaller. I think adding some colorful shrubs or flowers to the front of the brick would help.
Cant wait to see the finished product!
p.s. you don’t need to publish this comment – it’s just a friendly personal note: because there are so many scary people on the internet i would black out or blur your family’s license plate and re-upload the photos. better to err on the side of caution when it comes to the internet!
I agree that the brick sticks out too much. I wouldn’t want to see the brick painted, but maybe have the door and/or shutters a complement color to the brick.
That is nice of you to help them out! My first thought was paint the shutters dark green and trim the bushes. (Although I also like the grey shutter option, if they left the arch/columns.)
And Theresa had a good idea about adding large house numbers on the door arch.
I like the black the best! I agree, don’t paint the columns or arch. It’s too much. Maybe paint the garage door too? And the front door a red tone that goes with the brick.
I like the black and the arch doesn’t look right painted. The front door desperately needs some impact. A bright color to come through the gloomy entry way. And just taking out the bushes around the bay window would go faaaaaaar in opening up the front of the house and making it more appealing. If they can’t afford any replacement landscaping just put down some mulch and leave it empty. It will still look better than the overgrown and outdated bushes.
I would paint only the shutters as you suggested, but in a colour that matches the roof- a grey-brownish colour. I think the black is way too harsh against the yellow. I would replace the garage light for something really big, and skip the garage hardware altogether, and put that money towards a new front door handle.
I like your idea but i’d add in painting the garage doors a dark color as well!
I think any of the shutter colors work as long as the columns stay white. I think painting the columns by the door would be a big mistake. I love the idea of sprucing up the garage area.
They are going to get tons of ideas! I like yours best, especially the garage part. But I dont like the door. It may be a me thing but those cut glass type doors seem dated to me and not in a good way. But thats going to be money and your right. They would probably get a bigger bang in the bath or kitchen.
I agree with the black shutters as well. I think the front door could use some updating too. A new front door altogether would probably look best, but at least a change of color. Maybe a bright yellow… or give the grey a try there.
Thought I liked the girlfriends at first. Didn’t care for the brothers at all. But, ding, ding, ding, I like your version the best.
Big sister knows best. 🙂
It’s not his license plate…it’s an old roommates car that they don’t even own anymore. But thanks for the lookout!
xo – kb
Sorry to break the news that way!
xo – kb
Yes but putting three lights up means that he would quadruple his cost. I don’t think in his neighborhood that it would pay off in the end.
xo – kb
Definitely your idea!
Yours looks great. 🙂
You could also change out the black screen for a silver or less noticeable screen. This is a really easy and cheap fix.
This was my thought as soon as I saw the pictures. It would look so pretty against the house.
I agree with you… plus either white wash or paint white the bricks!
Yours looks the best, however I’d also add painting the front door to help make it ‘pop’ a bit more under that dark, covered entryway. Red would be nice or….? Not sure what else, red is my favourite colour, lol! I’d also tear out those big bushes out front and put something less obtrusive. They really overwhelm the front of the house, imho. Lovely house for a first home though…lucky them! 🙂
That arch is screaming for some trim detailing (painted black like the shutters you suggested) around the perimeter and house numbers in the middle (or a wreath or more decorative trim maybe). I think the arch needs something, but a large dark painted area is not the answer.
I am loving all the suggestions! To me the brick doesn’t “stick out,” it provides some nice texture. Maybe if they went with the pergola over the garage, staining it a reddish cedar color would add to the texture and balance out the brick retaining wall. And I want to second the motion to trim back the bushes… letting those windows breathe free will give the house a lot more presence.
Ooh, and then they would be able to add some window boxes under the bay windows for a little more texture and interest! Flowers or even just greenery… A bright chartreuse sweet potato vine or hosta, maybe?
It sounds like painting the shutters is unanimous. (I vote that way too!) I hope they’ll let you share an update after they make their changes!
I think you’re right to stay away from the arches as that could easily overwhelm the rest of the house. I also like that you turned some attention to the garage area. How about doing a three color scheme? I think it would be great to add more interest to the current plan by painting the trim and the garage doors. I’m not sure black is best as I think it’s pretty harsh. But a dark grey would be lovely. Then also paint the garage doors, but something lighter. Also, the front door could use some more color. I know, I just tripled the painting work 🙁
Like yours the best… But the front door needs a different color. Something to pop out at you. I also think the light over the garage needs to be bigger… But what if he did something like Jon and sherry did over their last homes carport. It would break up that huge garage wall. I know he does not want to change the landscaping but color in front of those bricks would help as well as trimming those big bushes. Just my thoughts. Ha
Black is the best, great pop! I would not paint the garage doors because what color would you do? Yes to the carriage trim pieces, Katie you’ve nailed it.
I definitely agree with you about not painting the columns & portico, but I think maybe instead of black, go with something in between your brother’s choice and yours – a dark gray – maybe even SW Urbane Bronze to marry all three. I’d also paint the garage doors a darker/wood toned color to tie back into the front door and I’d actually paint out the brick too. The red is too dark and pulls your eye immediately there – maybe a lighter version of whatever you do the shutters in? He may not mind the landscaping, but if it were my house the hedges would go bye bye and I’d add in some color with plants. Such a cute house – please share pictures when they decide what to do!!
I think you know best!!!
Yep, I love your idea! It also works best with the roof color, too. I also agree with not painting the arch or columns. I also agree with the comments about trimming the hedge in front of the bay window. It’s a cute house! Congratulations to your brother!
I love your picture of the garage makeover – and I agree the shutters should be painted dark (not sure what kind of dark however).
I would also do something about the door area – not change the door and not paint the arch but maybe lighten it up somehow? A colorful lamp, a flower? I don’t know, but it looks so dark, not very inviting.
I really like the contrast of the black and the yellow. I agree with the other posters….definitely do not paint the columns or the arch. I also agree the front door needs to be lightened up so it shows up. Right now it just looks like a dark hole.
I like your paint suggestions the best. to gussey up the arch maybe put a decal with their street number? (Sarah’s house season one did this) or some really cool metal numbers? String art numbers!!!!
Your idea is the best!! Looks so much better!
I like yours best, but I would also want to tone down the brick some. Seems like it is a perfect candidate for white washing to make it work better with the house.