Dear Homework,
We would like to tackle the exterior of our Webster home. The dull, brown color scheme is hideous; the front structure is awkward; and the exposed concrete wall beneath the windowed porch is an eyesore.I adore the New England color schemes on so many houses these days: warm grays, white-trimmed windows and black shutters. The brick: to paint or not to paint? We have so many ideas for the exterior, like building dormers on a third story, building a porch with a double front door, adding a circle drive to the yard, landscaping the wall beneath the windowed porch, and on and on. We simply don’t know where to begin.
Please help us give our warm and lovely home the exterior it deserves.
Sincerely,
—Complete the Picture
Your submission allows me to make a point to our readers about foundation planting, which is that sometimes you don’t need any and sometimes you need a lot.
In this case, the brick of the main section of the house extends all the way to the ground line and therefore does not necessarily need to be modified. On the other hand, the foundation of the sunroom is a disaster, and needs to be completely hidden. In other words, in this situation, the foundation planting is all in the wrong place.
That said, your desire for a more New England look can easily be achieved. If you want gray siding, the brick should be white washed to blend better with the siding. I show a solid, white picket fence to hide the sunroom foundation, as well as upgraded landscaping to pull the parts together. A new circle drive would look fine with this scheme. A better detailed entry porch is the final touch to make the picture complete.
—Homework
Homework is penned by Paul Doerner, founding partner of the Lawrence Group. If you would like your home critiqued, contact us at homework@townandstyle.com.