Dear Homework,
I recently purchased this ‘Christmas Charmer’ with its MASH green siding. What are your thoughts on neutralizing the brick and siding? I also see a need for reworking the landscaping and adding a fence on the side along the new patio in back. I would love your ideas on what you envision for this dated home with loads of potential. Sincerely,
—From Cutie to Beauty
Your house has an engaging cuteness that I’m sure many would find appealing. My hope will be to show you how to build on that charm without turning the house into a toy. I will first observe that the two ground floor windows are of different sizes. I think it would be within the character of the house to treat them differently by taking the shutters and window box off the smaller of the two. This makes the façade more unique, cottage-like and less Colonial-looking.
Other architectural changes include a new roof with more character, a new carriage-style garage door, and a front door color change that picks up the terra cotta of the bricks. Next, a lusher, flowing landscape scheme plays on the residence’s informal feel while at the same time framing it from its neighbors and drawing the eye along the entire width of the property, making the composition feel wider.
To recap: I have left the brick and siding alone and have used the roof, terra cotta color trim and landscape colors to pull everything together.
Hope you like it, and thanks for asking.
—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 ]