Dear Homework,
We purchased a fantastic home in a short sale situation. We love the amazing interior and the ‘bones’ of the outside. Currently, we are looking at replacing the shrubbery, drive and also the siding. Enhancing the overall exterior feel of the home is our goal. Any advice would be wonderful!
Thank you,
—From Foreclosure to Formidable
I can imagine your excitement at finally closing on a house you love. It’s an added plus that there is much about the interior that works for you as well.
—Homework
Certainly the exterior could use some attention. In the first image you see my least elaborate suggestions. Replanting the hedges at the base of the columns is a must. Matching the two sides strengthens the symmetry of the façade, and keeping the hedges trimmed fairly low helps the façade and the columns feel taller. Additionally, I show large shade trees adjacent to the sidewalk to help frame the house and alleviate the barren feel of the existing property.
In the second image you see some architectural refinements. Adding three new dormer windows brings interest to the roofscape and makes the house feel more historically accurate. I also show a new central second-floor window that is smaller and more detailed, and again, is more historically accurate for an antebellum’ design. Finally, I show a dormer on the garage to help balance the entire façade. With these changes, the house takes on more of the feel of a house designed in the ‘20s or ‘30s.
In the final image, the property has received a completely new landscape with a formality that accentuates the architecture. A new oval lawn and hedges and a new side parking area add design impact and utility to the property. Painting the brick white pulls the whole façade together and underscores the antebellum feel. All three schemes are attractive. You can decide how far you want to take things.
[HomeWork is penned by Paul Doerner, president, The Lawrence Group. If you would like your home critiqued, contact us at homework@townandstyle.com]