Dear Homework,
The front of our Georgian home is lacking in style. The white trim around windows and doors doesn’t seem to complement the dark brick, and the front door color seems off as well. We also were thinking a carport would complement the style of the home and protect the cars from tree sap. How can we enhance the view and solve the exposed car issue?
— Georgian In Name Only
Dear Georgian In Name Only,
I guess I would call your house Georgian, too, but only because I couldn’t categorize it as anything else. Your front façade needs more detail and depth to feel more complete and convincing.
The existing front stoop is the perfect size for a simple, copper-roofed porch. Stout Doric columns and corner pilasters would complement the existing proportions of the architecture, and a more stone-colored paint would better blend with the brick color. A variegated, slate-colored roof completes the main body of the house.
On the garage wing, I suggest turning the existing two-car, front-entry garage into a rear-entry one, with a drive-through. I have no idea if you have room in back for a turn-around, but most neighborhood restrictions would prohibit the placement of a carport in front of the existing garage door. This new arrangement gives the façade a more up-market feel and adds some interesting details.
For the landscape, I would first insist on trimming the two front trees so that the elevation is not hidden. Next, I would extend the planting beds to the sides—it makes the façade feel wider and grander. The home now has some ‘oomph’ and justifies the name Georgian.
Thanks for asking,
—Homework
[HomeWork is penned by Paul Doerner, president, The Lawrence Group. If you would like your home critiqued, contact us at homework@townandstyle.com.]
