Dear Homework,
Our contemporary home has served us well for many years, but now we feel like it’s time for an update. Could you give us suggestions to dramatically improve the appearance of our property while maintaining its modern feel?
Sincerely,
—Modern Makeover
Dear Modern Makeover,
Your well-maintained home has good bones, but there are a number of things we could do here to impact the overall presentation. The biggest change would be to raise the height of the living room windows to create a focal point for the composition. This also draws the eye to the recessed entry. To further highlight this area, I’ve added a bold, modern urn brimming with colorful plantings. A more interesting custom garage door improves the appearance of this prominent feature.
You also will notice a more geometric approach to the landscaping. A Japanese maple anchors the corner area and does not hide the long, dramatic windows. The rest of the landscaping is kept very low and horizontal.
A new, rhythmic row of paver blocks adds an architectural detail while allowing entry past parked cars. The final change would be to paint the brick with a beige wash to give it a crisper, more modern feel, which the mottled, variegated nature of the existing brick doesn’t convey. These changes give the composition a new presence while maintaining the home’s essence.
Hope that helps,
—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.
