Dear Homework,
This Creve Coeur ranch has served our family’s needs well for the past 49 years. We would like to give the home a refresh but don’t know where to start. We want to replace the aluminum front porch columns, and we think our wide lot could handle a circle drive. Would that work with the unfortunate front-entry garage? We also would love some more storage in the garage. Can you help us get started?
Sincerely,
—Ready and Willing
Dear Ready and Willing,
Your house has a casual formality that I want to enhance. I would tone down the impact of the front-facing garage by implementing your desired circle driveway. The existing straight drive draws one’s eyes to the façade’s least-handsome feature! The new circle drive, with its curved brick wall and landscaping, both hides the garage door and blends the architecture with the landscape better.
In addition, I have added a new storage area for the garage, which is accented with a round window. This new ‘bumped out’ element further diminishes the prominence of the garage door.
You also will note more formal and continuous foundation plantings that play up the façade’s formal nature. The current black and white color scheme works well, but a bright red front door adds an accent and draws the eye to the front porch with new columns.
It sounds like your house has earned its makeover. Hope you like the new look.
—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.
