Dear Homework,
We recently bought this house in Olivette, which needs some exterior love and attention. The teal door and exposed electrical box near the front left window don’t do the house justice. We know it has a lot of potential, but need some guidance for replacing and adding features, especially a new door and landscaping. Any advice is appreciated!
Thank you,
To-teally Perplexed
Dear To-Teal-Ly Perplexed,
I agree that having a utility meter next to the front door is unfortunate, and while the design of the door looks very ’80s suburbia, I think the color is fine … at least it provides a much needed accent. Beyond that, let’s look at three schemes for possible alterations.
scheme 1
In the first, I focus on your suggestion of changing the landscaping and door. A new clipped-yew hedge at the entry would screen the utility meter and draw the eye to the front door. By flanking the front door with upright evergreens and painting the door red, the entry becomes the most prominent feature of the elevation and helps balance the composition. New planting that creates a continuous flow further ties the scheme together.
scheme 2
To my eye, the porch area could still use more emphasis. In the second scheme, I show adding a shallow, pediment-type overhang supported by carved brackets. I also include two low brick walls with lanterns to screen the meter and give some depth to the façade. The front door has been replaced with a more colonial one.
scheme 3
In the final scheme, more extensive architectural additions are employed. A columned front porch with a copper roof really grabs the eye. A new white fence not only hides the meter, but also adds an interesting detail. The dormer windows are also made more memorable, and a new garage cupola joins a decorative fountain on the right, to balance the feeling of completeness. A hedge at the street frames the new, more elaborate composition.
All these changes improve the home in many ways, but I also should point out that it may be easier just to move the meter to the side of the house! Good luck with your changes.
-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.]
