Dear Homework,
If you look at our house, it is very nice, but ‘forgettable.’ I would like to add some sophistication with a touch of whimsy but haven’t a clue how to do that—shutters, paint, plantings? The front porch has nothing on it now, but I would like some ‘wow’ factor to make it seem more welcoming without the typical dual planters and black door. We’re not afraid to make a statement, as long as it’s in good taste, but have no idea where to start. Please help us stand out in a good way.
Sincerely,
Where To Start To Stand Out
You have a nice, livable house that you would like to make look better. My usual recipe of shutters, window boxes and entry urns will have little impact here. Instead, we have to take a look at why this doesn’t quite work to clarify a possible direction.
This façade is oddly half-Tudor and half-Colonial. Since the Tudor elements (the steep roof slopes and asymmetrical massing) are more powerful than the weak Colonial detailing, we should make the house look more Tudor. A bold chimney element, entry steps and masonry garden wall decisively change the look. Filling in the arched porch neutralizes the façade’s most typical suburban element and lends a more classic ’20s feel. Detail changes to the living and dining room windows, new paint and roof color, plus more romantic landscaping complete the Tudor transformation. It now looks like a completely different and architecturally more powerful house.
These changes are probably more than you bargained for, but they show how some elevations are developed to only half their potential.
Thanks for asking.
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.]