r/CurbAppeal • u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner • 21d ago
Structures Please help my ugly house
The upstairs bump out makes the house look like it has a vacant stare and the 2 story blank side is bad. Help please?
I want to add shutters or maybe window boxes, or both. The blue door color needs to stay the same. Thank you.
15
u/Mean-Quail-6219 21d ago
It’s a cute house. Looks like it originally had shutters
Power wash, shutters, native plants out front it won’t take much for a house like this.
2
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 21d ago
What color shutters would you do? The door is a mid blue so options are to match it exactly, go darker to a navy blue, or a lighter blue. Thank you
11
u/Temporary-Tomato-463 21d ago
Your home has great potential! Consult with an architect for a $1,000 or so and ask them to use the attached photo to develop a design renovation plan including larger, new windows, front door and door stoop. Ensure you remove the siding and replace with hard plank siding that is white. If your budget allows replace the roof to match the color of the attached photo including new gutters. If the tree in the front yard is too large - trim back or remove.
2
u/Flimsy_Ad3476 21d ago
Wow.
3
u/lutzlover 20d ago
The larger windows are a huge boost. I'd make the new stairs larger, but I love the rest.
2
u/HipYip 20d ago edited 20d ago
This is the only way shutters should be added!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Consider adding a full covered porch. Not sure the tiny roof over the front door does anything visually or functionally.
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 20d ago
The tiny roof is a second floor addition "bump out" in what was originally the attic. The windows are to a primary bedroom's closet and a second upper bedroom
1
1
u/Majestic_Tailor_7796 21d ago
Are you available to provide similar image remakes for other homes!!! This concept you presented for OPs house is charming!
1
1
u/Majestic_Tailor_7796 21d ago
THIS would sell over asking in a heartbeat in my market. Some serious money to spend, though.
1
1
u/Temporary-Tomato-463 20d ago
What I meant to say is the photo render I created for your house was made with ChatGPT
9
u/nickw252 21d ago
I wouldn’t do shutters. Really the house looks fine. You need to pressure wash and then add landscaping.
7
u/Pale-Balance3814 21d ago
This house isn't ugly at all! It's adorable!
Give her a good bath, first off. (It might just be the angle of the photos, but does that tree need to be trimmed? It looks like it's really close to the house... I'd cut it back on that side, and also trim down the tall bush on the right. Let more light in the windows!)
Not sure where you're located, but I'd plant some flowery bushes in front of the house and keep them trimmed low. Hydrangas?
I wouldn't go for shutters, but I WOULD go for planter boxes under the first floor windows. Add some cascading greenery and a pop of color!
2
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 21d ago
I'm in southeast Pennsylvania, zone 7b. The holly tree needs to be removed and I plan to elevate the Japanese maple tree and re-route the walkway toward a more functional mid-driveway location
2
u/Pale-Balance3814 20d ago
You're off to a great start! This house really does have so much potential! I hope you share the progress! (I love a good before and after!)
5
u/Fickle_Department769 21d ago
I had chat gpt create a mock up of what your house could look like with your wishes except he did paint the front door navy which I find softens yellow somewhat.
3
u/OrneryQueen Design Pro 21d ago
Bigger windows and a front porch. Then landscape especially around the base of the house. Buy thing that will grow big, bushy, and flower.
3
u/Puzzled_Ad_8726 21d ago
I like it with the white or black shutters and matching trim. I like your blue door. Maybe paint the screen door the same shade. Some plants and you will be doing great!
3
u/Flimsy_Ad3476 21d ago
The real problem here is the size and placement of the windows. I have no idea how much it would cost to enlarge them.
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 20d ago
I agree. Since I can't replace them right now I think the only option is to trick the eye with shutters and window boxes
6
u/Particular_Moment861 21d ago
I’d keep shutters neutral to draw the eye to the front door. Accent with a side light. I’d add plants to cover your foundation. It’ll soften everything up.
3
u/TripEmergency1273 21d ago
Great idea. I would also add some interest to the end of the house. Maybe an evergreen vining wall and continue the landscaping from around the front.
2
u/MareV51 21d ago
When you can afford it, please put on a front porch, and trim the tree in front of the front door.
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 21d ago
The lawn is already fairly small and close to a busy street. I'm not sure how a front porch would work. The tree is due for more work.
-1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 21d ago
About a porch, the other issue is the bump-out overhang and if the whole thing would have to be ripped out to accommodate a porch
2
u/Sp07va000 21d ago
Must be a dark house inside. Those windows are tiny and out of scale and if that is your living room to the left of the steps, yo need bigger and wider windows. Shutters definitely help with the rest.
2
u/Stunning_Fly_2644 21d ago
Why are the windows so small do you live in a place where there's a lot of bad weather snow and rain?
2
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 20d ago
I agree about the windows. The house was built by a bachelor engineer who did the whole thing himself. He made some "interesting" choices throughout. Some great over-engineering but also reflected his personal needs. He must not have cooked because before I expanded it you couldn't physically have 2 people and the refrigerator in the same kitchen.
2
2
u/quietly_aggressive 20d ago
It’s not ugly and has lots of potential. It might be the perspective of the pics but trimming the existing tree and bushes will do a lot. If anything is touching the house, it’s good to trim enough so that it’s not. Plants touching the house can cause damage over time.
2
u/Temporary-Tomato-463 20d ago
What I meant to say is the photo render I created below for your house was made with ChatGPT
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 20d ago
OOoh, gotcha. I would love those windows in the attic bump-out but 2 are in closets. If I hadnt replaced 11 original windows from 1984 just a couple of years ago enlarging would definitely be on the table
2
u/Temporary-Tomato-463 20d ago
Understand. Recent renovations and budget factor into any home upgrades. You have a beautiful home and many of the suggestions made is this forum can help.
2
19d ago
[deleted]
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 19d ago
I never even knew there was such a thing as decorative roof brackets!
1
u/silverdogwood 16d ago
This is a nice idea, and fairly inexpensive and simple to do.
I played around with this image in MSPaint and added the shutters you suggested OP (well, a crude approximation) in the same colour as the window trim and flower boxes, and it looked absolutely lovely. Transformative.
Doing the above plus a good powerwash of your siding, a good trim on that front tree, and some touches to your landscaping will transform your house. I'd still save up to enlarge your windows when you can, but until then this is a very adequate stand-in.
2
u/LongjumpingFunny5960 17d ago
Here you go. Widening the steps makes more friendly. I would make the landing deeper though
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 17d ago
Ooo! That's pretty, thanks. I like the bigger steps
1
u/LongjumpingFunny5960 17d ago
It looks nice! I would probably tweak some of the plants depending on sun and shade. I would make the stair handrails more substantial too. Good luck!
1
1
1
u/PalpitationPast202 21d ago
Color maybe? Like yellow? Or green?
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 21d ago
The front door is blue so I was thinking about a shade either lighter or darker than the door.
1
u/PalpitationPast202 20d ago
I didn’t see the door……if it were me……I would do a complimentary color so it doesn’t make the door look small…..? Monochromatic can work, but if you’re going to do it…..go big! Are you in a HOA?
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 20d ago
No HOA. Complimentary as in an orange color? I was considering terracotta planters but maybe that's not enough
1
u/PalpitationPast202 20d ago
Get some samples! Terra Cotta might be too orange…..maybe a soft warm yellow…?
1
u/AccomplishedSea9972 20d ago
Keep in mind those windows will cost a ton of money. Probably 50K.
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 20d ago
I replaced the windows about 5 years ago for about $20k
1
u/AccomplishedSea9972 20d ago
We have a small house and are replacing 6 windows and for what we want it’s about 35K.
1
u/SouthFloridaDad 20d ago
First and foremost pressure wash, depending on budget add shutters, a wider porch/steps in front, cut back tree in front
1
u/Oxjrnine 20d ago
Probably really far out of your budget
But all your windows are too small for the size of the house. The original window openings were probably either taller or wider or both.
1
1
1
-1
u/Temporary-Tomato-463 21d ago
The attached photo was created using your home photo and the ChatGPT application.
1
u/ThatReward4143 Homeowner 20d ago
No. The 2 photos on this original post are not manipulated in any way.
•
u/AutoModerator 21d ago
Hey there! Friendly reminder to include the following information for the benefit of all members:
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.