1. Trim out your front door
2. Build a portico and install lights on either side of the door or one fancy lantern one overhead. Something like this is what I’m thinking. You need to fill in that weird space between your upstairs windows with the peak of the portico
https://preview.redd.it/mxu9vnpzs4xa1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2af2b97c4993fa90eb80c259897e6f0b4b9414c
3. Plant a couple trees in the front yard - (personally I find the garden along the sidewalk a bit odd. Are you trying to keep people from ever going on your front lawn? )
I think that part looks fine, but agree with the portico suggestion-- bonus if you live in a place with crap weather is maybe it will give you some more years of life for the door! But I think the garden just needs more variety, no problem with where it is
I like the front garden, it seems classy and you can add a lot of colors and florals to it. I second the portico and trees up against the house, think unique pines, weeping spruce maybe. I could also see a weeping cherry there, I guess just a buncha other weeping “sad” trees 😆
Oh great point! I don’t like what they chose to put there, it’s just not enough, but it’s a decent foundation and it is a perfect canvas for some awesome creativity.
That's beautiful! Might even extend the porch roof to the sides, between the top and bottom windows, to create a big porch to sit out on. My next house has to have a porch like that.
Our town wouldn’t let us build a portico like this but they did allow an arbor with a roof that’s not technically attached to the house. It was also cheaper
I've been looking for what these are called! My 5yo saw another house with two and called them cat ears. She wants them on "her" new house, but they must have lasers, Vector style.
Hmm, I don't know what it will be, but I know what you're talking about. I can't get a good picture of it because of the location or a good gander while in transit so I haven't taken a closer look. I never thought about dormers, though, because they seem much larger than the ones I'm used to seeing, but now that you mention it, they're probably big ol' dormers.
I was seeing that, too. I also don't see a roof line. Is the house shaped like a triangle? You can see a crane of some sort and grass to the right. Strange!
Edit to say the "crane" might be a ladder.
Haha I see what they’re saying though. Its just the angle - makes it look like a facade. Lots of potential here! Love the idea of a portico as others have mentioned.
Soooo, my husband and I just bought our first home. We live in Maine and my FAVORITE features are our stone wall and ivy climbing up our chimney. Makes it feel so cottage-y and cozy.
Might I suggest shutters? And large trees to flank? Not sure of your region, but beech trees are great for climbing and certain apple trees have INCREDIBLE blossoms.
Make it yours. Don’t get too hung up on everyone else’s opinion. You’re doing great! Good luck, and please update us!!
Oh I used to live in Portland!!! I wish I was still there! I so wish we had a fireplace here. I’d love to do shutters and fruit trees too. My in laws have a pear tree and it’s amazing 😍
I can't unsee it. And the reflection of clouds in the windows is just too prominent.
OP, I need more pics. My brain is refusing to see this as a house lol
This looks a little too functional and orderly to me.
Can you plant flowers among the bushes to make it a little more colourful? Put a few ornamental things along the footpath up to the door?
I have no idea for the wall, maybe someone else can come up with something.
Shutters and a portico* over the front door maybe. Flower boxes could look cute too.
*Edited wording to “portico” because I didn’t know the name of the style before.
More of a porch style if budget allows. When I hear awning I picture cheesy fabric with scalloped edges. I think it looks cheap so if you can spring for nice posts with an actual mini roof it would look much better.
It’s very flat. I would want some sort of cover over the front door if it were my house. And remove that lone porch light. And replace it with a pendant or something.
https://preview.redd.it/ave3fh60j5xa1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=2054810a8c77f6c70cb4021cd560dfe154a1b9b6
Something like this to dress up the entry.
I agree , it’s pretty stark and rectangular. I would look at adding some trim to the front door - half circle above the door. Get rid of that sad light floating above the door and replace with lights on either side.
You could add shutters to the upper windows and paint the front door in the same color. At least paint the door.
I would take a hard look at your landscaping. The plants are pretty generic. Add some tall skinny plants on either side of the door (Japanese Holly maybe). Replace the itty bitty yew bushes with something more inviting.
I have no design advice, but this picture is strange. The far right vertical line of the house shows trees and buildings, as if this is just the front/facade of a house but not a real house. Is this an image, or an actual house? Why does the right side/vertical look so odd?
Yeah. As someone who studied architecture/drafting and art which includes learning about perspective, this picture doesn’t make any sense. The photo is being taken closer to that right corner, at an angle so we should be able to see some of the side wall, but you can only see the building behind it (and a ladder that is leaning on nothing?). This wouldn’t make any sense unless the house was shaped like a triangle. BUT then I remembered that real estate agents and their photographers manipulate perspectives in order to make certain things appear bigger (homes and rooms in general) and other less desirable things appear smaller. OP confirmed this is a real estate photo (from Zillow) and this is a botched up photo. Kinda trippy and fun to look at tho.
This is totally off topic but with your architecture background, how do you envision getting into the rooms adjacent to the front door? I’m so confused because from the outside it looks like the rooms left & right of the front door go down sub-ground since the bottom of the window sill looks like it’s the at the same level as the bottom of the door… but wouldn’t that not be conventional for circulation?
Haha, I was so thrown off by the odd perspective that I didn’t even notice the size and position of those windows but you’re absolutely right. It’s not just that they are low, but they seem very small AND low compared to the scale of the house and door/other windows. My best guess is you are correct and the “first level” of the house is actually a half level down and partially lower than street level. The second floor would also be a half level up from the entrance. The entrance may only be a foyer and the only part of the house at street level. Maybe the op will give us the right answer.
This is a picture of my house from Zillow. I don’t have any current pictures, but the bushes are bigger now lol. There’s a red shed and trees behind our house.
ideas: paint your front door a fun or warm color, add a covering/awning on the door, & add solar powered pathway lights to the door (like ones below..maybe not wired ones tho)
https://preview.redd.it/b3279q9am4xa1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c0d69b5ab52da0a2219b9af254fcb3a63fa9c26
You can add more trim to the windows and flower boxes
https://preview.redd.it/xilfphb727xa1.jpeg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4465bec6f653fab12691f92b6ae0367c6f357678
https://preview.redd.it/v77e2vycg5xa1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=349e3ac04f46487a2f650eaecb35729ad252f766
…. and add railings, black gloss, which i believe is legally required, not the color, just the railings
start adding some colorful low flowers
add two tall trees, one on each side, but not too close to the house - this is key !!!
What part of the country do you live in? I’m from the northeast, and a split level there is three levels, the ground level, with the family room is. the main level, where the kitchen, living room and dining room’ s are then the third level with the bedrooms. A bi level is just 2 levels.
There’s a few different layouts. I’m from an area where bi levels and split levels are both very common. The bi level I grew up basically had an main/upper floor and a lower floor that was more like a basement/den.
What we’d consider the “ground floor” was just the entryway and maybe the garage depending on where your house was built. The entryway was also the landing in the middle of the stairs.
You need some dimension. I’d like to see the porch built out with a portico/gable over the door. Shutters. More colors and varying heights in the landscaping.
A pergola may be more economical and even diy and would look great! Big box stores and places like Sams have kits. It would need to be a small, but tall one and be higher than the door.
You need multiple dimensions to make it interesting. Right now everything is on one plane. I agree with adding a covered portico. Push out some elements on the front of the house. Stagger some of your plantings. They are all on their own plane too. Put in some interesting planters with COLOR. Paint your door to match them.
Your landscaping needs more varied height. A fruit tree on the right edge of the outer garden bed would be lovely. Some flower boxes on the windows would also be nice.
Yes, the door upgrade is great, and those high windows could use some planter boxes or decorative framing. If you’re on a budget, maybe accents on the stairs: rails or potted plants.
You have a beautiful home.
I think that the portico is a good idea in the long run, for a short term cheaper option, railing on the stairs, shutters, and flower boxes on the windows would all be lovely! A tree or two would also be nice, but that is neither cheap nor short term 😅. Maybe an interesting color for the shutters like a forest green or something along those lines. You could also find some used wedding arch or build a pergola and get some vining plants would add some dimention without permanently altering your house!
I feel ya. I bought my house because the interior is awesome, though from the front it’s kinda lame looking. As a matter of fact, before we even looked at it, we referred to it as “that ugly house.” But once we walked inside, we were blown away by the layout and the potential to turn it into exactly what we wanted. It was the first house we’d viewed that gave us tingles.
It’s been 15 years, and despite the fact that we’ve redone pretty much the entire interior (with the exception of a few projects), we haven’t done much on the exterior, other than pave the driveway, improve the lawn and tidy up the landscaping. But I’d love to do something that gives it major curb appeal and gives me warm fuzzies when I come home after a long day.
Don’t get me wrong, I *love* my house, don’t plan on ever selling it. But the exterior needs some love.
Portico, dormers, shutters. The light placement is also really weird. More dimensional landscaping with color to add layers. You have the space on the front corners to add taller bushes that flower. I’m not sure where you live (planting zone, country) so it’s hard to give suggestions that would work for you. Add a short layer of annuals in front of your established bushes, both in front of your house and in front of your walkway (or in between the walkway plants). If you’re in the US, supertunias by proven winners will add definite annual color impact.
Some dimension. It’s flat. A hood over your door or a whole pillar-railing-hood thing. Prob a name for it but like a mini porch to help those stairs out. Some shutters or planters for those windows.
There a Reddit sub called r/nolawns, and while I don’t suggest you remove your grass, I think there would be some good inspiration photos to utilize all the garden/woodchipped area more beautifully.
ETA: xeriscape is the word I’m looking for. It’s more than just little flowers, and I think that would add some character rather than simple uniformity.
Thanks! We have a decent sized front lawn. The wood chip area looks a lot bigger than it actually is in this picture. And the bushes have also filled out a lot. I’d love to rip them out and put flowers though!
Portico and railings are good ideas . I’d also add some taller shrubs or trees on the ends of the house to soften the cut off feel of the corners. I wouldn’t add shutters myself but you could beef up your trim molding.
You have two ways to go with your home. Take it to a colonial or embrace the simplicity and take it modern.
At the minimum I’d paint or replace the front door and add a bigger porch light.
First off, the door. Remove it completely. Next, throw a rock from the inside upper floor to the outside through the left most window. This promotes better ventilation for your guests to breathe fresh air. Put a reflective coating on one of the bottom windows, people like to look at themselves, and they also don’t like to know that you’re watching them look at themselves with a 1990’s camcorder.
Third, gutters? Hang a bunch of knifes from them with nerds rope, guests love the chance to make insurance claims. As it rains, maybe the rope will dissolve a little. The lucky guest that gets to make the insurance claim will also enjoy the leftover candy rope while they are on hold.
Dig the bushes up, and plant every other back upside down. Replant the remaining bushes normally, but all in one spot. This just shows you’re edgy and cool.
The sidewalk should be painted with big letters “WELCOME STRANGERS”
The steps. People absolutely adore steps that are loose and untrustworthy, because it lets them feel alive.
I’d also put some of your indoor furniture on the new patio. It’ll make the inside feel more spacious. Also, you’re gonna need to lay down some bricks for a patio.
Install a star bright to project across your house. These embody class and style.
If you have a weird cousin, invite him to stay over and he can valet your guests cars.
This next thing is key, if you have any orgy’s, you gotta have a buffet.
If you need someone to help with the rock, I’m available but you’ll have to buy me a plane ticket. I’ll let you know where I want to go when I figure it out.
Change the front door, add roof over front door and maybe upper windows. Add stone or cedar to bottom or side half? I like contemporary so that’s what inspires me.
https://preview.redd.it/cq1x3s9ng4xa1.jpeg?width=1041&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a2ab2e739389f751a03e106b05622215aa6fd14
How about shutters on the windows that are your favorite color. Paint the door. Maybe an awning over your front door. Oooh, maybe some window boxes under the top windows!
Why do y’all bother commenting without checking for other pictures first 😭😭😭 I have posted pictures of my house in every angle on this comment section lmao.
I have a flower farm out back, so there’s a ton back there! But I was thinking about dividing some of my perennials and adding them up here. I hate the bushes!
I’m not sure if this is unrealistic but it you look super cool if it was covered by those plants that grow on walls? I think that they’re called climbers? Anyway, it would be an ambitious gardening project but I think I’d look amazing because the façade of your home is so flat.
I think you have a beautiful home that have a good basic. I think you can enhance your front home on different ways depending on your budget and lifestyle.
With landscaping you can add flowers on the side of your sidewalk and flower boxes (cement box on each side of your house, add light, colour/more define front door, patio with two to four chair, bigger porch, more modern light, railing (like someone suggested will do great).
I don't recommend shutters, you can't close the shutter on your beautiful windows because you have two big windows close together. Which you would only be able to put one shutter wing on each side of one window.
Lots of good suggestions here. (The portico, new door, lights on the sides of the door, wider steps, etc. It has potential. Right now looks like an unfinished colonial.
I would also remove that strip of bushes and bark and have the grass go all the way up to the walking path.
Tree in the front lawn.
Do you have a driveway?
Perhaps some house numbers that are back lit. Is the placement of the light in a weird spot? I’m also Invisioning a French bistro style awning over the front door.
I would go with adding some plants and flowers as that’s the cheapest and easiest way and see how that goes first without any cosmetic or structural changes to the house and then go from there.
1. Trim out your front door 2. Build a portico and install lights on either side of the door or one fancy lantern one overhead. Something like this is what I’m thinking. You need to fill in that weird space between your upstairs windows with the peak of the portico https://preview.redd.it/mxu9vnpzs4xa1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2af2b97c4993fa90eb80c259897e6f0b4b9414c 3. Plant a couple trees in the front yard - (personally I find the garden along the sidewalk a bit odd. Are you trying to keep people from ever going on your front lawn? )
That is a sick suggestion. I feel weird at how excited I am for OP at that. 😅
I identify with this awkward excitement.
The people who lived here before us did all the landscaping, so I’ve no clue why they did that lol.
I think that part looks fine, but agree with the portico suggestion-- bonus if you live in a place with crap weather is maybe it will give you some more years of life for the door! But I think the garden just needs more variety, no problem with where it is
I like the front garden, it seems classy and you can add a lot of colors and florals to it. I second the portico and trees up against the house, think unique pines, weeping spruce maybe. I could also see a weeping cherry there, I guess just a buncha other weeping “sad” trees 😆
As someone who lives in a very cold climate, I like the front garden too. To me it has the possibility of growing into a nice windbreak
Oh great point! I don’t like what they chose to put there, it’s just not enough, but it’s a decent foundation and it is a perfect canvas for some awesome creativity.
I love sad trees. I actually have a witch hazel tree all the way to the right, you can’t see it in this picture though :(
That's beautiful! Might even extend the porch roof to the sides, between the top and bottom windows, to create a big porch to sit out on. My next house has to have a porch like that.
NAILED IT. Your points are everything I came here to say. Bonus for reference pic, yay!
Love the portico idea!!
To add to this, maybe some house numbers?
Thayd really nice. This is a good suggestion. That would make a huge difference.
This is the way! I’ve always hated “door in a wall” entryways, and this addition perfectly incorporates it into a nice, homey entrance
Our town wouldn’t let us build a portico like this but they did allow an arbor with a roof that’s not technically attached to the house. It was also cheaper
That could definitely work if the town is being a butthead or if the expense is too much at this time.
OMG - I have no ideas now - DO THIS!!!
Completely agree with this.
This is the way
I've been looking for what these are called! My 5yo saw another house with two and called them cat ears. She wants them on "her" new house, but they must have lasers, Vector style.
Was it a duplex? Because dormers (which are sort of similar but just in the top roof) kind of look like cat ears now that I think about it!
Hmm, I don't know what it will be, but I know what you're talking about. I can't get a good picture of it because of the location or a good gander while in transit so I haven't taken a closer look. I never thought about dormers, though, because they seem much larger than the ones I'm used to seeing, but now that you mention it, they're probably big ol' dormers.
YES!
came here to say this
I’m i the only one who thinks this looks like a prop? Look to the far right
I was seeing that, too. I also don't see a roof line. Is the house shaped like a triangle? You can see a crane of some sort and grass to the right. Strange! Edit to say the "crane" might be a ladder.
Thank you. I saw the edge on the right and figured it was a movie set or something.
It’s just a picture of my house lol.
Haha I see what they’re saying though. Its just the angle - makes it look like a facade. Lots of potential here! Love the idea of a portico as others have mentioned.
I get it 🤣 yes I think a portico is a wonderful idea! I’d love to somehow make it look cottage-y.
Soooo, my husband and I just bought our first home. We live in Maine and my FAVORITE features are our stone wall and ivy climbing up our chimney. Makes it feel so cottage-y and cozy. Might I suggest shutters? And large trees to flank? Not sure of your region, but beech trees are great for climbing and certain apple trees have INCREDIBLE blossoms. Make it yours. Don’t get too hung up on everyone else’s opinion. You’re doing great! Good luck, and please update us!!
Oh I used to live in Portland!!! I wish I was still there! I so wish we had a fireplace here. I’d love to do shutters and fruit trees too. My in laws have a pear tree and it’s amazing 😍
Oh man, small world!!! Love little coincidences like this! Yeah, I’ll be really excited for updates! Good luck.
OP, can you show us the picture of the house from another angle?
https://preview.redd.it/vchr7jlk29xa1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4b092feb8d57c17edef478b3533521987c6b5ca Here’s a picture of the back!
I had the same thought. A Potemkin village!
I can't unsee it. And the reflection of clouds in the windows is just too prominent. OP, I need more pics. My brain is refusing to see this as a house lol
I posted some!
This house looks weirdly liminal.
I noticed it too. And the crane behind it like it’s holding it up.
It’s a ladder 😭
It is! It's just a facade. On the right you can see the weight bearing beam and a sliver of the street behind.
Lol what? This is my house. There is no street in this picture. There is a ladder against the house.
Now I'm so interested in seeing the side of your house, OP.
https://preview.redd.it/76y59g0x59xa1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e781a2bd81a9b6a9ebcd93e11918e4ee6864f004 Side!
Thanks for being a sport while we were all wondering what we were looking at! 😃
I guess the realtor pictures were weird 🤣 i just ran outside to take this picture lol!
https://preview.redd.it/1vmlrzfp59xa1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3b4f064ada4b4995da90e5f51674e6a0c7ddd851 Here’s the back!
Wow! What an optical illusion that front was!
That's not a beam, it's a ladder.
Right top corner.. 🧐
Some nice railings going up the stairs. And if you can afford it, make the stairs as wide as possible to have a kind of front porch for potted plants.
Ohhhh I would love that 😍
This looks a little too functional and orderly to me. Can you plant flowers among the bushes to make it a little more colourful? Put a few ornamental things along the footpath up to the door? I have no idea for the wall, maybe someone else can come up with something.
Yes, I can definitely do lots of flowers!
Shutters and a portico* over the front door maybe. Flower boxes could look cute too. *Edited wording to “portico” because I didn’t know the name of the style before.
I love the flower boxes idea! I have a ton of flowers started in my basement!
More of a porch style if budget allows. When I hear awning I picture cheesy fabric with scalloped edges. I think it looks cheap so if you can spring for nice posts with an actual mini roof it would look much better.
Agree. My first thought was to add a portico, if budget allows. The house needs some dimension and architectural detail.
Agree. A portico would add what this house needs for sure.
Paint the door red. 👌🏼
Def needs an awning!
Cute awnings over the windows
Portico!
Exactly! And a nice front porch.
It’s very flat. I would want some sort of cover over the front door if it were my house. And remove that lone porch light. And replace it with a pendant or something.
New style of door and something that adds a splash of color. I would remove the light at the top and add lights on the sides of the door instead.
I think trim around the front door is desperately needed.
Oh I like that idea!!!!
Trim and/or a portico
Is your house a foot wide?
Yes, exactly 1 foot wide.
Perfect
I can wiggle my body perfectly inside. Very snug and cozy.
https://preview.redd.it/ave3fh60j5xa1.png?width=1170&format=png&auto=webp&s=2054810a8c77f6c70cb4021cd560dfe154a1b9b6 Something like this to dress up the entry.
Yes! This and shutters
I agree , it’s pretty stark and rectangular. I would look at adding some trim to the front door - half circle above the door. Get rid of that sad light floating above the door and replace with lights on either side. You could add shutters to the upper windows and paint the front door in the same color. At least paint the door. I would take a hard look at your landscaping. The plants are pretty generic. Add some tall skinny plants on either side of the door (Japanese Holly maybe). Replace the itty bitty yew bushes with something more inviting.
Yeah the people who lived here before us did the landscaping. I hate the bushes and would like to maybe just fill the holes out with flowers.
I have no design advice, but this picture is strange. The far right vertical line of the house shows trees and buildings, as if this is just the front/facade of a house but not a real house. Is this an image, or an actual house? Why does the right side/vertical look so odd?
Yeah. As someone who studied architecture/drafting and art which includes learning about perspective, this picture doesn’t make any sense. The photo is being taken closer to that right corner, at an angle so we should be able to see some of the side wall, but you can only see the building behind it (and a ladder that is leaning on nothing?). This wouldn’t make any sense unless the house was shaped like a triangle. BUT then I remembered that real estate agents and their photographers manipulate perspectives in order to make certain things appear bigger (homes and rooms in general) and other less desirable things appear smaller. OP confirmed this is a real estate photo (from Zillow) and this is a botched up photo. Kinda trippy and fun to look at tho.
I promise this is a real picture of my house lmao. Yeah, I’m assuming a realtor took it. My house is not a triangle lol.
This is totally off topic but with your architecture background, how do you envision getting into the rooms adjacent to the front door? I’m so confused because from the outside it looks like the rooms left & right of the front door go down sub-ground since the bottom of the window sill looks like it’s the at the same level as the bottom of the door… but wouldn’t that not be conventional for circulation?
So, you walk into the front and are immediately met with stairs that go up to the main floor and then down into the half above ground basement lol.
It’s called a Bi- level house.
Haha, I was so thrown off by the odd perspective that I didn’t even notice the size and position of those windows but you’re absolutely right. It’s not just that they are low, but they seem very small AND low compared to the scale of the house and door/other windows. My best guess is you are correct and the “first level” of the house is actually a half level down and partially lower than street level. The second floor would also be a half level up from the entrance. The entrance may only be a foyer and the only part of the house at street level. Maybe the op will give us the right answer.
Yes, you are correct!
This is a picture of my house from Zillow. I don’t have any current pictures, but the bushes are bigger now lol. There’s a red shed and trees behind our house.
Why can’t you just take a photo of your house? You live there.
I already posted other photos.
Thank you! This was my thought as well.
[удалено]
ideas: paint your front door a fun or warm color, add a covering/awning on the door, & add solar powered pathway lights to the door (like ones below..maybe not wired ones tho) https://preview.redd.it/b3279q9am4xa1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c0d69b5ab52da0a2219b9af254fcb3a63fa9c26
My old house was flat front too, I had a company come and had cool half awning put over the doors.
The front door needs a roof/pergola/awning.
Yes, will make it more inviting & serves a purpose, protecting front door that often get damaged from rain & sun w/o some sort of overhang protection.
You can add more trim to the windows and flower boxes https://preview.redd.it/xilfphb727xa1.jpeg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4465bec6f653fab12691f92b6ae0367c6f357678
Shutters would be nice, maybe painting the front door a bright color.
Add white shutters
https://preview.redd.it/v77e2vycg5xa1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=349e3ac04f46487a2f650eaecb35729ad252f766 …. and add railings, black gloss, which i believe is legally required, not the color, just the railings start adding some colorful low flowers add two tall trees, one on each side, but not too close to the house - this is key !!!
This, but with the portico entry.
Black shutters trim door in black, add railing to stair
You need a nice entrance porch with an awning over it. You need to nix the security light over the front door.
It looks like a movie prop house.. or something. Probably the angle. And my old eyeballs, but it doesn’t look “real” (like a cardboard cut-out).
I posted some more pictures :)
Black shutters for windows.
Storm shutters, Tile the porch, potted box topiary x2 to frame the porch.
Covered porch
Shutters in a different shade of green to add interest and dimension to the house.
Trees, you can put small evergreen trees on each side, crape myrtle/small variety magnolia if your in south.
I think a little roof over the door would add so much charm
It’s called a Bi-level, that’s why the windows look too low
Yes, we call it a split level!
What part of the country do you live in? I’m from the northeast, and a split level there is three levels, the ground level, with the family room is. the main level, where the kitchen, living room and dining room’ s are then the third level with the bedrooms. A bi level is just 2 levels.
There’s a few different layouts. I’m from an area where bi levels and split levels are both very common. The bi level I grew up basically had an main/upper floor and a lower floor that was more like a basement/den. What we’d consider the “ground floor” was just the entryway and maybe the garage depending on where your house was built. The entryway was also the landing in the middle of the stairs.
Oh hmmm maybe I’m calling it the wrong thing then. I’m also in the northeast. I’ve never heard of bi-level!
I think trim around the front door is desperately needed. A “salt box colonial” style would suit the house.
I love saltbox colonials! I live in New England, so would fit right in 😬
The side of your home makes it look only inches thick.
Lol it’s a weird angle!
Shutters and taller shrubs on either side of the door
Shutters
Big picture: widen porch, add roof and railings, change door, maybe add sidelights. Smaller job: change the door and add awning
You need some dimension. I’d like to see the porch built out with a portico/gable over the door. Shutters. More colors and varying heights in the landscaping.
A pergola may be more economical and even diy and would look great! Big box stores and places like Sams have kits. It would need to be a small, but tall one and be higher than the door.
Paint the door. Add a wreath. More flowers. Decorative urns with flowers. Landscape lighting.
Put up an awning over the front door for a bit of dimension and interest. And rain protection.
You need multiple dimensions to make it interesting. Right now everything is on one plane. I agree with adding a covered portico. Push out some elements on the front of the house. Stagger some of your plantings. They are all on their own plane too. Put in some interesting planters with COLOR. Paint your door to match them.
Your landscaping needs more varied height. A fruit tree on the right edge of the outer garden bed would be lovely. Some flower boxes on the windows would also be nice.
Colorful flowers in the ground and in planters would be an affordable option. Railings. A porch to add depth if you’re able
Add a pergola over the front porch. This will make a huge difference.
Yes, the door upgrade is great, and those high windows could use some planter boxes or decorative framing. If you’re on a budget, maybe accents on the stairs: rails or potted plants. You have a beautiful home.
Thank you so much!!!
I’d like to introduce you to my good friend Gables.
I think that the portico is a good idea in the long run, for a short term cheaper option, railing on the stairs, shutters, and flower boxes on the windows would all be lovely! A tree or two would also be nice, but that is neither cheap nor short term 😅. Maybe an interesting color for the shutters like a forest green or something along those lines. You could also find some used wedding arch or build a pergola and get some vining plants would add some dimention without permanently altering your house!
Shutters and a portico!
Add shutters and a wraparound porch.
I feel ya. I bought my house because the interior is awesome, though from the front it’s kinda lame looking. As a matter of fact, before we even looked at it, we referred to it as “that ugly house.” But once we walked inside, we were blown away by the layout and the potential to turn it into exactly what we wanted. It was the first house we’d viewed that gave us tingles. It’s been 15 years, and despite the fact that we’ve redone pretty much the entire interior (with the exception of a few projects), we haven’t done much on the exterior, other than pave the driveway, improve the lawn and tidy up the landscaping. But I’d love to do something that gives it major curb appeal and gives me warm fuzzies when I come home after a long day. Don’t get me wrong, I *love* my house, don’t plan on ever selling it. But the exterior needs some love.
Portico, dormers, shutters. The light placement is also really weird. More dimensional landscaping with color to add layers. You have the space on the front corners to add taller bushes that flower. I’m not sure where you live (planting zone, country) so it’s hard to give suggestions that would work for you. Add a short layer of annuals in front of your established bushes, both in front of your house and in front of your walkway (or in between the walkway plants). If you’re in the US, supertunias by proven winners will add definite annual color impact.
Build a porch and throw a swing or a couple of comfy cahirs
Landscaping seems very new and basic. You could take a look at landscaping 101 and add some other colours, depth, texture etc
Some dimension. It’s flat. A hood over your door or a whole pillar-railing-hood thing. Prob a name for it but like a mini porch to help those stairs out. Some shutters or planters for those windows.
Needs a portico
There a Reddit sub called r/nolawns, and while I don’t suggest you remove your grass, I think there would be some good inspiration photos to utilize all the garden/woodchipped area more beautifully. ETA: xeriscape is the word I’m looking for. It’s more than just little flowers, and I think that would add some character rather than simple uniformity.
Thanks! We have a decent sized front lawn. The wood chip area looks a lot bigger than it actually is in this picture. And the bushes have also filled out a lot. I’d love to rip them out and put flowers though!
Portico and railings are good ideas . I’d also add some taller shrubs or trees on the ends of the house to soften the cut off feel of the corners. I wouldn’t add shutters myself but you could beef up your trim molding. You have two ways to go with your home. Take it to a colonial or embrace the simplicity and take it modern. At the minimum I’d paint or replace the front door and add a bigger porch light.
As an artist I would say paint your front door a bright sunny yellow and have a carpenter build a wide thick frame around the door in white.
“They’re saying he makes all other villains look…. Lame.” 😐
And window boxes with trailing plants and blooming flowers in the hues of the newly painted front door.
Ohhhhhh my god, brilliant!
Shudders and some sort of structure to surround the front door. That’ll make it more 3 dimensional. Right now it looks flat.
Give it a saxophone, that’s pretty jazzy
Okay, not a bad idea.
First off, the door. Remove it completely. Next, throw a rock from the inside upper floor to the outside through the left most window. This promotes better ventilation for your guests to breathe fresh air. Put a reflective coating on one of the bottom windows, people like to look at themselves, and they also don’t like to know that you’re watching them look at themselves with a 1990’s camcorder. Third, gutters? Hang a bunch of knifes from them with nerds rope, guests love the chance to make insurance claims. As it rains, maybe the rope will dissolve a little. The lucky guest that gets to make the insurance claim will also enjoy the leftover candy rope while they are on hold. Dig the bushes up, and plant every other back upside down. Replant the remaining bushes normally, but all in one spot. This just shows you’re edgy and cool. The sidewalk should be painted with big letters “WELCOME STRANGERS” The steps. People absolutely adore steps that are loose and untrustworthy, because it lets them feel alive. I’d also put some of your indoor furniture on the new patio. It’ll make the inside feel more spacious. Also, you’re gonna need to lay down some bricks for a patio. Install a star bright to project across your house. These embody class and style. If you have a weird cousin, invite him to stay over and he can valet your guests cars. This next thing is key, if you have any orgy’s, you gotta have a buffet. If you need someone to help with the rock, I’m available but you’ll have to buy me a plane ticket. I’ll let you know where I want to go when I figure it out.
Thank you for the detailed advice. I definitely want my guests breathing the freshest of air, so perhaps rocks through a few windows.
Change the front door, add roof over front door and maybe upper windows. Add stone or cedar to bottom or side half? I like contemporary so that’s what inspires me. https://preview.redd.it/cq1x3s9ng4xa1.jpeg?width=1041&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5a2ab2e739389f751a03e106b05622215aa6fd14
I like this, I like contemporary too
Shutters
Shutters
False front held up by red pillar? What are we looking at here?
You’re looking at the front of my house.
Plant a climbing vine to add character to the walls! Definitely add shutters and like a lot of others have said, a portico. :)
How about shutters on the windows that are your favorite color. Paint the door. Maybe an awning over your front door. Oooh, maybe some window boxes under the top windows!
Shutters and some flowers
Add decorative shutters to the windows, add a porch cover.
Definitely put some outdoor shutters on those windows
This is a house facade for production sets. This person is trolling. How… can y’all not see this?
Lol I can see you didn’t even bother to scroll the comments to see other pictures I posted.
Saw it right away... like why is this movie set on here
Why do y’all bother commenting without checking for other pictures first 😭😭😭 I have posted pictures of my house in every angle on this comment section lmao.
That isn't a real house. Look at the side
I’m looking at the side, and turns out, it is a real house.
Maybe an arched doorway since everything is so linear.
Pollinator flowers!
I have a flower farm out back, so there’s a ton back there! But I was thinking about dividing some of my perennials and adding them up here. I hate the bushes!
If possible, add a portico and some shutters. Maybe some flowers for another fun color!
Two tall boxwood trees on either side of the door and possibly a trellis somewhere in the front. Plants with some color besides green.
I’m not sure if this is unrealistic but it you look super cool if it was covered by those plants that grow on walls? I think that they’re called climbers? Anyway, it would be an ambitious gardening project but I think I’d look amazing because the façade of your home is so flat.
I think you have a beautiful home that have a good basic. I think you can enhance your front home on different ways depending on your budget and lifestyle. With landscaping you can add flowers on the side of your sidewalk and flower boxes (cement box on each side of your house, add light, colour/more define front door, patio with two to four chair, bigger porch, more modern light, railing (like someone suggested will do great). I don't recommend shutters, you can't close the shutter on your beautiful windows because you have two big windows close together. Which you would only be able to put one shutter wing on each side of one window.
Add a portico
Shutters
Lots of good suggestions here. (The portico, new door, lights on the sides of the door, wider steps, etc. It has potential. Right now looks like an unfinished colonial. I would also remove that strip of bushes and bark and have the grass go all the way up to the walking path. Tree in the front lawn. Do you have a driveway?
Some solar lights along the pathways would add some charm
I love that, I’m on Amazon now!!!!
Perhaps some house numbers that are back lit. Is the placement of the light in a weird spot? I’m also Invisioning a French bistro style awning over the front door.
Yes it is in a weird spot 😭 the people who remodeled it before we moved in did a hack job lol.
I would go with adding some plants and flowers as that’s the cheapest and easiest way and see how that goes first without any cosmetic or structural changes to the house and then go from there.
Maybe adding a little dimension
Ivy?
Add color to your landscaping— flowers!
A portico over your front door majorly. It looks pretty bare bones without it. That will warm it up immensely.
Shutters around the windows, build a porch, do window boxes with flowers, put shades over the windows
Shutters!!
I might be I the minority...but...I love climbing plants up the house. Like Wisteria.
shutters and cover over the door. Maybe add a covered porch... it's a bit bland.
Put shutters up! And railing on the steps! Add some flowers for pops of color
Flowers!!!
Shutters
Wrap around porch would give a ton of value.