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Verandahs & DecksDesign DilemmaExterior
lauren_oehme

Street appeal facelift for brick and block monster? Send help!

Lauren Oehme
2 years ago

Looking for ideas on how to facelift our 80s/90s brick and block lump.


The house is separated into two dwellings, one upstairs and one downstairs, both with their main entrances on the side of the house (bottom entrance not super clear in photo). We want to improve the facade so that we can enjoy coming home, and improve sale value if we decide to sell in future.


We're on a budget so can't afford any structural changes, at least not in the short term.


Ideas so far include:

- replace fibro deck balustrade (keen on ideas for replacement options?)

- paint white with black/charcoal accents, fence and deck? (any other colour suggestions? Street is a mixed bag - some older ugly ducklings like ours, some very modern and slick).

- possibly add some window trims to the downstairs inset windows

- remove outdoor carpet on entry stairs (timber underneath)

- remove glass enclosure on top level entry porch (possibly replace with timber/other balustrade to match the deck on other side)

- add some outdoor wall lights (suggestions on type?)

- add some large outdoor potted plants, perhaps 3, at front of house



I would love to clad the house but that's not really an option, budget-wise or structurally. Would love any other suggestions on how to make our big old block of concrete more appealing and homely!






Featured Answer
  • User
    2 years ago

    It is a pretty 'basic' look , but unless you spend big dollars , that is going to be the base you are working from .


    the first 2 things I'd do , is buy a waterblaster , blast everything especially bare timber ; and secondly , do every fence in a charcoal stain .


    Personally , I wouldn't paint the bricks , and I'd even hold off painting the block too . That brown peak has to change , I suspect I'd go a mid-Orange , to be reasonably 'sunny' . Red or yellow too bright for the cream and the style ; blue or green too old and too cold ; grey too boring ; black or brown too dark .


    I the short term , I'd leave the terrace panels , but do the top rail in a bright Orange , and the base timber that can be seen , in a charcoal . The stair railings I'd do in white with the same bright Orange top rail , the actual stairs in charcoal ( you may have to add a white bit at the front of each to meet Health and Safety regulations ) .


    Windows etc are okay IMO , but add a detail or 2 -- 2 matching $100 letterboxes ; your street number in a nice style , painted bright orange or even apricot , made from ply , and screwed or glued so it is 30mm 'out' ( protruding ) from the downstairs wall between the 2 windows ( maybe off-centre by 30cm for impact and interest ? ) OR maybe on the front fence .


    Then your idea of plants in big bright pots will really add too .


    There you go -- $2500 and some labour and some fun and it will look quite a bit better .

    • Comments (8)

    • Lauren Oehme
      Original Author
      2 years ago

      Thank you! Definitely have the water blaster on standby, it can make a surprising difference. And also agree, thinking charcoal fences.


      Would love to know why you think don't paint the bricks and block? It's not obvious in the pics but the bricks are actually already painted. Is it that you think that colour is fine as is?


      Love that you suggest orange for the peak, I'd never have thought of that and it's not particularly our taste, but has got me thinking a bit more outside the box.

    • User
      2 years ago
      last modified: 2 years ago

      Basically , the paint looks okay , so save the $$$ , but also the colour is okay in the scheme of things ( what else are you going to do it in -- white or grey -- may as well keep it as it is ) .

      The Orange is simply a matter of deduction -- I've pretty much run through the options ( above ) , and to me 3 tones of orange and the beige is a bit 'old' , but it would work , and the charcoal 'moderns' it up

      Lauren Oehme thanked User
    • Lauren Oehme
      Original Author
      2 years ago

      Thanks! This makes sense.

    • Rosemary Gauthier
      2 years ago

      Hope this is not too late and your already done, but I would build a simple frame right across the front at the line between the two floors with a post at either side and a couple in the middle then some cheap big planter boxes (one each side and one in the middle) and get something vigorous growing up and along to break up the big flat frontage. Pandorea is cheap, fast growing and has lovely flowers. Just hack it if it gets too big, cheers

      Lauren Oehme thanked Rosemary Gauthier
    • Lauren Oehme
      Original Author
      2 years ago

      Hi Rosemary, not too late at all! We are still tossing up options. I love that idea, pandorea looks gorgeous. Do you have an example of what you're explaining in a picture?

    • Rosemary Gauthier
      2 years ago

      I don't have picture but any builder will know what I mean. A shallow pergola really, only 450 to 500mm deep, support board bolted to the house just below the brick line, 3 simple posts bolted, or concreted into the drive (you can do something more decorative if you want, but avoid anything in front of the downstairs windows) and five back to front supports for strength. paint it dark like eaves to tie it all together. Good luck!

    • Henry Dart
      2 years ago

      Glad this got the answer it needed. Nice house by the way.

      - Hayley

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