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Exterior Before & After Design Dilemma

60s exterior upgrade?

last year

Any ideas of how best to upgrade this exterior? We know many go with white render and dark window frames but perhaps there is a more interesting variation. Windows are good so would like to keep ideally.

Featured Answer

Juliet Docherty

last year

It's a stunning house, please don't put in black windows. You could put in a more sympathetic front door that has a sixties feel and other than that, I would leave alone. It's a gem, my dream house.

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Comments (16)

Jonathan
last year
If you are not going to change the windows then don’t do anything to this house……. There are lots of examples of houses where homeowners who were desperate to personalise their houses stuck stuff on the outside and it’s never an improvement.

Personally I think it’s a fine house as it is. If your goal is to stop it looking like a 1960s house you need to change the window apertures. If you were going to spend that kind of money then you could also replace the balcony with something more substantial
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With any post war house built in the 50's the connection from in to out is non existent. Depending on where living rooms are located i would take some of the fantastic windows out and replace them with French doors, or bi folding doors and connect the house to the site. The colour scheme from Karen is perfect to lift the kerb appeal and give it a modern twist. With land costing more than houses these days and the fact that you seem to have quite a big block, after looking at paint colours, opening up the living dining kitchen areas to the outside with a roofed area. Even combining a flat roofed carport which will widen the house to the street making it seem a bigger house, can carry the new look with say an enclosed section for garden equipment, to the opposite side to the house, and if you are lucky enough to have that near the living area it can be used as both car cover and outdoor living. I always think a good landscape architect is worth their weight in gold, to give you a landscape plan, to suit the soil type, your skills level and your preference in planting. Divide up the exterior space to provide outdoor rooms under a tree, paths that lead to some special spot for kids, maybe even a veggie patch with a chock run, and make sure that you use the entire yard, front and back by enclosing part of the front yard in fencing which suits the style of the house, while providing some planting to the street. If allowed a gate structure to blend in with the house, a dedicated pathway with planting each side to the front door, fantastic fencing and consider natural materials like a hand laid stone fence with timber or powder-coated aluminium inserts, to give this house an entry, not sure where the front door is now, so that is not a good look. Gardens always enhance a house, they are never a wasted effort, and if you are not gardeners, make sure the landscape architect knows that and he will be able to select low maintenance plants. All the paint in the world will not give the desired effort that the garden will do to that paint work.
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Like your house! I think the verticals in the window on the left are vertical blinds - get rid of these - they are very dating. Paint the horizontal safety bars to match your other window frames. I think the house just lacks privacy - and this then necessitates curtains and blinds at all the windows, giving the house a closed off look. I would get rid of all the very solid and 60s era conifer shrubs and replace with softer planting and one or two taller trees. Perhaps a fence or hedge to provide privacy so those windows could be opened up to the sun and garden. Or you could plant a row of spaced standard trees (fluffy heads on trimmed trunks) (eg robinia, or a weeping standard poplar or willow) you'd only need about 5 along the street frontage, creeper round that letterbox, a few pretty plants next the house. Then open the blinds and curtains. You could add a screened courtyard outside the glazed area on the left. Talk to your local garden shop for ideas. I cant tell whether the walls are brown brick or brown Summerhill stone (thats those rough concrete bricks, also very 60s). My house is Summerhill stone and has been painted cream - looks fine and certainly removes the 60s look. Hope this gives you some ideas - good luck with your new house.
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Morgan Davies
Original Author
last year
Thank you for the helpful and lovely comments. Don’t get me wrong - I also love the house. I was more thinking that perhaps there is a more stylish / subtle way of modernising the exterior that works with the existing finishes. For example what if I change the white panelling?? Also we are looking at adding windows and doors where the garage is.
Juliet Docherty
last year
last modified: last year
I was going to say a teak garage door, teak cladding and a teak front door would work. Have a look at The Modern House site, you will see lots of inspiration. I would fill that front bed with small grasses .

https://www.themodernhouse.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_CYBhDjARIsABnuSzrnnG4Yevrk3YJg6dNzO1vXhxot15VTPQzE7l3LeRN88b7kRmoRE1oaAjSfEALw_wcB
Sonia
last year
I love it’s retro look and it looks a substantial house. Even the flower bed and steps really suit the house. Two things I would perhaps update is the front door and the balcony.

Here’s a house that needed updating, but of course your house is so much nicer.
Morgan Davies
Original Author
last year
Many thanks guys for the nice comments. We love it and can’t wait to move in!
Ricky Watkins
last year
I'd go similar as Sonia's picture chalk white render matched with either Larch or Cedar cladding
Alenka
last year
This house is lovley how it is. I wouldn't add a white render as suggested. The house will loose its personality.
Juliet Docherty
last year
I've just bought this book, I'm currently part way through reading it, it's very interesting. For example, it talks about 'volume of space' rather than just the standard square footage that estate agents refer to, which is an interesting concept. It also talks about materials, colour, and how houses should function. Lots of nice pictures of trendy pads, but the text if thought provoking. I would also follow Maria Killam on instagram if only for her blunt and to the point videos on what not to do.....'eyeliner windows'.....
tim_baker921
last year
I wouldn't change the look either but if you are intending to convert the garage then I would be radical. Take off the balcony. Cut back the floor of the upstairs room and install double height windows. You might want to add a feature staircase and make the old garage the main entrance and grand hallway.
PRO
9yards architecture
last year
last modified: last year
A great looking house, and very much of its time.

I'd agree with Tim about potentially reconfiguring for a more prominent entrance when converting your garage.

The thing that really sticks out to me is the balcony - it doesn't seem to relate to the original house. I also wonder whether it's ever used? So many people want a balcony because they're on trend, yet so few are ever used - especially if it just overlooks the driveway and the road beyond.

I also think a new front door to attract the eye to the entrance could make a massive difference. And don't feel that you have to settle for off-the-shelf composite - you'd be surprised how affordable a bespoke hardwood door can be.
nmlondon
last year
9yards architecture- beautiful door! I have two of those deer plaques, waiting to be installed
Christian Meikle
last year

this was a 60’s facelift with some light structural work to the porch.
PRO
Marina Drobot at Cinnamon Space
last year
last modified: last year
I'd change the windows, the garage door and the entrance door. White, black and light wood look good together
PRO
Marina Drobot at Cinnamon Space
last year
Here is a terrible attempt to explain what I mean
Natalie I
last year
I think its a nice example of a 60s house so I wouldn't change too much. I think the white render and dark windows look has been overdone in the last few years and probably fashion has or is about to move on.... Render would require regular on-going maintenance. How about you make some cheap(er) changes first and see if you want to do more? I would paint the white boarding, front door, garden wall and garage door in same colour. If you want to go a step further remove the balcony and block in the little windows in the garage door (as they are not in keeping with the house style). When you remove the door that overlooks the balcony, you could take the opportunity to think about the proportion of the door/windows so they marry with the windows you will be have instead of the garage door. Maybe worth replacing the intricate glass work in the current front door for plain glass or ribbed glass for a retro 60s vibe! If you have any the money left over, how about removing the canopy over the door which is not in keeping? If you still need a porch, you could replace with a flat roof which I think would be more in keeping. Good luck! Keep us updated what you decide to do as I would love to see the end result!

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