Envisioning a house’s bright future
Practical redesign updates look and can be done on a budget and in stages
In six years, this house has seen a lot of renovation — the reality is that the residing family of seven, including a sheepdog, must be costconscious, dream modestly and prioritize thoughtfully. They are committed to replacing the roof shingles, changing the garage doors, resurfacing the driveway and reconfiguring the steps of the porch.
The following reflects a comprehensive plan for revitalizing and redesigning the property over time:
The side entry to the stairs compels residents and visitors to squeeze around parked cars in the driveway to get to the front door. The alternative layout offers a larger, T-shaped front path and stairs whose right side will be flush with the left corner of the garage, providing extra width for parking.
The foundation all around the house should be repaired and coated with matte concrete paint matching the existing natural grey-beige tint. The small metal handrail will be disposed of; the filled top hole will be camouflaged in the same colour as the brick. By adopting the wall colour, the dryer vent would visually vanish.
A single railing made of strong square white posts will be offset by two identical-coloured columns on each side of the new thicker garage overhang. This new roof structure is optional, but would enhance the overall look of the facade. It should obey the same pitch as the other roofs.
To allow natural light in the garage, the twin doors will have a simple glass fenestration. Two light fixtures under the overhang should be recessed.
The owners also asked for an economically priced seating area, an inviting spot to relax under the coolness of the giant maple tree.
Plans are to create a patio with a checkerboard pattern: A mix of warm grey ample cement slabs and in the spare patches, botanical carpets of mosslike yellow or green Arenaria verna is a less costly alternative to all concrete pieces.
When displaying furniture in front of your house, use smart design, featuring good comfort and in colours that harmonize with the house.
This new space will be framed, on its left, by a medium-size ivory blooming hedge. Persistent Buxus in front, existing evergreens below the large window and gold-and-green everlasting foliage from several Euonymus Emerald’N Gold will deliver an elegant and low-maintenance composition.
A border of persistent silver ground cover that blossoms in white will fringe all concrete dividers forming the beds, all paths and the patio. On the right perimeter of the house, between the foundation and the new walkway, plantings will enrich the way to the yard and possibly to a future side entrance.
For the new colouring palette of the facade, I prefer an edgier take with different intensities of very warm greys that have a slight hint of brown. The new shingles would be medium antique grey.
The front door and contours as well as the louvres would be almost charcoal, but slightly lighter. The roof must have a certain contrast with both the door and louvres. Except for the white railing and new posts, which should have a discreet sheen, all current snowy elements should be refreshed with a few coats of matte exterior acrylic paint.
The vertical aluminum siding replaced by horizontal aluminum or vinyl strips, in the same light grey colour as the twin garage doors would make the house look more youthful. The ribbon under the taller roof will be painted in the same hue.
A wall-hanging planter and a custom-made deep flower box will contain cascading and upward white annuals. Near the front door, a long and narrow pot would harbour a Chinese palm.
Except for the earmarked projects, all these improvements can be done in stages and extended over several years.