Please share your input to turn our house into an eye-catching home!

Question

Hello, 
 I appreciate you taking the time to read my post. After years of saving up, we are finally ready to inject life & energy into the front of our house. :) 
 Here are a few of my 5,459 questions: 
 Do I replace the porch supports/columns with metal (similar to the existing ones) or do I update to the white, solid, paintable supports? Square? Round? 
 The foundation of the house is being painted a darker charcoal color: the existing steps and porch will also be painted with _____________ color. 
 Should the shutters remain? If so, what color should they be? If not, I am fine with that as well. :) 
 The mailbox (we refer to it as I-lean), house numbers and outdoor light will all be changed out----I have no idea what style, size, color to go with??? Help….please? :)We will be hanging the new mailbox somewhere around where the current house numbers are mounted. The light will stay in it's current location---how would you recommend that I hang the house numbers and mailbox? Should the house numbers be mounted on a porch support? 
 Front door---the existing storm door and entry door will also be replaced. If there were a brand new door hanging there, primed and waiting for a color of your choice, what would you recommend? What style of door should we lean toward? 
 A quick profile---we are big fans of craftsman style homes (I know, our's isn't even close! lol). We are unique, love to be different, are open to eclectic styles and color combinations. Our favorite colors are all shades of purple and lime green. :) We would love to have our house 'stand out' from all of the predictable houses in the surrounding neighborhood. One thing I'm not crazy about are red doors---I think they're beautiful, but they just don't reflect who we are as a whole. :) 
 Thanks a million for sharing your insight, opinion and various ideas. I believe that once I receive enough input from so many of the nice people here, that we'll be able to move forward with confidence and pure excitement! 
 Have a great day & take good care. :)

Linda Holland · Answer

I would go with the bigger columns and paint like the trim. Possibly white.
I would ad an all glass Storm door, so you can see your front door which there are so many styles out there. I would chose one with windows, will give light inside the house too. As for house color I would ride through your area and see what POPS out to you.
Landscaping would add greatly to your home. I would come out from the house say even with the porch on both sides and around the porch..

Darla · Answer

Larger columns and trim will make your house look more substantial, and white or a very light color is good for trim. If you like purple, why not paint your door that color? I like doors with small windows in the top. If you like craftsman style, rectangular windows might suit you. You could paint the shutters to match the door or the trim; make them either much darker or much lighter than the walls.

Katrina Warren · Answer

@Laughter222 Since you are fans of Craftsman style, if it's in your budget, I would expand the porch & roof to the end of the house. (if that isn't in the budget, I would still do the following) Use solid square columns with a stone or brick veneer at the base of them, as well as on the foundation, & possibly below the large window as well. For the door I would go with something that had a smaller rectangular window with maybe some cut glass in it, if a storm door is necessary I would go with a solid glass to show off the door behind it. I would put the house numbers on the column next to the steps, or on the wall beside the door. Colors... That's really a personal preference I think & if it makes you happy, it's the right color! I would probably either go with a dark eggplant purple or lime green for the door. Most craftsman styles I've seen don't have shutters so I would probably take them off, but keep them handy until the makeover is complete so I could decide then if I wanted them or not. Good luck, I'm sure it will beautiful whatever you do!

Little Susie's Cottage · Answer

PORCH COLUMNS: your house has enough boxy-squareness, compliment that by adding big white round columns on the porch that are bigger than the white parts that are in-between your bay window panes, if that makes sense...like columns that are a good 9 to 10' or so.....that will beef up your porch and make your entry-way the focal point, and tie your adorable white bay window into your scheme....you could then wind flowering vines like roses or morningglories up your lefthandside column! how pretty would that be to have red or pink roses or purple/blue morning glories climbing up a white column, pure romance!!.....SHUTTERS: keep your shutters, they add to the cottage charm and make your house adorable! and if you take them off, it will make it look like you stuck a bay window on to the side of a random house, and you'll loose your ''cottage charm theme''.....you want to use your existing features to play up the cottage charm!...SHUTTER COLOR IDEAS: paint your shutters a color that is the same darkness or way lighter as they are now to keep them a strong feature! colors to paint your shutters that would look awesome with your house siding and new charcoal colored foundation paint would be: Burgundy, Turquoise, Light french blue, Black or deep Brown, Green?? I'm not sure how ''White'' shutters would look, so that is why i don't suggest ''white'' for them...but any of those other colors would work really pretty, just make sure it's any color you love....PORCH COLOR: i'd paint your steps and porch a very light color or mocha or classic light porch gray, so you can see them easily in the at night, dark colors on sidewalks and steps are hard to navigate in the dark...........PORCH APPEAL & USE: you could add gingerbread trim in between your 2 columns and on the sides of your porch to add appeal, iether now or in the future to REALLY play up the cottage cuteness....but before that, you could add a cute outdoor wicker or wrought iron, some comfy little porch couch to sit on, and small coffee table on the lefthand side of your front door so you can sit out on your porch and enjoy it....i'd hang a wreath or a star if you like those big u.s.a. stars, over the couch....i'd move your mailbox to either the righthand side of your sidewalk, OR better yet, out to the road :).....lol......PLANTS: play up the octagonal part of your porch by planting boxwoods, azaleas, privet, whatever grows easy in your region....something that would look pretty in snow, following the shape of your bay window....curve them underneath it to follow it's shape!...so cute!....then make a flowerbed in front of it to put seasonal pansies in winter, impatients in spring...whatever you love in your flower bed under your bay window.....then on the lefthand side of your house, where that raindownspout is, plant a big evergreen...and run some cute evergreens or whatever you love as a little hedge on the lefthand side of your porch under your ''shutter window''.....i think that is all teh stuff you said....i can't see your ''light'' to know where it is or what ideas to say for style of it.....Beautiful ''welcome mat'' and hang some birdhouses and flowering plants around the top of your porch and enjoy your new decor!............

DF · Answer

My eye sees all the heaviness of the bay window on the one side... Maybe a larger tree/tall plant or even a bench with tall trellis behind it opposite bay window? I like idea of enlarging posts and storm door. Best of Luck!

Moxie · Answer

How exciting! You have really thought about this and making your dreams come to life will be a fun journey...my thoughts on your questions:
Front Columns: I would put in square wood columns and use Alum. white column wraps for low maintenance, long lasting added appeal.
Porch Fnd: I would continue the foundation color and stencil the actual walking surface of the porch and treads of the stair with a white pattern you love and a boarder stripe. Use porch and floor paint if you do
Shutters: I would leave them and paint them to match the foundation paint
Mail box & #s; if you have the option I would use a wall mounted box with numbers above on the house at a downward angle left to right
Front Door: I would use a white storm with full glass and door painted to match the foundation/shutters in a faux shaker type door with stained glass type window film to add depth and character or real stained glass if you can
Curb appeal: I would add foundation plantings and perhaps brick pavers on each side of the walk and then a narrow, maybe 1' mass planting of your favorite color & white flowers
Additional thoughts: I would add a planter box on the window to the left of the door, perhaps a white picket type railing on each open area on porch and a cool chair that speaks to your tastes
Just my thoughts -- good luck and would love to see picks when your are done!

Barbara Ritchings · Answer

porch swing,window boxes?

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

Keeping a budget in mind .... Can't see width of wood running under porch roof so I'd watch the scale of it compared to the roof compared to the pillars you decide on. Think I would do a modified California pillar (right side of landing looks a bit tight for space) top part painted white and bottom a charcoal/grey mix brick/stone veneer. I would paint both the front door and storm the same colour - perhaps a red-orange or blue-green. Would keep the shutters and keep the same colour but do white on the actual trim. (I'd also paint the bottom board white on the big window.) I'd do the concrete a similar colour to keep the focus on the front door. Agree the left side of your home needs some landscaping to balance the large window on right.. Perhaps a pyramidal cedar and a bulky bush. I'd edge a curvy line from both sides of the house to the sidewalk and put in a variety of perennials of different heights . I'd definitely replace the mail box. I'd mount a black mailbox, house number and light fixture all to the left of the front door. You may have room for a chair and small table on the landing or a large deco pot for real/artificial arrangement. So easy to offer advice!!! LOL

Leslie Hahn-Waldrop · Answer

I would go with heavier square wood posts stained (stain comes in all colors that paint does but wont peal...just do touch ups if ever needed....get oil based stain because you wont need as many coats!!!!) House numbers could go under your porch light going up and down in black so they show up! Paint the shutters. You said you like purple maybe paint the shutters and door a deep purple...be careful with the color although you said you want to stand out! Purple and green looks good together just get paint swatches to find ones that look good together...for a house i would go with go with more of the tone down frosted colors rather than the bright ones. You need to balance out your house. Its heavy on the big window/door side. Put or do something on the empty space on the porch and porch wall. This is going to be such a cute house when your done!

Sherry Wilson · Answer

I agree with the bigger post for the porch. Needs a 'POP' of color, maybe the trim or door and shutters. Some flowers or colorful bushes out front.

Christine Tripi · Answer

I would add heavy square posts of wood and white fence coming between the posts, leaving the entry by the steps open. I would paint the fence white and the posts. I would mount a mail box on the left side of the front door and get rid of the leaning post. I would paint the porch flooring to match the shutters and I would change the color of the shutters to match the roof color. I would repair the broken walk way...looks like it is cracked. Then create a garden with some evergreens with perennial flower in front of the evergreen bushes on either side of the front and in front of the porch. I would replace the screen door with a full view door so it looks more inviting. Maybe paint the front door a solid color like red or blue to contrast the brown trim and add a swing or chairs and coffee table to the porch. You could also have some hanging baskets with cascading flowers if you like to garden...fresh herbs are a very invite aroma to guests coming to your door. If the budget allows I would plant some fast growing trees on either side of the front lawn closes to the sidewalk the shade from the trees provides natures air conditioning and keeps the hot sun from coming through your front window and fading your rugs and upholstery fabrics. Good luck to you, I am sure whatever you decide to do will make your cute little house look special.

Cindy Fahr-Webster · Answer

http://www.alside.com/color-design/ this website allows you to design what colors u would like to try .

Cindy Fahr-Webster · Answer

it has siding colors and shutter colors and trim colors. That way u can see what you want

Donna Swain · Answer

I agree with others in changing the porch columns to wood. I would add flower boxes underneath the windows and definitely add some shrubs on the front of the house.

Croweec · Answer

Trace the photo of your house using tracing paper, then make several copies. This will let you play around with your ideas: keep the shutters or not, colors, columns, etc. I would keep the shutters - they balance the bay window - and paint the house a light warm gray with white trim, then paint the door a bold color: turquoise is a particular favorite of mine might not be yours. Have fun with this!

Mary Ker · Answer

The biggest impact you could make might be in some dramatic landscaping.  The most amazing house on the block would look dull in this plain yard.  That said, i find the proportions of the porch relative to the windows unappealing.  If you change that (I'd go about a third less wide), you will have to change the roof, and that opens up all kind of possibilities for novel and exciting design options.

Suz1442129 · Answer

I would be very careful to coordinate the house colors to roof color. If not a home will look jumbled up. Your roof looks brown from the picture so I would choose paint chips that look good with that color. Coordinate storm door color to front door color so it is seamless and not an eye grabber. Same color is great. You can paint the storm door with metal paint to match front door. 
If funds allow I would consider a rocked look around columns. Faux rock looks very real these days. Great if you could extend porch to end of house to balance bay window and give you an outside area to enjoy. Rocking chairs on porch would give a honey look and feel. 
So proud of you for saving for this project. What a good example to your kids!

Buster Evans · Answer

I like the charcoal foundation color, You could paint the fronts of the steps in the same color and then the tops of the steps and the porch in a lighter gray.. also you could bring the light gray down the fronts of the steps (about the width of the door mats) to give the appearance of a carpet, and paint the sidewalk the same light gray. and to really look fancy the edge of the sidewalk on either side could be charcoal, giving more defination to the carpet effect. maybe even a black line between the charcoal and the gray.
 Since the trim on the bay windows is white I would paint the shutters to match that as well as the gutter, and the facier board just below the roof.all the way across the house and the porch...
 as far as the columns go wood columns would be nice but what ever you decide they should be the white to offset the charcoal and gray.
 A new post for I lean straightening her up & new house numbers .
 border plants that bloom will also add beauty.. something short so as not to cover all the paint contrast you do (if you do). All this is JUST ideas, Its your house, Your canvas, and whatever you do if you dont like it you can change it later.. Have fun

Peggy · Answer

Very rough sketch.  You would have to move utility to extend porch...just a quick idea...

Linda · Answer

Oh, my! So many good ideas! I would definitely extend the porch to the left if your budget allows, and I agree about the larger porch columns. I like the idea of a wall mounted mailbox, but be mindful of the swing of the storm door in that direction. Landscaping will be another great addition. Please keep us 'posted'.

Christina · Answer

I'm with Linda, extend the porch all the way across the front with maybe a crossed porch fence.   Good luck

Vickie Macfarlane · Answer

First you need a change in the roof line over the porch. New windows maybe, a new front door is necessary. A different color house and trim. Landscaping will do wonders. Have fun! There is nothing like updating and the satisfaction that comes from doing it yourself.

Cindy besio · Answer

Peggy has the best idea. If you take the porch across in front of the bay window you'd have to take the porch out too far so you could sit in front of it. The porch would be huge an engulf your tiny house but on the flip side if you wanted extra living space that would definitely do it. The porch would be so deep and the roof over it you'd have to declare it on your taxes. A porch that big would change your look into a craftsman. If that's what you like and you gave the money then do that. It will increase the value of your house a lot. The is much involved, the railing in front, the square brick or stone pillars if not wood painted, lighting, ceiling is beadboard, furniture and plants in front. Go on line and look at traditional and current craftsman homes. If you like them send the picture around to many contractors along with a picture of your house and see what kind of quick estimates they come back with. Make sure you tell them you are getting multiple estimate and will not go for the lowest but the best. Also tell them not to spend much time. If you have a budget let them know. Some will send it back and at the budget is too small that's ok you don't need someone like that to work with anyway. You'll find someone. I always do it just takes so doing. Call or email for any additional hints or help.

Carol Stehling · Answer

Since you like craftsman style houses, check out some and take bits of that style to incorporate into your house. Here are some suggestions: paint the foundation the same color as the body of the house so it blends in rather than stand out. Get a craftsman style front door and paint it lime green - that would be fun! The house could be a light brown (craftsman style). Get a craftsman or even mission style porch light (maybe a little larger) and put house numbers below it. Put in rock pillars 18 - 24' square and 36 - 42' tall with a wood post on top going to the porch roof. Have fun with your project!!!

Margaret · Answer

Find out where any and all lines (water, sewer, electric, phone) are buried before you plant anything. :-)

Judianni · Answer

You are going to have a sweet cottage home!! Smart of y'all to have saved the money to fix it up...Enjoy the process. My suggestions are, first, stay within your budget. Then I would do as most comments suggest: Keep the shutters; add sturdy, square columns, poly or fiberglass which won't ever rot; If you have the money then do extend the porch (but not the roof) unless your budget is pretty sizable!! If the budget won't support a new porch roof, a stripped awning would be wonderful and add great style! A cute chippendale style rail and handrail on on the steps would add a nice accent. I love the color of your house. If it were mine, I would paint the trim including the gutters at the roofline and the trim at the windows a soft cream color or white if that is your preference. The shutters and front door I would paint either black or the same charcoal as the foundation...I believe black would be best. Black house letters, mailbox and light fixture. Any 'color' you want can come from a couple of chairs in your favorite color on the porch and blooming plants. Keep your foundation plantings easy to care for. Do research online and go for evergreens which flower, maybe azaleas, gardenias, lorapetalum (a small variety!!), or the everblooming KnockOut roses (you can trim them any time of the year and have blooms ALL summer but NO leaves in the winter which might not be so pretty) or just go with boxwoods and add color in front with flowers..i like dailyness in any color. Look on Houzz for pictures of landscapes and flower beds for zillions of beautiful inspirations!!!! Best wishes for a beautiful update, its going to be smashing!!!

Mabeline · Answer

If you can, expand the porch to the full length of the house and add some substantial columns; paint the trim jet black and door brick red. Then landscape and make the entrance sidewalk path curvy.

Bonnie · Answer

I like the idea of expanding the porch/roof.......because your house appears white...on a budget...the drawing by peggy...is a great idea. Put a little swing on the end of the porch. Maybe a railing by steps to match the new posts. Sometimes square large posts modernize while round make it look more Victorian...cottage like. Paint or lay the easy stones on front of porch where concrete is showing....to match siding. Mailbox if you can't put it by street, put one on porch or build one on side of steps, square under the post..so it is not visable. .landscaping makes a world of difference. If you can can bit curve the sidewalk, you can line it with weathered brick. Shade trees and shrubs that look nice in winter too...have fun...darling house

Judy · Answer

Extend the porch flooring out to make a deck. Use 6x6 for posts to hold up roof and corner posts for your new deck. Paint shutters and door a cheery color. Use same color in seat cushions. coordinate another cheery color for mailbox and flower pots on deck. Maybe a stone lined planter bed around new deck and walkway. Keep lines on stone soft large curves.

Mkrousseau348 · Answer

Paint the garage doors, replace posts with solid, more substantial ones, paint shutters, door, and trim a nice green or other color. Paint the house taupe. It looks like the hous
e across he street from me..

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Please share your input to turn our house into an eye-catching home!

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