How to spruce up my sad little Vermont country house?

I'm not an expert but i don't think it looks too sad! The color is nice...what is maybe making it sad-feeling is other details: the shape and color of the door, the shape and color of the window panes, and the fact that there isn't really an inviting stoop. Those are the things I would focus on: i think that using inviting colors there will really freshen things up. As for the stoop issue, if you don't have enough budget to build one, even just delineating the area as a welcoming space, using a strategically placed bench or plant beds would help a lot. good luck!

I agree with Tiva. It is lovely, and to be honest I would swap for this enormous old farmhouse I live in in near Pau France.

I think I would put some shrubs along the front, there are many beautiful ones that flower in the winter.

Fran

I agree, it's a lovely house! Some shrubs along the front would make it feel a bit more inviting.

Shrubs around the house it's self. To make the house pop I would then say get some of them fake shutters And attach them to the windows, I bet you could get them at a old recycling place where they remove stuff off old houses before they rip the old homes down. Oh... Add window boxes to the windows with pretty flowers. I would then border the drive/foot path, add fine gravel to the drive/foot path. You have endless opportunities to do amazing things. I love your little home. add some flower beds on the hill by the trees.. I can go on for days. Deck the front area.. slap some rocking chairs on the deck..

Anyway to remove the bottom two levels and add a faux stone facing base to the house? It could give your house an even more cottage feel, and would allow you to only replace the materials that aren't good.

There are so many ideas for adding curb appeal.Browse through this site for ideas. Once decided choose your plantings based on your hardiness zone. Make sure to add a focal point when planting as well. I would place a park bench by the tree and plants accordingly there as well.My go to for other ideas is Fine Gardening.com and Flea Market Gardening.

maybe a brick red if you are going for contrast or a very light olive green if you want more subdued. Light grey could work too...

I agree shutters at the windows would be a great idea. Also, replace the door to the right that's not used to an attractive window. On the left of the stoop in the big open space, I would hang a black wrought iron piece, or two to break the wall (you can use a garden trellis from Lowe's which is reasonable cheap for a project. One may be too small, so judge accordingly for scale and balance. Paint the door and window shutters burgundy or shutters black and door burgundy. There are flowers that bloom in the winter such as colorful pansies and then beautiful blooming annuals in the warmer months. Green shrubbery of different kinds and colors would be gorgeous.

Hello,

So you have a good start to work with. I would use some shutters as others have stated, wash everything and give the trim a new coat of white paint, perhaps make one door if those are two I am seeing, such as a double door entry, and for the siding, just match any siding as best you can, then paint it to match the rest. You probably won't even know it is not original. If you are especially adventurous, I would also spray the roof with an anti-fungal to bring it back to it's original color.

Pretty blue cottage nestled in the woods. That's what came to mind when I saw the picture of your cute house. Ask a local siding expert about replacing the sheets and about how to paint the replacements to match the house. I hope you can find a blue to match the color you have now. Check out the following Vermont Gardening websites to get ideas for your landscaping:

Vermont Country Gardens, RD#1, BOX 4260, WOLCOTT, VT, 05680 ...

outdoorspacesvermont.com/

www.highcountrygardens.com/mail-sign-up

Also check with your county argricultural extension service for help with using native plants in your yard. They will also be able to direct you to people in your area who offer plant advice and/or are having plant exchanges where you can get free plants. A woodland, cottage garden would be ideal for your location. Post pictures when you are finished with your project. Bon chance!

First things first. Clean the debris away, sticks, dead trees, etc. Move picnic table away from front yard, and find a nice nook to put the table. Eliminate one of the doors, add some landscaping paver's in front of the door and a walkway to the driveway, add potted plants on each side of the door. Shutters and flower boxes will add the pop. Landscape the surrounding areas with native flowering plants, rhododendrons, azaleas, wood ferns, a nice woodsy look with make it look more like a cottage. Hope this helps.

pop the door in a strong electric or bright sky blue; clean up front yard and right side of pic next to the house; move the picnic table and chairs to the right side of house, put some screening (lattice, bamboo, slats ) behind the table and chairs to create a conversation area (or in front of them with some large potted plants in front of the screening - would extend look of the width of the house and add an appealing look - especially if they complemented the new door colour). Perhaps some further screening on the left in an L shape from the end of the house, also with pots, scrubs or garden in the foreground; Tizzy up that patio with removal of the ladder (or use it as a décor item), perhaps a low balcony rail, garden, pots or decorative logs, stones, statues in front, a rocking chair or comfy chair and tiny table to put your cuppa on. So much potential with this darling cottage in the woods, not sad at all.

Take your project on one item at a time then it won't be so overwhelming. Draw up a plan and budget first. Use a computer program to generate a plan for the house and new garden. Start with your siding, two doors and then put the icing on the cake, so to speak with the landscaping. I love the idea of a front yard patio, right where you picnic table is. Can you refinish it? Also make a car pad with gravel for you and your guests to park. A stone path to the front door leading from the gravel parking pad would also be welcoming lined with deer proof plants (check with Vermont Agriculture Schools or local landscape firms for suggestions). Here is some inspiration for your home:

The first concern is to "protect what you have" first! Do what has to be done first and then work on "pretty!"

If that is stacked firewood I see at the right of the back of the house, the first thing I would do is move it back to at least 50' from the house to avoid termites. I know you want it close for a quick grab in cold weather, but move it back!

Do whatever it takes to protect the house under that bad siding. Take off the bad siding and look into alternative materials. You cannot wait until you can afford to redo the entire house because you will be facing serious rot!

Check into other materials that are protective...such as asphalt faux brick...and it may even come in a stone pattern. This would ground the house too...they are for interior and exterior use! http://www.fauxpanels.com/?gclid=CjwKEAiAp97CBRDr2Oyl-faxqRMSJABx4kh9QjUjHHzsligYNYz--y-casxPhvQ9AUVqOB1DQ1GJdBoCYTHw_wcB).

Clean up everything to about 10'-15' from the house all the way around and start making it an oasis of "neat and pretty." Make an irregular line to delineate the "pretty" space. If you want a small lawn, I suggest Zoysia Emerald Green which does not require constant mowing.

Put in a stepping stone pathway to the driveway...plain concrete large squares in the same color as you chose for the replaced siding. Dig out the dirt, level with sand. If you don't want to mow, put in straw/mulch/leaf beds.

Miniature evergreens are adorable. They grow to about 22" high but they do not require any trimming. Basically carefree!!

Add a couple of large pots for some annuals in spring and summer and you are done!!!

Remember, A little work here and a little work there and you have a beautiful yard! Work to secure the house and then the ideas will come!

We had two rows of bad siding like you mentioned. We put a 1 by 4 piece of wood over the bad siding and painted it grey like the house...don't notice it at all.

I would suggest painting your front door a cool toned red or a deep yellow. We bought a small, plain grey house with a blue steel roof and white trim; it looked very bland. We painted the front door and side panel a deep red - what a difference! We have had lots of compliments on it.

Another suggestion, could be to put on front portion the brick/stone facade, it can be found at lowes. Then paint a color that mathes the brick on other sides. Also add shutters and change door to a window. Green scrubs and maybe a pathway to front door. You could also entend the front porch section to include the entire front. Good Luck

I would center the front door to the porch, if possible and place windows on both sides of the door. Along with the other peoples suggestions. Protect what you have, and enjoy the process.

I love the windows along the right side of the house. Remember Rome was not built in a day.

Good to know. Someone put a piece of tin flashing over the bottom row. It looks so tacky! I'll try what you suggest.

What is under the two rows of vinyl? Maybe you could expose that and paint it if it looks good...

Thank you for all your help! So much to think about...

Love your house! Lots of good suggestions above, but definitely clean up around there (I'm sure you were going to anyway) and replace that left side door (if possible) with a window and maybe add another one to the left of that, keeping the spacing between windows even. And for maximum enjoyment, I would add a swing out beneath the trees with a table or two to hold your morning cup of coffee. I have a swing in my backyard and spend a lot of time out there when the weather is good, and in Central Texas that's a lot of the time! Best of luck in spiffying up your house; be sure to post pictures here every so often.

If you cant replace the odd door (with a window)...embrace it. Frame out around BOTH doors to look like they belong together. They should match. Put a pretty lantern on either side of the doors OR one really nice one between them

Wrap those skinny porch posts in wood to beef them up and add interest. Cedar would make your home fit into it's woodsy backdrop. This is a good example of that. http://www.wideopencountry.com/7-of-the-best-renovations-on-hgtvs-fixer-upper/

Make wooden shutters like these inexpensive ones http://petitelefant.com/how-to-make-wood-shutters-for-your-house/

Stain them to match the porch posts. The natural wood color would look great with the house color.

Do a good clean up around the house ...remove brush... leave the beautiful trees. Pick one driveway and define it with stones or logs or some other "found" material. Make a pathway from the driveway to the entry. Add some plants that say welcome.

I have way too many suggestions to list them all, but this would be a great start.

I would love to see what you choose to do. Post after photos please. Your home has lots of potential.

Stop in at any construction sites you may see in progress; ask if they have any extra 'somethings' you could attach to your home. Or, hit up the stores contractors use such as Home Depot and Loews, Habitat for Humanity, and any others they use. There are probably small amounts in stock that aren't wanted for just that reason, and the store may be interested in having it removed for them. Same for paint. I do know HD has an area of unwanted paint. Paint that was mixed but the result was not as expected, and thus rejected, or returned. Don't be shy; speak up and see what bounty drops into your lap! : )

Frame the porch poles with wood to give more substance. Don't need 2 doors. Do what the others recommended. If possible, center the small window and add shutters. Rent a sprayer and paint the house a nice mild color of yellow to stand out in all the green trees. Absolutely clean the yard, resituate the picnic table and as long as you have the sprayer, paint it dark yellow or a color of your liking.

Have at it.

If you replace the two separate doors with a double door (perhaps with a sidelight in you have more space to take up) and paint them a contrasting color like black or dark red, that would be less confusing. Then if you remove the old layers of siding near the bottom and replace it with a layer of stacked stone (either purchased or found in your yard) and add matching stacked stone and beefed up wood columns (perhaps Craftsman style...see picture below), it would define the entry. Of course, clean up the yard and add flowers and bushes along the front and perhaps a gravel walkway from the driveway to the front door. You may not be able to do it all at once, but you could save money doing all/some of it yourself with "found" materials and tiny bushes that will eventually grow. I've done nearly all updates to my house myself, using the internet for inspiration and instruction and quite a bit of "found" material.

Rustic comes to mind. Paint or log cabin style siding. Comes in different styles, and price. Could add siding to front and paint same color of siding to the rest of house. Is the roof in good shape? If needs to be replaced would use the dark green metal. Look this up on the log cabin sites. Window shutters, or window boxes for flowers. Stone and rustic wood, is what I see. Has a lot of potential. Good luck

i would suggest doing some landscaping to define the house. Right now it's seems kind of lost .

I agree with other posters. Add shutters to the windows to the left of the house. The shutters for both the windows should match in length. I would place a window box under the small window to balance out the length of the window to the right of it. Beef up the columns. change the door to the right to a window. Beef up the molding around the door. Paint door and shutters the same color (a dark Navy would be a good color). On the peak, I would at some board and batten and paint Navy or leave natural to match wood on beefed up columns. In the blank area between the windows and the doors, I would add free standing lattice that would support a climbing rose in white.

Remove the siding up to the bottom of the windows on the front and right sides of the house. Put a fake brick or stone facade, in white or gray, on it. Clear out the brush to the right of the house. Power wash the roof. Pour a cement slab for the porch and extend it to the end of the house on the right and left to make the doors centered. Put a roof over it. See how it looks and decide if you want to leave the doors and any wood trim white or paint them another color.

Lots of great ideas here. My budget is far less than this and I'm a recycler/repurposer. Having a house with this surrounding you soon discover you need definition and boundaries. With those trees taken down, I would outline yourself a porch area, then you could fill in with rocks or treefall and your wooden table would be anchored within a comfy space. You could also outline your drive to leve as is or fill in later with crushed rock or gravel or payving. Downed trees are great to use in making square planters too. The siding could be something as simple as galvanized sheet metal that's very very inexpensive until you're ready for a bigger re-do and it would also be cute on this type of house. That tree wood could also be used for framing out the two doors as others suggested or matched to galvanized siding if you used that - just to tie it in all together. Use everything you have on hand before you spend money and always use Re-Store and local buy/sell/trade/barter sites since people give away the darndest things for cheap and free. Cute little house and a great lot - lucky you!

Sorry for the typos - had a curious kitty trying to help me type!

If you don't want to use two doors, make one appear to be a table with a picture over it. (you can find tables at yard sales or thrift stores for $5.00 to @ $15.00 if you don't want to build it yourself. . .Or use a piece of wood by attaching to existing door and then support with 2 legs in the front. Find a large picture at thrift store And use a pretty ribbon to hang from top of door (this will camouflage the top part of the door). Then decorate the table with some pretty flowers or found objects! The most important thing to beautiful is clean, clean, clean!!!! Even an old rusty bucket is beautiful if it's clean.....Good luck!

My white roof gets those darkened areas, too. They sell zinc strips to place at the peak of the roof that will kill the algae(?) that darkens the roof. Or, there's also a product called Wet&Forget that you mix with water, and just spray on algae on your house and leave it. No bleach, safe for plants. I use an inexpensive pump sprayer from a garden department at the store. With all that gorgeous greenery around, you're bound to get moss, etc. Beware of power washing--it's easy to damage your roof or get water under the siding.

Maybe just make a little patio area for the picnic table, using inexpensive patio blocks, and plant something pretty to set off or screen the area a little? Nothing that would get too tall or imposing and block out the light. And maybe a little path to the door (I've heard about mud season in Vermont!)

Some pretty planters around the front door, and it will be so welcoming!

My daughter bought a surprisingly similar house five years ago. Here is a before and after. She did 95% of the work herself.

Don't power wash your shingles! power washing can easily remove the small stones as well as void any warranty. There are numerous products that are safe for you and your plants available that can be used without damaging the shingles. Metal roofs are nice and there may still be tax credits on federal level and your state. The better metal roofs can last 50 years or more.

Roof trusses can only hold so much weight. They are not built for multi layered shingles. Go the extra couple hundred dollars and have the shingles torn off. It's also the only way to keep the shingle warranty. Shingle life span is usually 5 years less than stated. So if you buy 15 year shingles, look for failure around 10 years. Make sure the proper weighted felt is used for the materials. This is also a great time to look at the roof itself(either plywood, osb, or plank and replace any needed).

sorry this rambled off topic I became irritated at the folks telling you to power wash your shingles

Two front doors are confusing. If both aren't needed, I would put in one with sidelights. Or at least a larger universal design door (they're wider). You may run into issues with a supporting wall between the doors and the header and jacks will need to be beefed up to take the weight of the middle section if you go that route. Or you could make the one door at the sun porch into a window and move the door to the side with all the windows

i like nice deep porches, 12' minimum. It allows people to sit comfortably and still move around

We hired an architect to help with design. We like the Craftsman or Mission styles. We are going in stages with landscaping being the last. We figured no sense in putting money in an area that may get torn up. Everything that has to be done first was put first on the list and then things were prioritized. This time, we are starting on the inside and will work our way out and around. Curb appeal isn't a priority for us as it was 20 years ago. So it will be simple, understated, woodsy to fit in our neck of the woods and far enough away from the house that neither roots nor plant will interfere with washing the outside or damage the foundation or siding,

i would start with the land being properly sloped away from your home and a gravel drive, perhaps outlining the drive with some found rock to give it more definition. A few massive "sitting" stones worked in that are flat on top to change pots or decorations as the season and your heart demand. Make sure it's plenty wide enough and give yourself and guests a turn around area

Craig's list always has tons of free things might be able to find things you could use there!!!!!!!!!

I like lidakinney60's idea! I agree with several of the ideas here, clearing the area more would definitely help, and putting window boxes under the windows in the front would add needed color. do you have two doors right next to each other? bushes, ground cover, defining the outside space for your patio all are excellent ideas! defining your front door would help as well. if you have the energy it all mostly takes muscle and patience! craigslist does have alot of stuff that is free that could be repurposed, since you stated that that is what you like to do!

Do what your daughter did to her home. Shutters, maybe a cute row of flowers to the left of your pic, possibly power wash the roof and trim back the tree. That is dis coloring the roof.

If the bottom boards need replacing, perhaps removing several and adding vertical Board and batten wainscotting up to the bottom of the windows woulb work. Paint the house color or white to match trim.

Use the lowest window as your guide for wainscotting.

I would paint all the white trim (and the doors) a dark forest green. And I'd put shutters of the same color on the front windows.

Regarding the places where the siding isn't so great, you could always just hide it with a couple of large flower pots. Put some flowers or plants in the flower pots for color. OR plant some bushes in front of the bad siding.

This might sound silly, but...

you could always get some colored pencils, crayons, markers, etc., and sketch it out. "What would it look like if I colored the trim THIS color" or "What would it look like if a big flower pot was right here..." etc.

Obviously, it's not going to be exact, but it would give you a good idea of color combos and placements.

Why not paint it.. You could paint the front a different color from the rest of the house. Or, you could enlarge your porch area for a different look. You could also spruce the landscaping with colorful flowers and perhaps a bird bath directly in front of the house this will not only give it color but will be a nice area to want to set a couple of chairs out there and enjoy the flowers.

Paint scheme with lower contrast - I think it is all the white trim that you may not like. Paint the front door an unexpected color.

a light cream yellow paint for siding..if you need new roof go grey or greenish grey shutters in white or green get a tall terra cotta vase and put between your doors...add rust color bark mulch all around base of house rose bushes and a trellis or two where the large blank wall is..some rocks along sides of driveway also would help..just my idea...did not read others

If you want to add interest replace two more panels plus two bottom panels with brick siding. Power wash roof. And and a fresh coat of paint unless it's vinyl siding. Clear out entrance and add some plants in different colored planters. If you can paint house pick a more natural color to complement the house and it's surrounding.

Hi Lucy, We've all put in our 2 cents....so what have you decided to do? I hope you will post during and after pictures. I know you will transform your little home into a lovely woodland cottage. Keep us posted!!!

This looks exactly like my brothers house 25 years ago. He has put a lot of sweat equity into since then. He build a rock wall at the front of the house using rocks that he got from his property but even if you put a cheap little picket fence (doesn't have to be tall because you can't see the house then. Paint it the same colour as your trim. He got several packs of wild flowers that grow in our area and just spread them all around the house. They attracted bees, butterflies and birds. Pots with flowers overflowing is cheap and cheerful and a lot of people would share their seedlings or seeds with you I am sure. Definitely paint the door something unexpected like red. I would love to do that myself but I have a metal screen door and no one would see it anyway. I agree shutters would look cute. Also to the right of your house I am not sure if it is a garden or what but my brother put down a wood platform and they used it for a 'patio' BBQ areas. It would be lovely to have the money to add on additions paint the whole house reroof, landscape the place professionally. Have a pool in the backyard ....or is that just ME wishing? Anyway good luck with it. Oh by the way my brother got a lot of the building stuff from places that were being torn down. Also don't know if you have this in your area but Habitant for Humanity runs a 'Restore' in our area. It is run by the charity and people and contractors donate left over paint, wood supplies, plumbing stuff like bathtubs etc to the store and they sell it cheap and it goes to the charity. John got a lot of his stuff from them as well. Yard sales are good too. Lots of luck! My brothers place looks wonderful now. Funny story. When my Dad died he left my brother and I 20,000 each and wrote us a note and said 'enjoy your loot' (his joke) They used the money to put walls on the side of their patio, a new BBQ etc. That Christmas my SIL got a special sign made up for him that said 'Thanks Dad. Enjoying the Loot'. They have it prominently posted on their patio. Tee hee.

Wow that is great. I would love to have a creek or water feature in my backyard. Good luck with the make over.

Paint the arch over door blue to match the house then buy or build either gingerbread or Swedish support peak detail in white. Blue back ground sets it off. Then go to home remodel store and buy plastic railing for porch in white. Carry it to edge of house on right if possible. If you like side access you don't need to go all the way back to the siding, but you'll need to anchor it well in the concrete. Build boxes around current porch posts to make them more substantial. You can also get flower box for the short window to even up the window bottom heights. Then white shutters for both windows of the same length to further balance. They sell composite white shutters at home repair stores too. If they don't have size you need they can order. They make concrete siding now, and it can be painted. To match your current. I would advise against a wainscoting as it will only make your house seem shorter. Do you really have two front doors? If so and you can get rid of one, do so. Then you can rip off siding in front porch area to right side of house and replace with composite stone in shades of grey. It'll help disguise your power box too. On side of house place one continual flower box in white under bank of windows. Dark colors make things look smaller

There are ton's of transformations on Pinterest. Just type in the subject, cottages. Visit bookstore or better library. See if they have mag called Cottages and Bungalows. If you are able to install some different windows it would make a tremendous difference in the "front". The oddly sized, oddly spaced ones ruin the "front ". The surrounding landscape is also not helping. Some simple winding gravel paths and shrubs or decorative grasses would help.

Print several black and white copies of the picture of your cottage. Then you can try out different color combinations to see what works best and what you like best. You can also sketch some of the many good ideas people have given you to help you make good choices. Good luck and enjoy the challenge.

I would replace the door, add a brick or concrete patio with a walkway leading to the driveway, which isn't pictured. I would add potted plants/flowers on the patio and flowers on either side of the walkway. That would give the house a focal/entry point. I would also add lighting on the porch, or a freestanding lantern/post in the front yard. ://www.pinterest.com/pin/546202261039596990/

This is a small house that has similar structure to yours, except they added an extra roof line. As you can see, they've got some shrubbery and trees planted in the front yard. If this home is in a rural area, I'm sure trees would provide a good wind break and shade. Make sure that you have adequate drainage for patio/walkway. I read an article of home owner who put in a patio right up against foundation without providing drainage and it ruined the foundation. http://www.royalhomes.com/options/exterior-finishes/exterior-miscellaneous/

Try this link instead. http://www.royalhomes.com/model/huronvale/