Hi All,
Time to start my own home, Over the years I’ve made everyone else’s homes beautiful, now mine but I can’t decide what to really do.
Any photoshop pro’s feel welcome.
Thanks
Hi All,
Time to start my own home, Over the years I’ve made everyone else’s homes beautiful, now mine but I can’t decide what to really do.
Any photoshop pro’s feel welcome.
Thanks
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Replies
Garage door has to go. Not sure about the tall skinny windows and the low horizontal house.
I'm thinking.
Forrest
Not sure about the tall skinny windows and the low horizontal house.
That's what grabbed me at first also. I'm thinkin', flip 'em....short, wide windows.
Steeper roofline....mebbe a couple dormers.
SYMA
With the above...the T1-11 could stay, and actually look nice. I like the vertical lines on the horizontal structure.
Clapboard won't work without a second story....not sure I'd like shakes any better.
Democrats.The other white meat.
Higher pitched roof, wider windopws, second floor over the garage.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
SELL it build New you cant take the money with you
If I'm not mistaken, that looks like T-1 11 siding.
You could make a dramatic change by installing different siding. Hardi claps would be a good choice.
See if TGNY will come in here an link to the remodel of his house. You'd find it inspirational.
Funny. The garage door is definitely going, I actually posted a thread here about a western red cedar door. Should I do two 8' craft style red cedar doors or keep the 18' width single door and re-do in cedar? The siding sure is the awesome t-111.....puke.My idea is red cedar R&R blue label with laced or weaved corners. Veneering the brick foundation with weather faced stone, the same stone you see stacked on the side of the driveway. Casement windows are shot. Replace with wider Anderson low E with fixed transom lites if height allows.Second story over garage....Not sure how to incorporate that?I looked for a house for 3 years in this area. It is in the ultra sought after area of South Park in Charlotte NC. Best schools in state, home directly behind me is $2.8 million on 2 acres, next to them $12 Million on 10 acres!Should I start the inside or outside first?Thanks guys
At the bottom and work up.
I think you are starting looking in the wrong place. You need to post the floor plan, and start in there. I would bet there is a little living room that never gets used, next to a little den, next to another small breakfast / dining / kitchen. I would start by taking out most of the walls between those rooms, and put in some arches between them. Are the glass blocks in the bath, or under cabinets in the kitchen?You might think about turning the garage into a den type or sun-room, and build a new garage off of the end in the second view. If giving up the window light on that end makes it too dark, put in a sky-light in a tunnel, or do a detached garage, with a nice covered porch, and multilevel decks.With that roof-line, I would be thinking or looking at giving it a Japanese influence.It sounds like you can put a lot into your home, and expect that it will always be a good investment. Even if someone else wants to tear it down at that point, so don't worry about it.
Good point about the roof--it is nice and it does give a sort of Japanese flair to the house and that could/should be played up (if you like Japanese style, which I do).
Changing the garage to a living room or den or something is a good idea and then the garage could be moved further back and along that side. Depends on how much change the OP wants to make.
I'd have to look at the photos again, but I was even wondering about a veranda on the front under an extended and flattened (sloped but quite shallow pitch) roof. Many Japanese houses have that as a feature--cypress deck with wooden columns and roof over.
OK. Based upon your evaluation of the surrounding 'hood plus your pics, I suggest:
Move it.
It's a nice little house. Perfect for someone younger, in a lesser in demand area. Looks like a mover could easily knock out a few blocks and get a few beams under it.
Then scrape the remaining slab and stuff and put in a brand new $750,000 eyecatcher and sell it for a mill.
Or live in it.
That is a great idea from an investment POV given the 'hood
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Check out "Ranches" a Taunton book on ranch style homes that came out a couple of years back. Here's a blurb from a review:
If you own one of the millions of old-style "ranch" homes found in every state, you will be amazed at the new renovation ideas found in the beautiful "Ranches" book by M. Caren Connolly and Louis Wasserman.
I like it, really do. It need a big wooden deck on the back. But dont ask these people about curb appeal, they gave my house purple and yellow flowers.
"It need a big wooden deck on the back."Was thinking something similar. Doesn't look like the side yard is really used for much. Otherwise, it's a nice place. Seems like a lot of expense without a lot of payback to go forward with some of these suggestions.
A deck, a fence, a pool, a nude- or maybe Boss Hog on an inner tube, a duck, a keg, some Breaktimers....
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Lose the big tree blocking the entrance . build a little porch and in front of it make a patio with a siting area. use colored pavers and color the driveway. lose the siding and install new with wide boards around windows and doors . install new door and garage door. install dormers on roof.
Why do you wnat to do anything to it?
Is it livable the way it is ?
If not change only what you need to to make it comfortable for you .
Your neighbors appreciation and property values are goin to bring you a larger $ return over time then any return on $ you put into it. IMO
Best place to be is the lowest value home in the richest neighborhood.
Edited 3/29/2007 1:37 am by dovetail97128
I'm in agreement with the "build new, then sell this one as is" side of the discussion. Then you'll be putting your equity to work in a way which allows you maximum freedom and creativity.
Speaking from many years experience, it feels worlds better to live in a house of your own design, built by your own hands, no matter how simple. Living inside your own energy is minor magic, a palpable reminder of your real worth. Subtle but ever present.
Your current place looks decent. It has no real flaws. If you'd enjoy a deck, fine. It'll add enough value to repay you for your time. Other than that, I'd leave it be and start looking for your next home site.
Too bad the garage is so prominant, but I don't know what you could do about that except what you and others have suggested with making the door less huge looking. Breaking the opening into two doors may look better, but seems like it'd be harder to use. Maybe some windows in the door would help. The only other thing I can think of would be to put the door and the driveway on the right side, but that would be a lot of work and I don't remember how the roof was--if eves come down on right side it would not be a good idea.
Like someone else suggested, more horizontal windows and horizontal siding or accent trim would make the house seem lower and bigger. (I've always like the narrow windows trimmed out with something on the order of 4x6's on each side going from foundation to roof overhang--but that's just my taste. On your house that would make it look even taller.)
Using some of that stone or similar to make flower/planting beds extending out from the foundation would look nice and fill the beds with a continuous mass of something like pachysandra or low yews or junipers (depending on how much sun they would get--junipers like sun, yews can take shade). That would anchor the building to the site. A deck on the right side would also be nice and would anchor the house to the site. Something to accent the front door may also help--a crabapple tree or purple leaf plum and a low porch at the door.
The prominence of the garage is the thing that bothers me the most too. The lot seems like it may be big enough to place a garage around the side, or at least re-orient the doors on the side, then nice windows with flower boxes or a bay with copper roof can take the place of the ugly plain jane garage door.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Good idea about garage around the side. Bay window with copper roof, as you suggested, or a round window where the garage door is now would be pretty cool. With enough time and money (not ours, no worries!) we could really do some things!
If we are going with the Niponese theme, then do that wall where the garage door was to emulate a paper dojho wall with sliding entry openning out onto the pation which used to be the concrete drive. This now has a pergola swept structure on it and a lot of plants in pots (like bamboo to contain and control the stuff)So the car drives in alongside and around to the neew garage attached or not. Guests walking up are made welcome to the oriental styled structer and facade. The rest of the house is almost ther already....Still need the existing floorplan to do much more tho
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I like it! We also need to add heated marble floors and furos in the bath! Some nice lanterns, maybe a water feature or two!
all the multi mil neighbors will be coming over slumming now!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I clicked on this last night and opened up the picts -
I have to say that I find your house quite pleasing in appearance - ya, the garage door is prominent - here is a link to something to consider 41822.1 - maybe do a sunburst or something at the gable above the garage door - at least paint it the same color as the house siding -
and you need new foundation plantings in front - and I'd paint the downspouts the same color as the siding -
the siding looks fine - the vertical lines compliment the ranch style - same with the windows - I compliment you on the color -
I agree with the poster who suggested you start with the floor plan -
certainly the entry in the second photo cries out for help - looks like an obvious place for a deck -
hey - suit yourself, but you have a nice clean example of the ranch genre - modest, yes - sticking bells and whistles and dormers on it is not going to change what it is - make your changes to make it work better for you -
I dunno, the house looks fine to me. It is what it is. I like the windows, they add visual interest. Sure could use some landscaping, though.
Rebeccah
Add a patio, not a deck, off the back door. Pergola above it, and another pergola to screen the garage door and lead you to the entry door. Run a band of trim across the bottom of the exterior walls (aka "water table"), extend side casings on windows and doors from water table to bottom edge of roof. Paint trim a dark tan and "panels" a light tan. I like dark colors but the house looks depressed, needs to be cheered up.
"This is a process, not an event."--Sphere
And I'm a legitimate certifiable Tool Whore.--Dieselpig
Get rid of the foundation plantings, make a little patio at the front door, with some plantings around the patio. Japanese maples, bamboo are nice, also ferns, hosta, spruce trees. Backyard really needs a "room", which the patio and pergola would provide, and some naturalistic plantings around the perimeter.
Cut out a strip down the center of the driveway and plant grass, thyme, or sedum there. Powerwash the rest of the concrete driveway.
"This is a process, not an event."--Sphere
And I'm a legitimate certifiable Tool Whore.--Dieselpig
I kind of like your house. I'd change the landscaping - a well defined natural stone path with nice edge plantings leading to the front door. I'd take the path to the left of the tree as you are looking at it, and have a nice sweeping curve. Perhaps better definition of the front door with a pergola. Move the downspout to a corner, or replace it with a rain chain. Pull out those foundation plantings and replace with something a little less structured and more natural. Their sculpted appearance looks out of place to my laywoman's eye.
I wouldn't add a deck to the side yard unless that is your only yard - most people these days don't hang out in view of the road. What's the back of your house look like?
You ever played with Sketchup? Might be a great way to fiddle around, visually, with ideas that cross your path.
At least you can show them to your wife or see if certain elements fit like you think they will.
Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
first i think you have a nice looking ranch stlye house,as the baby boomers knees get worse these house's will be premium.
but i would start with the simpliest thing. i would redo the header so the garage door would be 8' high ,put in a new door with some windows in it.maybe doing something with the corners of the openings ,like a couple little 45's to make the length seem a little smaller.
then coming around the side some sort of interesting privacy wall,to do 2 things bring your eye away from the garage front and to add screening to a low stlye deck on out into a brick patio.maybe some type of roofing syructure over the deck area. my 2 cents. i'd budget 15 grand and try and stay under 30! larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
Remove tree
Gargae door with row of glass at top
Remove gable trim and extend to have tapered overhang
Extend hip roof up to create covered entrance
Wider trim on windows
Columns with no rails at new covered porch
Plants bordering driveway
Dimensional shingles on roof
Drive and walks landscape lighting
Repaint house lighter color including brick
Prominent light over or flanking garage door
WOW Everyone!!!!
A ton to absorb. This has become quite a thread in a very short time. I love Fine Homebuilding/Taunton and all the creativity in it's members.To the couple of posters that suggested moving. I do understand the business end of your response but please understand I looked, waited, got outbid, and came so very close to throwing my hands up in the air and giving up on this area thinking I would never buy here. Suddenly I'm a Southpark homeowner living directly behind one of Charlotte's wealthiest families. I could leave my home as it is or knock it down, either way I win.I will post more pics tomorrow including neighbors.As I type this I am thinking the order of work is:Garage doorTree removedWindowsSidingMaybe dormers or pergolaLandscape
"To the couple of posters that suggested moving"
I said to move the house, not necessarily you.
leave tree, that what make it so nice I thought about the deck because the back door being so high up.the garage door could be redone but I like the house, really do.
Thank you Brownbag, appreciate the nice comment. Actually the tree needs to be removed anyway, it is dying and leaning towards the house and ruining the driveway and roof.
I like the house and winders too. Even the colour. Mostl;y I have a pet peeve about gdominating Alpha garages
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
OK, whodunit?
I got a deleted reply keeping this thread active!I'm going to see if replying to myself takes care of it.
New learning experience in the bowels of Prospero
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Not yet it didn't
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Aaraugh!!!!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
here ya go Paul -
"there's enough for everyone"
Thanks Doud
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
i have been a carpenter my whole life but have to admit i cant come up with any cool ideas, I do drive around and take pics of little things i like on a house, i cant pick colors out either, Your house looks nice to me for what it is, I have these kinda homes across the street and though people fixed them up it seems they are what they are and never look right, Even the big remodel has a too small kitchen or other room. But other guys here have great ideas
How big is your lot? What size are the other lots in your area?
Hi,
My lot is .43, most are .40-.60The section I live in is only 65 homes completely surrounded by 2+ acre estates, kinda weird actually how these homes ended up in the middle of multi million dollar estates.
The house looks neat and clean and well kept, enjoy it, save your money, keep yourself in the black and dream of what you'd really like a house to be if you could build your own. And plan to build one for yourself. I guess its your call as to priorities.
I'd add a low-slung deck out back. Accentuating the low profile that the house has would add interest, possibly horizontal siding, not too wide, lose the narrow windows out back, again keep with the horizontal profile of the house.
The house is more or less modern, keep it geometric and simple. One pet peeve of mine is when people have these newer houses and they cutesy them all up with all kinds of crappy trim and big box junk that detracts from the simplicity - which is the aesthetic of the design.
That said, the garage on the end makes the house in the first picture look like a long, somewhat bent garage, as if you could drive right through it.