I own a custom built home in southern California that has no curb appeal. The original owner builder got confused between Craftsman & Mission style while yielding to the 1970’s influence of cream colored brick & stucco. I would like to remove the cream brick from the front of my home and remodel it into a true Craftsman style and give it some much needed curb appeal and some actual architectural style.
I need some good sources for design ideas. I have contacted several “designers” and for sums ranging between $1,000 – $2,500 they promise to come up with some plans. Do any of you have any good sources or suggestions on how to proceed? I hate to commit to a particular designer until I have done some more homework.
Thanks for the help,
Dave
Replies
google Dover books- they have a reproductions of vintage catalogs for craftsman - and anything else you desire - style homes.
can you stucco over the brick instead of removing it completely? post a picture please?
landscaping also helps. get some climbing roses or an enormous magnolia to cover that brick LOL. actually-- a friend has a huge rose hedge in their backyard that would give a nice 20's cottage look for you. i'll ask the name in case you're interested. 'weeping' trees and wildflowers go well with craftsman too.
Can you post a picture?
Where in So Calif?
The house is in Corona, Riverside county. I sit on 3/4 of an acre, large Ash trees in the front yard. Sorry the picture is huge, I'm not sure how to size it properly for this forum. But it does give you a good view of the obnoxious white brick. I can't imagine why anyone would go to the trouble of installing brick, then choose white brick, white stucco, etc. The house is so plain vanilla and needs an update and some style.
Dave
Experienced, but still dangerous!
After seeing the picture it seems to me that with the roof you've got it would be good to take it more completely in the direction of Spanish mission. A few ideas come to mind for starters. Stucco over the chimney and brick on the front of the house and make it look more like adobe. Deepen the house color to a richer red/orange/orange earth tone. Remove the red brick light posts. A trellis with some flowering vines or an espalier'd tree would look nice in the side bed against the house.
Hi neighbor,
I'd loose that chimney. How often do you use it?
View Image
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
How'd you do that?
BTW where's your spark arrestor Mr. HO?
Edited 9/4/2005 10:17 pm ET by TRIGGER
TRIGGER,
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=24441.1
is an old thread here on Breaktime that includes a lot of data on posting pics and the Irfanview download.
Dialup patrons of the forum cannot download real large files or will take excessive time.
Two things are necessary to assist the dialups with your photos. Making sure that the set file association is set to jpgs if you are using the Irfanview system.
The other is to keep the KG picture size to preferably under 100kgs.
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
I am impressed
Respect, Jack
There's enough info in there to wear ya out.
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
I should have done that for a change after downloadiong, rez. Thanks again. i did,'t look at the size - just clicked and went back to my CAD program until I needed another break tolet my subconscious work thru something on it. By then the picture was all downloaded
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
That car doesn't need a spark arestor
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Dinosaurs' X-Ray vision and telepathic communications was telling me about the McLane front throw parked in the garage.
I could learn to love mowing that lawn
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
The vibes say that it's the back yard that needs mowing.
OHmmmm
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks, bro. A 2-meg pic wasn't even close to convincing me to download it, LOL....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Something to let the PC do while you are cooking one of your fine dinners...LOLI have had people send me unsolicited emails with photos and drawings so large that they crashed the system trying to handle them. more so with the old machine, but still occasionally. I know it's mostly from innocent ignorance, but it's still just plain rude to do to somebody you don't even know except from reputation
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin,
"I have had people send me unsolicited emails with photos and drawings so large that they crashed the system trying to handle them. "
If you still have this problem you should definitely look into Mailwasher (free). It's a program that lets you delete the emails on the server, without ever downloading them to your machine. I have Mailwasher Pro (not free) and it is even better - it learns so after a while you don't even have to mark which ones you want deleted, just review it to make sure nothing you want is getting lost. This software doesn't work with AOL, but any other common email program should be OK.
Thanks, we have that, or something like it omn our local server already that I tweak every now and then. problem is that it occasionally gets its drawers in a knot and refuses to deliver important mail if I adjust the settings too tight. Somehow, IMERCs mails were getting deleted for awhile. That scared me into thinking that maybe other important emails were not getting thru so I backed off.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Basketball goal.
Always trust your cape.
http://www.hay98.com/
It depends upon how much you want to spend. Stucco over the brick would make a great difference but cost a whole lot more than painting them to match the tile roof. Along with a paint job on the stucco. The red brick light posts are out of place and need to be redone to match the house, You might try and put some stucco over that red brick by hand yourself. Maybe even using the red Mexican pavers over the brick would be a workable choice.I live up near Redlands, don't go down the 91 much, it resembles a parking lot too much.
Since Arts & Crafts has been in fashion again over the last 10 years or so there have been lots of books published. A large book store should have plenty. There are also several "bungalow home" magazines. You can also find reprints of historic publications, such as the Craftsman magazine.
Speaking of curb appeal, an author of several of the Arts & Crafts architecture books I own is Paul Duchscherer. He has appeared as a designer on several episodes of the TV show Curb Appeal. I have no idea how expensive he is, but he certainly has a deep background in that design style. He's in California somewhere. Maybe he would work from photographs if he is not near you.
By the way, I'm amused and disappointed in people who build "custom homes" which are just big ugly vinyl boxes. The whole point of building custom is to get something attractive and stylish. It's funny how even people with money can be so stupid in spending it.
Yeah, but if he had built it "right" I couldn't have afforded to buy it from him. Now I have the opportunity to help this poor house realize it's potential and tranform it's self.Experienced, but still dangerous!
I don't see any Carftsman dtail there at all. It looks like a modern Mission to me. Is the confusion on the inside details or do you just want a craftsman styule house?
Since you refer to curb appeal, are you trying to sell this house? If that is your only reason, I wouldn't waste the money.
The slope of the driveway to the house is draining water towards it and it looks like you have a dead valley on the roof. Those would both be deal killers to me. I can picuture a heavy rain creating a great puddle in the corner between garage and house until it leaks under that garage door leaving you confused about whether the roof there is leaking too. Maybe there is an allowance somewhere that I can't see...
The chimney is what jumps out at me too. it oughta be another kind of stone. You could just remove the brick veneer down to the bottom of the windows and then use wood to decorate the upper reaches of both that fromnt and the end walls
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin's right about the driveway slope, though I suspect you live in an area that doesn't get rain.
Aesthetically, though, that's a awful lot of concrete. More landscape and less paving would be nice. Concrete patterned like stone, or paving bricks in a Spanish color would look nice. Even if your budget won't allow replacement, you could saw some of it out for landscaping.
Another feature I've seen done on TV is to replace the shutters with more Spanish looking trim painted with a slight design, often done in stucco to look like it's part of the wall.
That house isn't even close to Craftsman.
The only thing that even makes me think of it would be the tapered, fat shape of the chimney. But...
(youse guys ain't gonna believe this)
...I kinda like it, actually.
Lose those goofy red-brick pillars, plant some more grass.
Maybe put in another window on the gable wall to match the one that's already there. Give that wall some symmetry....
The chimney is in a weird place, but it's interesting nonetheless. It does tend to focus the eye....
Yeah, it's a mix of light colours...but in that climate it makes sense. Anything dark is just gonna soak up the heat and raise the a/c bill....
Hell of a lot nicer looking than the average vinyl ranch, no matter which way you look at it....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Are you still recovering from that lead paint thread?
R-U insinuating my brain cells could be used to shield Superman from Kryptonite...?
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Did you not star in the 1975 movie "JAWS"?
Did you not star in the 1975 movie "JAWS"?
Nah, I just had a cameo role. I was the third starfish on the left, the one holding a DELTA-ROCKWELL coffee mug....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
It's nice to talk to a celeb.
How about a tile roof ? either glazed or terracotta.
Then stain and cut the drive way into smaller tile sizes. No sence filling the dump and redoing something that can be dressed up. maybe you can remove some concrete by making a curved section to soften the harsh squareness.
If you want curb apeal ,park the car in the garage.
I think you color is right for you part of the country , I would not want dark sideing inthe desert.
Park the car in the garage......what a novel idea! Then I could put my shop in the driveway! Someday when the master plan all comes together, the new workshop will be built behind the garage, the tools would go in the workshop and the car will be put away in the garage, .........and all the universe will be happy.
Experienced, but still dangerous!
OOps ,can't have the car in a workshop , just waste space .
Likewise, I'm sure....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
I have to agree with Dino and the other posters who have suggested stressing the Spanish Mission / Mediterranean look. Definately loose the brick light post. Since it is such a major feature in the front, think about replacing the driveway with pavers or resurfacing it to look like pavers (again, stressing the Spanish look). Whether this is for resale (leave it as it) or your own personal enjoyment (go for it) is the main question.
I was thinking some copper accents might help dress the place, chimney cap and around the garage.
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
heh heh
What are those things hanging off that side window?
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
Yes, some copper trim would not be bad. Small stuff could dress it and make it more attractive. The shutters could be made nicer. That garage door could be replaced with something that looks a little less fake.
But the basic shape, texture, and colour really isn't bad, especially considering (a) what it is (a ranch) and (b) where it is (S.Cal).
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Craftsman or Mission style? Gawd. Not even sure how to approach this one.
First of all, it's neither. And truly mimicking another style would take a lot of effort on your part. Not an expert on either by far, but from what I know is 1) Mission style got it's aesthetics from a simplicity of form and structure (exposing portions of wood beams, an overall monolithic look from stucco, deep shadow lines from windows/doors set in thick walls, etc.) and 2) the Craftsman style was a slightly watered-down version of the Arts & Crafts style (which meant highly detailed woodwork with large porches, big beams, lots of fancy connections, etc.). Trying to mimic either will take a lot of work to make it look good . . . anything less will look amateurish and silly.
I agree with some of the other suggestions involving landscaping and painting. See nothing wrong with the chimney, leave it as is. To make it more of a focal point, paint the rest of the building something else. And make the front entry into something special. Not those garbage 2-story McMansion things that look like an erect (well, you know), but something to scale with your building, inviting and communal (focus on detail if you like Craftsman, lots of columns and arches if you like Mission). Landscaping is good, roses as suggested appreciate the sun, but are not for the timid or the procrastinator. Check with your local ordinances about plants, too . . . one reference mentioned willow trees, which chew up drain lines with their roots and are banned by some municipalities as a result. And mostly, quit talking about 'curb appeal.' That was invented by some realtor, and doesn't deserve to be mentioned here.
In short, don't try to make the building into something it's not, but something it could be. And something you'll appreciate a hundredfold more as a result. Good luck.
What present design elements does this house have that would be considered craftsman? - if any?
That was my question. It has to be interior trim, if anything, but my bet is that this has low budget clamshell trim. that would be the place to start, by bringing in some haevier oak or fir trim
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Wow, what an incredible response to my inquiry. You guys are great and have given me lots to think about. I could have provided more information. The "Craftsman" details are more on the inside of the house, lots of oak woodwork, built-in cabinets with leaded glass inserts, 3 large stone fireplaces, hardwood floors, etc. Converting the outside to reflect more of the craftsman style was just my 1st reaction. I will do more research into the Spanish and Mission styles. I just want something that is a little different than the average here in California and looks good from the street. It certainly could use landscaping, but I was holding off on that until I was certain what was going to happen to the exterior.
The fireplace and resulting chimney on the front of the house is a strange detail, would have been better on the side by the garage. The brick columns and the overabundance of plain concrete came with the house. I am certainly going to do something with the large concrete driveway, maybe pavers or stamped cement to look like stone. No plans to sell anytime soon, this is my retirement nest egg and besides it's just too much fun fixing it up. Just about finished restoring the interior and now I need to figure out what to do with the exterior.
I appreciate all the commentary and suggestions. A couple of questions about the spark arrestor, you are correct there isn't one, it's on the "to do" list. But then again fireplaces in so. Cal make as much sense as screen doors on submarines and I have 3 of them! The drainage is fine, big collectors and underground pipes in all the right spots keep it bone dry in the worst downpours.
Keep those suggestions coming, I love the input! And thanks for the information on sizing the pictures. I will post more as the project moves along.
DaveExperienced, but still dangerous!
Plane-
How's about some pics of the interior?
as Buddha said to the hotdog vendor .... "make me one with everything"
I just thought of something else, aren't masonry chimneys the first thing to go in a earthquake? Since it serves no function and isn't to your liking why not just take it down and reduce the risk of injury?
Obviously they are not the 1st things to go, it has survived since 1972 and we have had some good shakers since then.
Experienced, but still dangerous!
It certainly could use landscaping, but I was holding off on that until I was certain what was going to happen to the exterior.
Good thinking on that, Planeman. No point in doing up a nice landscaping job only to have a buncha trucks and masons and painters stompin' all over it for two months....
But one imperative from this here unreconstructed iconoclast (me): Don't touch that gorgeous big-a$$ tree back there or me and Mama Nature'll curse ya with the scourge o' the Eternal Black Thumb fer the rest o' yer daze.... ;-)> <g>
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Not to worry, the trees are the only thing "untouchable" in this re-model. But if I could just train them to drop the leaves and seeds into the neighbors yard.......
Experienced, but still dangerous!
if I could just train them to drop the leaves and seeds into the neighbors yard.......
That's just the tree's way of giving back what it has taken....
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
expose the brick .. see if it matches the existing.
the rest is simply painting.
high light the house ... seperate from the garage.
I'm thunking the quotes of $1k and up aren't that bad.
me .. I'd throw some different pastels and "nature colors" on that side next to the garage and see what sticks.
Not a bad looking house at all ... bet it's an easy fix.
drive around the neighborhood ... copy something U like.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
dear cheap guy,
Despite all the good intentions of those here who have given you advice on what to do to the house, they can't know because they are not there. Their's is a guess based on one photo. So, avail yourself of the public library (they don't charge for looking at books), and become acquainted with house styles, architecture, etc. Get an idea of what you like. Take some photos of houses that you like. Interview a few designers or architects, choose one who seems to relate to you and to whom you relate. Then suck it up and pay this professional some real money. If you rely on free advice you will be sorry.
Dear sappy guyoverall, your advice was good, but there was no need to insult this questioner. He indicated being willing to pay aprice, but wants to do intelligent shopping. You are new here, but we have entertained a great many threads over the years where the ideas tossed back and forth generated some good work after going on to a professional. There have been some pretty poor architectural designs presented for review that ended up far better after taking ideas from here back to the archy or to another archy willing to work with the consumer instead of working over the owner.So while you are right in suggesting he do his own study and review at the library, this forum is simply one more reference aid, an interactive one as well.Grow up and be all clear heartwood.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
If you rely on free advice you will be sorry.weren't you supposed to add, "and that's my two cents worth?" ha,ha,ha "what's in a name?" d'oh!
I admit I'm cheap, and somewhat proud of it. I will be spending a boat load on this exterior and I want to do it right. Over the years this forum has produced some great ideas and technical help on my interior work. I will be hiring a professional to do the plans, but I will always look the pros on this forum for the real practical, "been there, done that" can't find it anywhere else kind of advice.
Experienced, but still dangerous!
I'd loose the shutter near the garage, paint the columns by the drive, and stain the driveway.
A couple of responses have mentioned staining the driveway. I've heard about it, but have not had any exposure to it. Any advice or guidance on this process, how is it applied? Is this a job a very experienced homeowner could do? Any advice would be appreciated.
Experienced, but still dangerous!
I have not personally stained concrete, but Brownbagg here has. Unfortunately, he does not have internet access at home due to Katrina. Maybe you could start a new thread titled "Staining Concrete Drive" or something like that. Here is a link for concrete stain that is for indoors and outdoors, also said for DIY.
http://www.kemiko.com/
New casement windows with horizontal muntins (existing can't meet egrees codes can they?) New thickened stucco wall around front and driveway side of house with a blind tiled arch-fountain? Plantings? Richer stucco color on chimney. Stucco courtyard walls and columns. Pergola @ front entry. Concrete Pavers or stamped concrete driveway.
My reccommendations
Tad
A slightly updated JPG -Stucco columns on Pergola
Excellent ideas! Thank you very much.
Experienced, but still dangerous!