How can I spruce up the exterior of my unlovely 30s house

[30shousecat]

Been living in our 30s detached house for a year and a half. I wouldn't say I have ever particularly loved 1930s houses and unfortunately the house has had much of the original character stripped from it - new pvc windows, a garage extension etc - but we could still see the potential to improve it and could see it would work for us long term. We are saving up to do a big project internally and while we do that we aren't really doing any of the 'nice to have' stuff. That said our porch (or maybe it's a vestibule?) is really looking quite grotty and also also the wood is almost bare where so much of the previous finish has worn away. I would really like to at least give the porch a lick of paint but I am struggling to visualise what colour would look good and whether to paint it all one colour. Ultimately we will hopefully replace it with something a bit less boxy and ugly but it will be with us for a good few years. Any suggestions welcome even if they are ones for the 'one day' pile. Was wondering about a climbing rose or something.

Christ! just seen the curtains. What are those big white things? De-humidifiers?

I just think for now, a good clean and tidy up would work wonders, as would some potted flowers.

I would take the doors away from the vestibule altogether, leaving an open shelter. It would clear the lines and clutter, one style of 'brown doors' and a different front door. Is the vestibule really that useful?

They're speakers Perfidious DH's choice. They actually don't stick out quite so much in the room as it appears in the pic!

My new cunning interim plan is to recover and rethread the existing blinds with navy fabric.

Thanks for the new replies! Littlest is back at nursery on Thurs and Fridays as of next week so I might actually get some kid free time to do some of this stuff!

I am tempted to try washing the pebbledash if the rain ever stops as the general consensus on DIY painting of it seems to mainly be NEVER AGAIN from what I have read.

Will def update with pics.

Unexpectedly had some time today as managed to get DD2 into nursery and DD1 is at school. Making the most of the time! Not the finished article by a long shot but progress!

I know the two tall green bushes in front of the bottom right window need lots more cutting back but I will still be leaving a fair amount as they were strategically planted by the previous owner to block the view of the road and they work well in this regard. I only stopped as I ran out of space in the green bin, despite it fortuitously being bin day so having filled and emptied it once already!

This is actually a better view than the one I posted previously as you can see the whole front.

To answer a PP, yes keen to keep the vestibule for the time being as it is the perfect size to house our folded up pushchair and also very handy for parcels to be left in.

Also realised that I need to get rid of the bottles on the windowsill in the bathroom! Surprising how things like that generally add to the untidy impression. The 80s style bathroom with its mustard yellow carpet and black and gold fittings is a whole other thread....

It already looks much better without the weeds. Changing the windows will obviously improve it but in the short term I think you might be surprised at how much better it looks even with just the front door painted.

Hi OP, I would paint the porch door, the weathered wood makes it look rather run down. And then also paint the windows and actual front door inside the porch, I'd go for a grey so it doesn't stick out as much through the porch glass.
Have a look at Frenchic paint (Frenchic paint fan forum if you're on Facebook). It's amazing paint you can paint almost anything with. It's incredibly easy to use and the results are amazing. Also a great community who will have even better ideas.

NoCaller am definitely going to paint the porch, it's just deciding what colour and going for it! Funny you mention Frenchic as I am currently obsessed with the Frenchic fan forum

Hahaha seems like everybody is atm!
Just dran something up for you, I’d get right of the black cladding and gutters (Frenchic it 😂), white wash the brick and then paint the porch.

Do you use the porch? If not I'd remove all the doors (the brown ones) and leave it open if you don't use it. I've never really seen the point of an entrance like that, you can't really store anything in there as it gets damp, just acts like a bottle neck

Weed obviously.

Ooh NoCaller I like that what do you reckon, mermaid for a day for the door? Scurries back to Facebook and starts scrolling through the forum.....

I was going to say wise old sage as I find that more classic. But obviously if you prefer mermaid for a day, go for it!

Porches are useful as they provide insulation against draughts and keep rain off. They also mean that anyone who calls at the house isn't right at your front door. You can keep a shoe rack and umbrella stand in there if you want. You don't need to have a letterbox in the front door which can be a source of draught.

I think you have to be careful with grey on the exterior woodwork as it can look like undercoat and you haven't bothered finishing the paint job. In the future if you change the windows, change the front door too at the mock Georgian style is wrong for the house.

I'm curious Wow, what kind of door do you think would be more in keeping? Presume you mean the door to the actual house rather than to the porch? I actually do want to change the front door as its a horrible one with the ugly glass etc and the way the top semi circle bit (sorry don't know the name) doesn't line up with the square panes etc but I had thought that was a roughly 30s style door. This is the door in all it's 'glory' from the inside.

Wise old sage is a definite contender NoCaller. Might be more 30s looking. Need to get some testers!

I would replace the porch doors, preferably, or for a more budget option, repaint them. I think that will make the biggest difference.

Next on the list would be to get the render repainted, it looks a dirty white and needs freshening up.

Ideally you'd also replace the front door and the windows but that'll be expensive so might not be top of the list if you're saving up for other work.

I wouldn't bother getting the windows painted btw, I think the main problem is the design of the windows and not the colour.

Also might be worth checking the condition of the porch roof and seeing if it can be cleaned, broken tiles replaced etc.

What is it with painting everything an industrial shade of grey at the moment?

I'm actually keener on the idea of a porch door in some kind of green than the grey. Not sure it would be very in keeping with the rest of the house. Grey does seem to be everywhere at the moment!

Have you tried posting on the Houzz website. I got some amazing support where another poster 'mocked' up various pictures of my house. Really good website with professionals and interested 'DIYers'

Join the Frenchic Paint group on fb for ideas. So many people painting front doors in gorgeous colours. The pink ones are my fave!

These are all examples of traditional 1930s or 30s style front doors

Paint the house a sandy colour rather than white, as the white pebbledash and white windows together make it look washed out. Paint the porch doors white too (or that greeny/blue) and paint the walls inside the porch the same colour as the exterior or a contrast to brighten it up.

Maybe paint the windowsills black to match fascia if they are wood. Leave white if they are PVC.

No offence but the window frames look like they could do with a good clean. Would make the world of difference to have them gleaming too

None taken Basin. With such a long list of jobs and 3 and 5yo at home, inevitably some areas have fallen by the wayside. Unfortunately they are PVC so probably best to leave them white I guess.

I'm not exactly in love with the pebbledash (is anyone?) I do tend to think it would look better in cleaned up white than another colour though although I will have to work out what to do about the windows. I think my next job apart from cleaning the windows is to paint the porch, and then i'll see how I feel about the rest of it.

Oh yes Wow now that you post those I do remember. I have definitely come across that style a lot whilst googling. I'll file those away for the 'someday' pile

Its actually a lovely looking house. Our house is a 30s house and we love the style.

I'd echo everyone elses advice- lots of weeding, get the bushes trimmed and super smart, and some nice big pots with plants out the front (I'm thinking big hydrangeas in pink).

I would paint that porch door a lovely bright green. (I HATE grey with a passion though!)