Ugly house to lovely house (typical 1970 box)

[growingweeble]

We have a 1970s box house that we want to beautify at the front. Most likely a large porch but could be double storey. There isn't space at the side so would be front extension/cladding/etc. Has anyone seen one of these style houses transformed from an 'ugly house to lovely house'? Photo of the house style attached.

George Clarke did a very similar one, early on in the series, iirc. The one that you have linked to has nice proportions and plenty of windows so should be quite easy to gussy up: yes to wood cladding and a porch to make the facade less flat. Personally, I think windows and front door make a huge difference - avoid upvc, get some aluminium framed casements such as these. I'm also not a fan of those ridged concrete roof tiles so, if the roof needs replacing, look at getting something more traditional. There's a ton of stuff you can do - magazines such Homebuilding & Renovating often carry articles about these sorts of makeovers.

That's a great example you share. Our ambitions are far more limited and we have a semi but same era as OP. For a porch can you share some examples of what looks good on this style of house.

Something like these:

uk.pinterest.com/pin/416020084307132297/

uk.pinterest.com/pin/294211788132914720/

It depends which way one wanted to go. It could be ultra-modern like this or more traditional like this one.

Yes we have concrete tiles on the roof and concrete lintels and pvc windows and gutters. I am hoping that a change of door and pvc will work wonders. It might be possible to change the roof tiles without adding too much cost as we are probably doing the loft with dormers on both sides.
I would definitely prefer something modern and that keeps the good bits of 1970. The house is brilliant to live in but just needs a bit of love outside.

What about New England style cladding like this ?

I'd replace the windows with ones with glazing bars. Those plain seventies ones always look really blank. Plus a large porch or almost a verandah as on the one fozzleyplum linked to. Or failing that, shutters to the Windows.