How to cheer up an unattractive terraced house?

[PaintingOwls]

We've had an offer accepted and I'm tentatively getting excited.

The house will be our first home, it's an okay size, we are happy with the location.

There's nothing wrong with it, per se, I just don't think it's pretty and I'm trying to think of things to do to it.

We may change the windows as some have missing handles.

I wanted to put a bay window in but it will look out of place in the street and DP isn't happy admit losing parking space.

Any suggestions? I've tried looking online but everything appears centred around improving the appearance of Victorian terraced houses for some reason!

I wouldn't put in a bay window that is out of character. I would do a window box & hang hanging flower basket.
Change the front door to a black or French grey colour & add some pots. Pressure hose the drive. Put in white blinds for that shutter effect. Will look lovely.

Re - do your driveway

Get rid of the net curtains

Hanging baskets

New door

Some neat, architectural plants in the border between the drive and path (or in pots in the same place), eg box topiary spheres, would make it look smart for not much money. Window boxes (self-watering are a worthwhile investment) on the first floor. I think neat and formal fits with the style of the house but if you prefer a more cottagey look, a climber in a big pot next to the porch would soften the house with flowers, maybe dwarf rambling roses, in the border.

Cleaning the drive and path are another cheap and way to brighten things up.

If you have more money to spend, smart window dressings, a new front door, a picket fence between the houses, a bin store, new windows, a new drive would all help but I would stay in keeping with the style of the house - don't go adding on bay windows that will look out of place.

Clean the driveway and get rid of net curtains. Get a bin enclosure. Definitely get some plants.

Depending on the budget, you could change the front door, a nice tiled path leading to it with planting on either side. And a climber planted by the front door.

Possibly a tree with a clear trunk at the bottom not to obstruct parking (planted at the very front between path and drive).

It would be good if you and porch adjoining neighbour agreed on a scheme for both the porches.

I probably wouldn't put topiary by the door as it'd be a bit OTT for the type of property.

New door and windows, don't do the lace curtain things. Second the flowers out front. You probably want the parking space but a sweet little fence and some shrubbery would make it quite sweet.

Id focus on inside and getting that right as that's what you'll mainly see.
Ours isnt disimilar and it just is what it is! It looks normal for what it is if that makes sense..

Whatnotea

Thanks for your suggestions, I hadn't considered flower boxes! What a wonderful idea, I think it'll make a big difference.

I always think those PVC doors make anything look dull but you could easily get a nice new front door.

Get rid of the nets, that will help. And in time you could consider re-doing the pathway and drive. Is the interior nice?

I really want a new door, I like the cottagey types you get, I've always wanted a vibrant colour, but thinking maybe a black would look better against the red brick, which feels a bit garish.

Driveway we will definitely do, DP wants a new car and it's a bumpy ride from the road to the driveway at the moment.

I agree with changing the windows and front door
I’d put a climbing Rose in a planter placed in the recess by the front door. It will soften the harshness of the brick and smell lovely.

Beebumble2

Yes, that's a lovely idea, I was thinking wisteria or something initially, but roses are very English cottage, aren't they?

Running all this past DP and all he cares about is getting WiFi in

Would a bow window look stupid?

You don't want to start messing around with new porches, I don't think. Unless it's a total remodelling houses almost always look better as the architect intended them and it's usually the "improvements" that don't date well. Even more so as part of a terrace where continuity with others on the row is the key thing. Get some sympathetic windows (as close to the original look as possible - are there any unmodernised ones in the row to give you a clue what they might have originally been like?), definitely a new front door, (maybe some shade of green would go nicely with the red bricks?) clean up the driveway and soften everything with some greenery and flowers. Will look much prettier.

"Will a bow window [bay?] look stupid" you ask?
MrsCatnip is right:
it's usually the "improvements" that don't date well
I think a bay window will make it look like you're trying to make the house something it's not. I think it will be expensive and look silly and possibly a bit 1980s (my opinion)

I wouldn't put a bow window in that house it will look all kinds of wrong.

Wisteria is great but it is a bit of a thug. Could you take up some paving slabs between the houses and plant some shrubs.. NOT conifers.

You could plant a climbing rose up the front but have a look online - RHS website is good - some roses grow too big too quickly!

Don’t replace the windows unless you need to, that’s £!

A new front door will make a world of difference
Get rid of the nets
Clean the driveway and path
Bin enclosure
Some plants between the drive and path

Can you do something to mark between your path and next doors path?
.

And a nice hanging basket

You can put a new handle on a window for about £5 - just buy the handle and fit it, only a screwdriver needed. Replacing the windows would mean spending £££ for no reason!

My advice is not to decide anything yet. Live in it for 6 months and work out what your priorities are then. A bay window that isn't in character would be a huge waste of cash, but I'm sure there will be plenty of worthwhile changes that became obvious once you've got to know the house.

A nicer front door would make a difference too, and painting the lintel/soffit above it.

I noticed there were some bow/bay/whatever windows in the original streets whenever it was built, so thought it might be a nice idea to bring back. Unfortunately everyone else has gone with these cheap, large, flat windows so it might still end up looking out of place.

MrsCatnip

I hadn't thought about green! What kind of shade were you thinking? Dark, vibrant, pastel?

Oh it's fine. Start with a couple of pots and a new house number. I wouldn't replace the windows, but if I had the money I would change the door. Nice blinds and a hanging basket. Lovely!