Exterior design

[BlackbirdFirst]

Am considering getting a professional to advise me on a minor changes to the outside of my house - eg painting windows and garage doors, and fence/gate choices.
The garden is fine, but I don't think the whole approach befits the house and I know it could look nicer.
Its a large house, over £1.3m and we are going to sell, but not for a few years.
Should I get an architect to do an hour's consultation, or an interior designer..... or just a local estate agent?
Any ideas?

F&B offer consultations too. Other than that, an architect or interior designer or anyone with a bit of taste and experience will do. Is the front garden just ‘fine’ or could it be improved a bit too?

Are you just dressing the exterior or making radical changes? Are you talking 20ks worth of work or 200k?

Better still post a picture of you’re house here and we can advise you 😁

I’d probably ask friends with good taste as a starting point. Also estate agents. Then pay for an hours consultation with an architect and also landscape garden designer

I have a lovely garden lady who advises me and I'm relatively happy with the garden.

It would be only a few £1k of work to be honest, I will see if I can get a good photo of the whole front....

Ok I have not taken the whole house as it's hard to get it in without trampling over the garden.

This is the bit that I dislike most anyway - the view you see when you drive in off the road.

This would not have been the original entrance and the main front door is beautiful around the corner.

I hate the side gate a lot.....any ideas how I can make that blend in a bit more?

We have a similar layout where the house is less prominent than the double garage.
We put 3 good quality artificial Box in tall planters on either side of garage plus one in front of the central pier. Looks much better
Your garage is asymmetrical, so you'd need to work round that. What's the internal style of the house? Cottagey, traditional classic or contemporary?

Thanks, the window to the right of the garage doors is the kitchen it was an extension as the garage used to be a separate building.
But the rest of the house has high ceilings and is quite traditional English style - wooden floors, pale walls, floral and linen fabrics. But with some quirks I try to add.

Plants are a bit tricky as we reverse right up to the side gate to get out, as the front beds bulge out annoyingly!

We swing right across the front of our garage to park so the planters are granite effect plastic in case they get hit!

Your house is very attractive actually. Repainting all the wood work, windows etc. and then the gate in the same colour (Farrow and Ball?) would be the only thing I would do. Some trees, taller shrubs, even in pots either wide of the garage etc. would soften the front too. Any more than that and you need to take a huge leap up in terms of changes and costs and it probably wouldn't be worth it and won't solve what you actually dislike (where the front door is). Unless... it was possible to change the drive so it was sited in front of the original front door?

Have a look on Houzz , lots of ideas , you can type in what specific feature you want to see , also has some designers tagged on there but to be honest your house looks crisp and appealing don't do too much

I think the garage door looks very bright against the brickwork. I’d paint the garage door sage green so it’s in keeping but not too much contrast and brightness.

I’d also add plants in that alcove under the window and possibly look at other planing against the wall. That big bush in the picture looks a little random at least from this angle.

Thank you @jojoSM2

Would that mean I'd have to match the front door sage green?

And window sills and frames?

Struggling to google relevant photos, but I’ve seen beautiful tile-hung facades (similar to yours) with either the front and garage door matching + windows left white/cream or everything matching.

It’s a case of getting the shades right and trying them in different lights first, though. Our house is a different style but we did try at least 5 hues of the same colour to get it right. Luckily, DH has an amazing eye for colour. Otherwise, some interior designers are great with colour too and could help.

Youve inspired me thanks. I've seen one I like, a bit darker green than sage, but I would try a sample like this.....I think it looks quite 'stable-y', which works for me

I really like that darker green. I wonder what shade it is

If you have Pinterest, lots of UK firms in there you can see have changed exterior of houses as well as landscaping/drives. Back to Front exterior design consultancy is one I follow.

Yes, not sure. I think F&B Green Smoke might be close.

The green looks great

Have a bit of colour. Some plant pots by doors.