Fugly house. Do we extend or move?

[lockdownbreakdown]

So we live in the ugliest house ever. It's a sixties built semi and quite a monstrosity. However on the inside its lovely, light and nicely decorated with breathtaking views. We can now afford a much bigger mortgage but I cant bear to leave the lovely views behind. We can't quite stretch to a much bigger house in the current location but could buy a four bed detached with double the floor space in a not so nice but fine area on the other side of town . Or we could extend our fugly house to get the space we need but forever have our hearts sink when we drive up to it. It also won't ever be worth as much as buying a house at the top of our affordability. We are currently in a great school catchment . What would you do?

My mate painted her pebbledashed bungalow, put a new porch on, tidied up the front garden, new garage door, new steps - transformed it.



www.themodernhouse.com/sales-list/the-avenue-ii/

Try again
Is this like your house?

OP, definitely re-render the pebbledash and paint white or cream. I'd then remove the tiles and use wooden cladding. It would look lovely. New windows, possibly black/dark grey. Although I've seen white on this style look equally as good. I'd do it despite next-door. Anyone who buys next-door after your elderly neighbours move on, will almost definitely do the same as you. You never know, your current neighbours may even do it.

I have a v ugly house too a bit earlier than yours, late 50s ex authority semi. But it is in a lovely village with a lovely large garden on the edge of village with allotments behind and gorgeous views. Apparently there is some kind of order that says the allotments can't be built on (I'm sure that doesn't mean much nowadays though). I spend hours remodelling my house in my head! But I'd struggle to move away from here at the moment.

have a look at the account @theoldpiggery_ on instagram. they have transformed an ugly old boxy house into a beautiful wooden clad one, if you go back to the earliest pictures you can see what it looks like originally. I don't think I would move if I was you but if it really does make your heart sink when you look at the outside, I'd maybe take an additional loan on the mortgage as it sounds like you can afford it and give it some serious love!

@lookingoutadirtyoldwindow not quite as ugly as that, thankfully! It's like a normal sixties semi with a separate garage underneath that you can only access fro the outside with about ten steps up to the front door which has a sort of small balcony in front of it.

I love mid century houses especially if it is one storey. If you love the views and you've got quiet neighbours I wouldn't move

@schmooopy that's really given me food for thought! I need to go Instagraming.

@user1471530109 I wonder how much that would cost? I could do the double story and re render the whole outside at the same time. Not a bad plan.

If it's lovely inside and has a great view I wouldn't move. There will always be something you don't like about any house. I'd extended and look at improving the outside appearance if you can afford to.

I love that house!!
I suppose it's a matter of individual likes and dislikes but
I think it's like when people used to pull Victorian Edwardian houses to pieces and now everyone tries to put original style windows doors etc
You've got a genuine mid century house own it be proud of. It !!!!
Or move !!

You can alter the exterior quite a bit by changing the windows/adding shutters/rendering/cladding/etc...

I've attached a picture for inspiration!

@Poppins2016 that's pretty amazing transformation. I bet it cost a fortune but its gorgeous!

I love the one LookingOut linked to!

Cedar cladding has been used on a fugly bungalow near us and it’s transformed it.

Yes to some good planting. Also, with practise perhaps you could learn to drive the last bit of any journey with your eyes closed so there isn’t that sinking feeling on returning home?

[quote lockdownbreakdown]@Poppins2016 that's pretty amazing transformation. I bet it cost a fortune but its gorgeous![/quote]
If you want to keep the costs low, I'd look at render or cladding. I don't think you'd need to go as far as replacing windows or the roof (unless they were truly awful)! My neighbours have a similar house and have mentioned looking into timber cladding (as well as a small extension) and I think it would massively improve the property!

you could do the George wotsit thing which means bifolds at the back, a ridiculously expensive chunky front door and all the other useless cliches.

or you could just not worry about it, because it can't spoil your view!

I like the whole thing including the tiles

Keep and extend. Views are really good for mental well-being.