How to make this house look better

[70sShmeventies]

Potentially outing but this is our new house: I love it but don’t love the exterior - specifically the white cladding. How would you make it look better - wood? More green? And if so, what wood etc? It definitely needs new windows as they are knackered.

To be honest I would just soften up with planting.

Take the photo and play around with colouring the cladding, getting rid of shutters etc

A couple of olive trees in terracotta planters on either side of the large front window. Give the brick a stain to “age” it. Please don’t render it! Plant shrubs and outdoor lights to light it up on long winter nights.

www.architectureartdesigns.com/old-brick-restoring-brightness-buildings-exterior-ease/

I'd remove the shutters and replace the front door and see how it looks. I'd leave the cladding.
A modern looking garage door would help. You could get an electric garage door put in while you are at it.

The other thing that would make it look more modern is putting up matching wooden shutters in all the windows.

Does the driveway need to be so big? I'd increase the lawned area if not, and plant shrubs, small trees etc.
Maybe something that will climb?

Amazing transformation! 😍

You could remodel the whole exterior and make it look stunning.

https://www.backtofrontexteriordesign.com/

@Twasacceptableinthe80s that looks so lovely. Great inspiration!

It’s tricky one because all of the houses in the immediate area are like this and there is something pleasing about keeping a degree of uniformity which makes me unsure about getting rid of the (weird pointless) faux shutters and white cladding. BUT a few have got wood instead and it definitely softens it. I think that with a new wooden door like Twas would make a big difference. I think once you get the cladding changed the shutters would have to go as they would look even more odd.

I am glad people are mentioned the drive - it’s very stark and I have considered turning a section into lawn and planting a tree in the front corner of the garden and some pots outside the door. My husband likes the idea of having lots of parking but there would still be space for two cars and plenty off road - and we only have one car anyway!

This is a good idea. This is how we chose our new front door. We placed photos of doors on a photo of our house.

I'd get rid of the shutters, buy a new front door and paint the cladding above the door.

God no, that's all I see. White looks so much better than grey

No don’t go grey! Grey looks pants against red brick. It also dates easily- give it ten years and people will be pulling grey frames out.

get Rid of the white cladding- does it need cladding- what’s underneath? Do oak if it does need some then fit an oak framed patch with pots either side- an olive tree either side then yes more greenery.

Christ, not bloody grey windows. Look awful and dated. For now, I'd just get rid of the shutters and change the front door but not to one of those McDonalds toilet door things with the big long, vertical metal handle.

But, mostly, it just needs greenery to soften it.

That’s what I’d do

Agree about grey windows being very much ‘if the time’ and will date quickly - however, so will rendering the outside and painting white. I would paint windows/cladding/garage door, remove shutters, get new front door, clean up drive and add lots of pots. Then see what it’s like.

Personally I’d remove the cladding and the shutters, and I actually wonder if the cladding is hiding a problem. Both seem utterly pointless.

id then paint the garage door a nice pale sage green and I’d soften the drive way with plants and grow wisteria round the front of the house.

Oh and yes put a nice oak door in.

Don't render the property, brick is not meant to be rendered it's meant to be breathable.

The before property looks much better!

There are lots of houses like this in Scandinavia/Northern Europe which manage to look quite stylish. Windows are the quickest way to make something like this look 'architected'. Make sure they all match rather than the mess of some having a top opening section and others not. I'd rather have Powder-coated aluminium than wood which can look a bit clunky - make sure they're as narrow-profile as possible and crisp/ flat, with no bevel or profile. Dark grey or dark ash green has been the go to for over 30 years and it won't go out of fashion any time soon, honest.

Then a wooden modernist door - again avoid bevels and clunky decorative bits - with good ironmongery (brushed steel - not chrome - is architects standard. . An unusual ivy. Minimalist landscaping and good pots.

I like how it looks now better than every alternative suggested. Rendering... ugh.

I don't think it needs such a dramatic transformation and actually think some of those after photos are worse than before.
Also agree that it needs to look of the same era and style as the other houses in the neighbourhood.
If you'd still have plenty of parking I'd reduce the size of the drive definitely.
Better for the environment too! Reduces risk of flash flooding, better for nature if you have plants and flowers, and IMO looks nicer too.
Honestly, if you've got money to throw at it I'd spend it on a garden designer/landscaper before cladding etc.

I just think the front wants softening- maybe a couple of potted trees and trailing up the brickwork , maybe a new front door too - nice looking solid house though!!