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Original poster

Is there anything that could be done to the frontage of this house? (Link)

26 replies

loverhats · 02/02/2025 23:48

This ugly thing....

I'm ok at interiors, but I can't work out what could (affordably) be done to this place. It's near the top of my budget, but I like the area and the space inside could work for me. Just not sure I wouldn't be cringing ever time I drove up to it.
I prefer classic/country styling so cladding/rendering it in white/grey wouldn't work for me.

Check out this 5 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove

5 bedroom detached house for sale in Cherry Garden Road, Canterbury, CT2 for £560,000. Marketed by Oatley and O'Connor, Canterbury

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OP posts:
AcquadiP · 02/02/2025 23:55

I'm confused, why have you been to view a red brick house if you don't like them? I don't think there is anything you could do to the exterior without making it look odd.

misscockerspaniel · 02/02/2025 23:59

Having windows that matched might help!

BaronessBomburst · 03/02/2025 00:01

You need a climbing plant on the extension. Not ivy, or anything too big. Maybe honeysuckle or roses between the window and front door to soften the 'box' effect.
Bushes under the window.
Shrubs down the side of the driveway.

lechatnoir · 03/02/2025 00:03

It's the hideous extension - needs a roof but that won't come cheap otherwise new windows & doors and some better landscaping . The house next door looks much better...

Redrosesposies · 03/02/2025 00:03

You could put a turret on the flat roof. That might make it look less common.

DairyLeanne · 03/02/2025 00:07

Yeah it's the flat roof isn't it. Looks like an extension done on the cheap. Not sure if a balcony on that flat roof could alter the look a bit more upmarket.

letthemeatcakes · 03/02/2025 00:09

Plants, plants and more plants. A climbing rose

letthemeatcakes · 03/02/2025 00:10

Yeah add a pitched roof too

mollyfolk · 03/02/2025 00:12

It’s definitely the odd flat roof.

the extension is poorly designed.

lechatnoir · 03/02/2025 00:12

Look at the street view and every other house on the street look better so it's definitely possible. There's another one on the market for £600k that might need internal work but doesn't look like expensive exterior remodelling is needed.

But if you don't like that style house or have deep pockets, keep looking.

MumonabikeE5 · 03/02/2025 00:13

Did you buy it?
id want a roof on the extension instead of a flat roof

PickledElectricity · 03/02/2025 00:16

Not sure why people are acting stupid on this thread!

It's the flat roof, mismatched and ugly windows. Neither of which are cheap to fix.

It's sold STC, did you buy it?

Theresabatinmykitchen · 03/02/2025 00:18

I think it needs it’s original 1930’s features back that have been stripped off this house and that will cost a fortune.

talloweve · 03/02/2025 01:59

Matching windows from the extension to the original and getting the roof/s painted to match and refresh would make a huge difference 👌🏼 Plus a new classic looking front door.

Negroany · 03/02/2025 02:08

talloweve · 03/02/2025 01:59

Matching windows from the extension to the original and getting the roof/s painted to match and refresh would make a huge difference 👌🏼 Plus a new classic looking front door.

Edited

Since when did roofs get painted?

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 03/02/2025 02:28

I think a new driveway wouldn’t go amiss.

Original poster
loverhats · 03/02/2025 02:32

PickledElectricity · 03/02/2025 00:16

Not sure why people are acting stupid on this thread!

It's the flat roof, mismatched and ugly windows. Neither of which are cheap to fix.

It's sold STC, did you buy it?

No I didn't Confused

I swear it wasn't STC when I posted it on here Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
loverhats · 03/02/2025 02:35

I'll be interested to see if it gets changed, yes obviously new driveway and plants, and I thought new pitched roof, but I couldn't work out how the lack of symmetry/balance could be addressed.

OP posts:
Marchitectmummy · 03/02/2025 03:28

It's a bit of an over extended mess, i would want to adjust the proportions of the extended portion of house windows, contujue the pitched roof over. The ground floor extended porch is problematic visually also, the roofs relationship with the bay is awkward.

Personally I wouldn't touch it, the rooms themselves are also dreadful, it's a largish house but with rooms the proportion of a small house.

Far to much work to unpick a series of bad decisions made historically.

Monty27 · 03/02/2025 03:40

Needs a fortune spent on it. Rubbish extension all in all.

housethatbuiltme · 03/02/2025 09:45

BaronessBomburst · 03/02/2025 00:01

You need a climbing plant on the extension. Not ivy, or anything too big. Maybe honeysuckle or roses between the window and front door to soften the 'box' effect.
Bushes under the window.
Shrubs down the side of the driveway.

As someone blighted for years by invasive honeysuckle that has tore up water pipes, damaged foundations and breached our gas supply it seems nuts to me someone would suggest DELIBERATELY planting the stuff.

Its a bloody nightmare.

zingally · 03/02/2025 10:00

The flat roof extension isn't the first thing I noticed - although it isn't that good of a look.
TBH, it's alright. Yes the drive is a bit scabby and the borders are quite unkempt, but it's nothing a drive cleaning company and a couple of hours of a gardeners time can't fix.

BaronessBomburst · 03/02/2025 18:20

housethatbuiltme · 03/02/2025 09:45

As someone blighted for years by invasive honeysuckle that has tore up water pipes, damaged foundations and breached our gas supply it seems nuts to me someone would suggest DELIBERATELY planting the stuff.

Its a bloody nightmare.

Show quote history

Oh. I planted honeysuckle in the back garden and it died. Maybe I should be glad!

talloweve · 03/02/2025 18:29

@Negroany Have you seriously never heard of roof tiles being painted? My parents recently had theirs cleaned and spray painted professionally.

Negroany · 03/02/2025 19:21

talloweve · 03/02/2025 18:29

@Negroany Have you seriously never heard of roof tiles being painted? My parents recently had theirs cleaned and spray painted professionally.

Nope. Seriously. Lived in houses all my life. Everyone I know has a house (a few flats I guess) but no-one I know, nor me, has ever had a roof painted as far as I'm aware.