Kerb appeal ideas needed for a twee 1930s bungalow please!

[PartOfTheProblem]

So I've been here a year, we are working through a mountain of jobs, but we are now looking at getting the front looking a bit nicer.

I detest the windows with the glazing bars, the uPVC cladding to the gable, the scalloped edge lead flashing over the garage door, the rosewood PVC porch...

I've had a couple of double glazing firms tell me my windows are in perfect shape, mahogany frames are mint, and they are "first generation Everest windows" (?) and that I'd be mad to change them for uPVC.

The driveway is in good condition and will be staying for the time being. The garage is also staying, although I'd contemplate a better roof for it, and I think a sectional garage door is probably a good start, but I definitely wouldn't want it rosewood or mahogany to match the porch 😅

I really don't want it to look too modern, the popular grey style certainly isn't for me.

Not a huge budget, but I'd spend a few thousand quid to make it look better

Any ideas? Photo inspiration welcome! Many thanks.

[TownIdiot]

First thoughts

Change Garage door
Change Porch

Preferably so they both match/work together

If you can't move the bins then some form of bin store that matches the garage and the porch.

[RedWhiteMonkey]

Pampas grass.

[Gixer968CS]

My house looked very similar (half render/half brick) and the pitch on our was tiled rather than slatted liked yours. We removed the tiles from the pitch and put a modern smooth acrylic render top to bottom (covering the bricks) and then a modernish front door. We also needed to change the windows and so also opted for more modern windows with larger panes. But, once the tiles in the pitch were removed we had a wall behind with no step to the wall beneath so we could carry the render up - yours may not be the same??

Depending on budget, removing the red tile sills and the wooden porch would make a bid difference. The sills are relatively easy to remove replace and the brick porch would look nicer/more modern - but £££s

Edited by Gixer968CS on Thursday 7th November 12:52

Edited by Gixer968CS on Thursday 7th November 12:54

[PartOfTheProblem]

The window sills are mahogany, so I'm tempted to give them a lick of white paint as a start.

Has anyone had luck with uPVC paint? Maybe painting the porch would help?

I'm definitely going for a sectional garage door as a priority.

[PartOfTheProblem]

TownIdiot said:

First thoughts

Change Garage door
Change Porch

Preferably so they both match/work together

If you can't move the bins then some form of bin store that matches the garage and the porch.

Thanks.

Yes, bin store will be happening. It's a Google Street view image from before we bought the place.

[drmike37]

I’d go with:
New garage door, tidy up the garage roof.
Remove the porch entirely.
Stick a nice front door on.
Paint sills to tie in.
New house number.

[TownIdiot]

drmike37 said:

I’d go with:
New garage door, tidy up the garage roof.
Remove the porch entirely.
Stick a nice front door on.
Paint sills to tie in.
New house number.

Porch will be very useful storage in a house like that

[Pitre]

Remove bins (certainly for pics/viewings)
Dwarf conifers or similar either side of front door
Paint porch and garage doors white
Remove shrubs in front garden as simple lawn makes it look more modern and bigger
Updated house number

Under £100...

[Simpo Two]

Pitre said:

Remove shrubs in front garden as simple lawn makes it look more modern and bigger

I'm voting for the shrubs. So many front gardens are featureless, sometimes just a desert of paviers. Plants give colour and interest.

[Nexus Icon]

Pitre said:

Dwarf conifers or similar either side of front door

As long as you don't mind spider-web tripwires at face height they'll look nice.

[DonkeyApple]

Replace plastic gable cladding with nice waney edge timber. Replace porch with a nice oak frame equivalent. Replace garage doors with a pair of wooden doors to match.

[Harmonica]

If the windows and porch are timber I would paint them and the garage door to match. Something to compliment the white, like a nice green (Bancha No. 298 by Farrow and Ball).

Obviously all personally preference of course, but I do love green on a house.

https://www.farrow-ball.com/paint/bancha

You can look at the inspiration on there and choose exterior.

[CatsMiaow]

Paint anything brown.
Replace the gable cladding.
I think the garden really dates it, with the kind of 'blob' bushes. I'd be inclined to plant more so that the bush islnads are joined together.

[Sporky]

Paint a clown's face on the garage doors.

[Cheib]

I’d definitely upgrade the porch and bin what looks like a pedestrian railing if it is not needed,

I’d also definitely want to do something with the gable end and garage door.

[OutInTheShed]

Park something decent in front of the garage.

Lose the net curtains?

[PartOfTheProblem]

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Garden overhaul is underway, starting with a new lawn as the existing lawn was in terrible condition.

I've decided on a cottage garden border, keeping the pink hydrangea as a specimen shrub, and going with some perennials and annuals. A friend works for RHS Wisely and has some ideas for me.

The front wall has gone, and I really can't decide what to do. I actually quite like it being open at the front, so maybe a low privet hedge? Ideas welcome!

New front door is on order, 1930s style albeit composite (sadly) in a soft 'agate' grey, and a simple stained glass top panel and satin glass side panel, and once that's fitted the porch will come down to be replaced with a brick porch.

Window frames and sills are being painted white, and a soft agate grey or cashmere type colour for composite cladding the gable end and a colour matched sectional garage door.

The garage is having a brick wall above the door with a coping detail, which will look so much nicer than the cladding and lead.

Should smarten it up a bit.

Any more ideas welcome.

Currently looks a bomb site as we've taken the opportunity to replace our lead water supply whilst we are at it...

Edited by PartOfTheProblem on Wednesday 12th March 23:24

[smifffymoto]

The biggest visual effect will be a roof scrape and biocide.

[AlexC1981]

I have a soft spot for twee 1930s bungalows. They have a sort of cosy comforting appeal that you don't see in modern or larger properties.

Sounds like you have made some good choices. If you wanted to keep the window frames, but remove don't like the glazing bars, you could probably just replace the sealed glazing units for clear ones. I'm not sure if old aluminium(?) windows would be worth spending money on as they are not at all energy efficient. I think diamond leaded glass looks nice on that type of property.