North of the City
March/April 2008
By: Lisa Worth
Curb appeal. Pride of ownership. Whatever you call it, one thing is for sure, the facade of your home is a reflection of you. A well-maintained exterior increases resale value and shows you care.
One of the major downsides of being a homeowner in the suburbs is the lack of visual and architectural interest in some communities. No doubt you know a friend or neighbour with the same facade and floor plan as you. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot perform a facelift to create a stunning first impression that will differentiate you from the rest.
“A garage with a house behind it”Years ago, I had a memorable conversation with a well-known architect. When the topic turned to our residences, I mentioned I lived in a 15-year-old builder house in the suburbs. He asked me, “Do you live in a garage with a house behind it?” I had to laugh; he had a point.
“Focal point” may be the most overused term in the interior design profession. However, when it comes to house facades, it’s everything. Consider this carefully: how many homes have you seen with garage doors painted in colours not complementary to the exterior? The homeowners have inadvertently made them the focal point.
Garage doors are utilitarian and not the star of the show. I am not saying garage doors shouldn’t be attractive and well maintained, just don’t let them upstage the entry.
When tackling a facelift for your home’s facade, approach it as you would when creating an interior plan. You want to maintain visual interest, however, you also want to create a unified scheme. Choose paint and stain colours for garage doors that complement other exterior elements such as fascia, eaves and window colour, yet do not compete with the front door.
An absolute must when planning exterior work is to take some digital photographs and sketch the various alterations you are planning.
Diverting the eye to the front door can be especially challenging for certain suburban houses where garage doors are 15 feet in front of the entry and five times as wide.
When choosing a new front door, consider the following:
Material – Wood is traditionally the top choice. Fiberglass is new on the market and closely resembles wood without the maintenance issues. Steel is always an option.
Maintenance – Wood requires regular maintenance to ensure longevity. Both fiberglass and steel are maintenance free.
Budget – Wood is the most expensive option, fiberglass is next and steel the most affordable.
Orientation of entry – With south-facing front doors, carefully consider the UV resistance if you select a wood door. All wood doors should have at least two coats of fade-resistant polyurethane with a UV inhibitor. Most manufacturers recommend an overhang of at least four feet, or half the length of the door, to protect the door from water and sun damage.
Style – The entry door should compliment the architecture of the home. For example, a prairie-style arts and crafts-inspired door would not complement a Victorian home.
Design considerations – Numerous clients are now opting to replace traditional double doors with single larger doors with sidelights. Height permitting, consider transoms. Don’t overlook the hardware. The finish should complement the style of the door and work with other decorative elements such as the mailbox, exterior lights, house numbers and doorbell.
If the budget is too tight for a new front door, create a new look with a fresh coat of paint. High sheen black is always a sure fire winner and works with most exterior finishes.
Depending on your entry configuration, also consider adding wood trim or architectural detailing such as a header above the entry, or building a portico to balance the visual weight of the garage doors.
The Big Kahoona –windowsMany of my clients struggle when choosing window styles. They’re apprehensive because they know the investment is going to hurt. The options require careful consideration and if they get it wrong, it’s really going to be painful. It’s no wonder people wait until the mould and rot sets in before they take the plunge.
The focus of this article is facelifting, which means we are dealing with retrofit installations and working with the RSOs (rough stud openings). If you are custom building, the options are extensive.
Dave Moore, owner of MWD Planning Centre in Aurora, sells the Andersen and Dashwood line of windows. When we chatted recently, he explained the double-hung window style is hot right now. “There is a swing back to the more traditional window of 40 to 50 years ago.” He does caution clients not to mix window styles and choose designs that complement the existing architecture.
For example, many suburban homes requiring new windows were built 15 to 20 years ago and currently have casements. The architectural style with this type of window is contemporary; casements are typically long and narrow. Double-hung windows are designed for wider windows, not a casement configuration.
When selecting colour options, consider the existing exterior fascia, eaves and brick. The hot colour pick currently on the market is black.
The details
With minimal time and cost, you can change a few items that will have a huge impact on your exterior.
Light fixtures, stylish mailboxes, doorbells and house numbers all create instant impact. Restoration Hardware is a favourite supplier as it offers a wide selection.
A few tricks of the trade:
- Stick with one finish to create unity;
- Don’t choose light fixtures that are the incorrect scale or size. Take them out on approval and return them if they are too small and appear diminutive or too large and overwhelming;
- Consider adding fixtures above front door entries mounted on wood headers or, height permitting, pendants in porticos.
Don’t underestimate the power of good looks. Spring is a perfect time to undertake a facelift, so get the ball rolling.
Take some photographs, plan carefully and get ready for some admiring glances.
Lisa Worth is president of Aurora-based Worth Interior Design Ltd. and a member of the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario. Contact worthinteriors@sympatico.ca or visit www.worthinteriordesign.com.