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Architecture/house built in 1895

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Expert: - 9/8/2009


Question

The white house
Dear Nazim,
Attached is a picture of a house built in 1895.  A couple questions...what style, period house is it?  It is completely white, would you change the color/add an additional color and what would that be?  A newer addition was added a couple years ago...do you feel it was done well to match the existing house and is there anything else you would do to the original exterior?
Thank you,  Marianne

Answer
Hi Marianne,

Regarding the style, I would call it Colonial Revival. It has some Georgian and Adam influence but it was built too late to be these styles.

Regarding the color, I actually like the white in this case, but it would look good in other colors too.  I would take a look at some of the historic colors available from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore if you want to change the colors.

My one observation about what to change is actually not about the house, it is about the landscape.  My feeling is that a redo of the landscape will accentuate the positive of the home.  The center part of the house around the entry looks relatively symmetrical, yet the one tree to the right side of center seems to make it feel so off balance.  I'd like to see a planting plan that addresses the symmetry and also softens the addition. My only critique of the addition is that it's balance of glass to wall is higher than the original house.  Having some plantings or ornamental tree(s) around this area would soften this and provide some privacy inside these rooms.

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
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I am a Seattle Architect and can answer architecture and design related questions. Ask me about material suggestions or usage. Ask me about design options - what is good design and what is bad. Ask me about choosing exterior house colors and furniture layout options. Ask me about detailing and assembling houses or components in the home. Ask me about green design or materials. Ask me about choosing an architect, the architectural services, basement remodels, second story additions, and whole house remodels. Ask me about garage design, bathroom remodels, laundry and mudroom design, family room additions, and roof deck additions.

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Over 12 years of practice in the Architectural field including three years of internship plus 5 years of school. I have taught at the Knowlton School of Architecture at the Ohio State University and lectured at Carnegie Mellon University. I currently own and run the Seattle Architecture Firm, Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC.

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