Expert: Richard Taylor, AIA - 11/19/2005

Question
Hello Richard;

Please refer to the following link where I have been doing some fooling around in Photoshop http://usera.imagecave.com/nanton/

Our 1912 home siding has been damaged by hail and we have the option of putting on new siding. We thought about leaving the white siding and putting a facade of cultured stone wrapped around the bottom portion (below the veranda). However, after trying this in Photoshop, the existing white siding is too stark of a contrast.

We are consequently thinking of just changing the siding to a tan/sand color. We have an Allan Bock fence on the side (sorry no pic) that is tan and charcoal, as well as a garage facaded with Bear's Paw brick (common in the 80's, I believe). ... so we are trying to stick to browns/tans. We also think keeping the white trim/railings/pillars is OK and practical since the windows are already cladded in white.

Another problem is the door in front that is off-centre. We cannot put in a larger/second door or glass beside it to balance the look because there is a supporting wall inside the house that goes straight to that area. I thought about creating a half vase mounted on the outside beside the door as a planter to balance the area, but I don't know how I'm going to make that thing. Any suggestions to balance the area? We are looking for something that would be part of the outside wall rather than just placing something on the veranda like a statue or vase.

As well, there seems to be a large visual space between the two windows upstairs above the veranda. Putting on shutters only accentuates this large gap. I have tried putting a vent (see url link) in the center which helps to balance it, but the vent would have to be ornamental/nonfunctional because the wall behind it is in a closet.

Any suggestions will be of help.

Very grateful for your time and ideas,

Nicole

Answer
Hi Nicole - thanks for your question!

Your house is a classic Colonial Revival "Four-Square" - there are hundreds of thousands of similar homes all across the country!  It was a very popular style in the early 20th century.

Actually, what you have is not far from original.  The off-center entry is typical; the centered porch columns are intended to restore the symmetry.  You're lucky, actually - so many of these homes have been remodeled beyond recognition!

Here's what I'd suggest.  Keep the door where it is, without trying to make it centered.  Chances are that anything done it will just clutter it up and look worse.  Learn to love the assymmetry as one of the charming quirks of the house!  If you want to put the vase there, fine - just don't do anything permanent.

Between the two upper windows - the round vent is the right idea, but the wrong style.  Try a small square window with art glass.  That would have been more typical and appropriate.

Shutters might help, but my research shows that most of these homes didn't have them.  I could go either way on that.

Skip the cultured stone - this house probably has a split-faced concrete block foundation (looks a little like stone).  That should be kept.

Finally, I'd recommend staying away from the tan colors.  If you're going to add color, then add some COLOR!  Colonial Revivals were often very boldly colored - deep green, bright blue, and bright yellow with white trim were very common schemes.  A bold field color will do everything that you're trying to accomplish with the shutters.

All your home needs is a few bold strokes to give it life.  The "bones" of the design are intact - surgery isn't warranted here!

Hope this helps!

Richard Taylor, AIA
Richard Taylor Architects, LLC
www.rtastudio.com
www.betterhomedesign.blogspot.com