How to make our tired 1930s terrace look pretty?

5 år siden

We just bought our first house! It’s a bit of a doer-upper (e.g. the garden is currently accessed via a 5ft drop from some old French doors) but we’re really excited about the opportunity to make it our home.

Although it’s not top of the list of things that need doing, we’d like to make the front of the house look a bit more appealing... l’m thinking a more traditional 1930s door with stained glass inserts, but not sure what material... or whether we need to set it back a bit to turn the alcove in to a little porch like it would have been originally (like next door). Also the windows - they’re cheap uPVC at the moment, but not sure what would look nicer (obviously taking down those nets inside would be a start... this is the estate agent’s photo). We also want to give the house a lick of paint - maybe blue-grey? Plus those hanging tiles - not sure what to do about those to be honest.

If anyone has some flash of inspiration about any of this, please let me know! I’d be grateful to hear your thoughts

Fremhævet svar

Mandy Ross

5 år siden

I have 1930’s semi and went for a traditional 1930’s style composite door from Rock doors and I’ve had so many compliments on it also replaced windows with a traditional 1930’s look

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(19) kommentarer

minipie
5 år siden
I'd definitely reinstate the porch.

As for style, 1930s houses seem to lend themselves well to a modern look - I've seen a few done very well with white render and anthracite or mid grey windows/doors. If you went down that route you might paint the tiles white or grey too. The windows could have horizontal bars (like old style metal windows), or no bars at all. Think clean lines of art deco.

Alternatively you could go for a more cottagey look with cream render, multi pane windows (like the ones to the right), and the tiles stay natural, maybe add some climbing plants.

Depends on your taste!

I think there are a couple of architects who specialise in exterior "makeovers", Back to Front is one, try their site to get ideas?
Emma Smith thanked minipie
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Optic Interiors
5 år siden
Hi Emma,

Congratulations on your very first home! How exciting.

Have a look into aluminium windows. They are more expensive than uPVC, but look much smarter. Anthracite grey is a popular colour for the frames and this colour can be both on the outside and inside, it does make a statement. You can literally have any colour you want, but I would stick with either white or shades of grey.

The covered porch your neighbour has does give the front facade a bit more character, so it depends on what is more important to you: do you want an enclosed porch, or are you happy with an open porch? You could try and source an old 1930's stained glass door...or you could opt for a more contemporary look, with a nod to the 1930's style. If you were to choose an aluminium door, they can pretty much do any design you want with it. I think with the door you should either go solid wood (new or reclaimed) or aluminium...uPVC or composite won't do it justice.

I think painting the facade is a good idea. Depending on what you choose for the windows, this will dictate the colour choice for the render. And those hanging tiles are very orange aren't they?! Maybe look into replacing them with slate tiles? These could go well if you do go with blue grey paint for the render and mid to dark grey for the widow frames (and I would have the door in the same colour as the windows). You may be able to have them removed and replaced with render...this may be a good option as well.

Good luck and have fun!
Emma Smith thanked Optic Interiors
Antonia H
5 år siden
Congratulations! I would definitely do something to get ride of that pebble dash. White or cream would look lovely.
Emma Smith thanked Antonia H
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 år siden
Here is some idea
Emma Smith thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 år siden
Sidst ændret: {last_modified_time}5 år siden
I did some mock up, so you can see some ideas and how it would look.
Emma Smith thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
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Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 år siden
Emma Smith thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 år siden
Sidst ændret: {last_modified_time}5 år siden
Emma Smith thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
Emma Smith
Forfatter
5 år siden
Thanks everyone for taking the time to consider this. These are really helpful ideas. I’ll look in to getting aluminium windows and have decided the porch definitely needs to be reinstated. Probably stick with white frames to match the rest of the road (and because we probably can’t afford to get them all done at the same time). But slate tiles or grey cladding is a great idea. Thanks!!
E D
5 år siden
Sidst ændret: {last_modified_time}5 år siden
Initially I thought it best to get rid of the added porch and revert to the original entrance, which is still a good option, but you could also consider adding a porch, very much like the one in celerygirl's first photo.

This way you'll improve the exterior's look (albeit different to your neighbours') and still keep the extra bit of space with the vestibule and keep the cold out in winter.
deborah eade
5 år siden
Not sure how it works in the UK but in France if you are changing the appearance of your house that is visible from the road, you need prior permission. This is to avoid people doing things that are completely out of keeping with the neighbourhood, whether rendering, paintwork, or windows. Here you would probably have to go with cream rendering and retain the tiling, in which case choose a colour for the front door that picks up or contrasts with the brick/rust colour. My own first priority for the outside would be to deal with the garden, which you are very lucky to have, to get things in before the winter. One idea would be to get rid of the tiny patch of grass and lay thick gravel (not attractive to cats) plus a retaining path, create a simple structure to hide your dustbins (and bikes?), and invest in a couple of huge pots with some permanent planting and spring bulbs.
Emma Smith thanked deborah eade
deborah eade
5 år siden
Might have been looking at the wrong house?
janettegraham
5 år siden
I agree with Mandy. The traditional range of composite doors from Rock Door or Solidor look fabulous with this style of house and you can have any colour you like.
michtrue
5 år siden
For our house we found an 1930's wooden and leaded glass front door on ebay and then got joiner to fit it! I am always changing my mind on paint colours so this way I am never stuck with the same colour.
titiankim
5 år siden
I would try to work out what the original window style was (how many panes and bars) and try to replicate that. it makes such a difference to have the original proportions. I think the neighbour's windows look much better with three small panes across the top. I can see the appeal of reinstating the porch, but you might want to make that decision after spending a winter in the house. We externally insulated our 30s house, which meant covering the pebbledash with a modern smooth render - definitely worth considering rendering, it's expensive but means no more painting
Kathy
5 år siden
I think you should simply copy your neighbour.
E D
5 år siden
Looking at the OP's photo again, I actually agree with Kathy.

It would improve your house individually and because it will create a much more unified look (with both your houses), its effect is magnified.

A double edged sword. :)
Emily
5 år siden
Agree with Kathy and ED. Think it will make both your houses look better.
Houzz-bruger-ID-719555518
2 år siden
Sidst ændret: {last_modified_time}2 år siden
Appreciate this thread is quite old - but did you decide what to do in the end? We have the same issue with our, we are trying to think of ways to make the outside look nicer - we are getting new windows (Anthracite) and potetentially a porch with a new front door and steps - however could really do with some inspo!