How did you update your Red Brick Colonial/Black Shutter to look more current

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand all the azalea hate—I LOVE azaleas and look forward to their blooming every year! When I moved away from the DMV i was so sad that there were practically no azaleas (some soil issue or something.) it did not feel like spring without those lovely colorful bushes in all different colors crowding people’s front yards in a riot of shape and color.

And if you don’t love the smell of boxwood…?!

In my yard, the previous owners had planted pink, red, white and lavender azaleas all mixed together, in all different shapes and sizes on only the right side of the front yard. They also had old holly bushes that were hollow in parts and some had gotten way too big. None of this looked good against a red brick colonial and just made the house look older.

I wouldn't mind a row of all white azaleas in the front but when I replaced everything, it was not my first choice. Love my azaleas in the back yard but they are against the fence, not the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand all the azalea hate—I LOVE azaleas and look forward to their blooming every year! When I moved away from the DMV i was so sad that there were practically no azaleas (some soil issue or something.) it did not feel like spring without those lovely colorful bushes in all different colors crowding people’s front yards in a riot of shape and color.

And if you don’t love the smell of boxwood…?!

Boxwoods smell like cat pee. Is that something you like?

[Anonymous]

Not all boxwoods smell like cat pee.
The microphylla group do not smell at all.
You can find tons of them at the big box stores. Winter green, winter gem, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol at the comments!

I think black shutters on red brick looks too stuffy and old. Mine is a gray/blue/green and I think it looks nice. Also I don't have a fully traditional symmetrical colonial so not having black works.

Match your new shutters undertone to your roof (grayish or whatever).



Yes on new landscaping. I hate azalea salad especially this time of year when all the colors are in the yard and clashing with each other. You can add some hardscaping features like a trellis with flowers.

Ah, the traditional Arlington Colonial....

[Anonymous]

We have a traditional red brick colonial with black shutters, with a small portico. We recently did an addition in the back, and as part of that we updated the lighting fixtures in front and also the railings to more modern style. It's helped the curb appeal quite a bit.

We also need to repaint the front door. It used to be red, and we changed it to black, which ended up not working out like I thought...very dull. We're probably going to change it back to a red. Our designer also recommended a teal color which looked nice though it's not our thing. So maybe look at a really different front door color like teal or yellow? We have friends who did a yellow door on a brick colonial.

Finally we have a stone walk up to the front door and we recently replaced it, which has made the front look so much more clean. The masons did such a good job, I can't get over how much better things look. Another possibility for a change.

[Anonymous]

Most of these ideas have been posted already, but we did the following:

replaced old brass portico light fixture with more modern looking black one, and removed lamp post in front yard

replaced house numbers with large modern looking ones

painted front door glossy red, removed door knocker and replaced old brass door hardware with brushed nickel

flanked the door with modern looking tall black planters and planted ferns in each

replaced portico railing with simple clean unadorned one

cleaned up landscaping

I’d love to replace the shutters with simple, clean lined ones (ours have all the slats) and really redo the front landscaping (agree with the comments to remove azaleas and would love a japanese holly), and replace our fence with a modern looking horizontal slat fence - but all of these are not in immediate cards for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Red brick is such a difficult color to harmonize. I would do a whitewash then paint the shutters a dusty blue-grey, and have a more vibrant shade of same for the door. Better look if a garden as a lot of pink flowers in it.

This is the opposite of a modern look. My friend has this and her house looks like a traditional (and dated) colonial.

[Anonymous]

Put some siding on the front and make it a farmhouse. That'll make it more current.

Or stop watching HGTV and just accept it for what it is!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol at the comments!

I think black shutters on red brick looks too stuffy and old. Mine is a gray/blue/green and I think it looks nice. Also I don't have a fully traditional symmetrical colonial so not having black works.

Match your new shutters undertone to your roof (grayish or whatever).



Yes on new landscaping. I hate azalea salad especially this time of year when all the colors are in the yard and clashing with each other. You can add some hardscaping features like a trellis with flowers.

You think this house looks modern? It's like the epitome of outdate and stuffy to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:lol at the comments!

I think black shutters on red brick looks too stuffy and old. Mine is a gray/blue/green and I think it looks nice. Also I don't have a fully traditional symmetrical colonial so not having black works.

Match your new shutters undertone to your roof (grayish or whatever).



Yes on new landscaping. I hate azalea salad especially this time of year when all the colors are in the yard and clashing with each other. You can add some hardscaping features like a trellis with flowers.

You think this house looks modern? It's like the epitome of outdate and stuffy to me.

Yeah, too much HGTV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not understand all the azalea hate—I LOVE azaleas and look forward to their blooming every year! When I moved away from the DMV i was so sad that there were practically no azaleas (some soil issue or something.) it did not feel like spring without those lovely colorful bushes in all different colors crowding people’s front yards in a riot of shape and color.

And if you don’t love the smell of boxwood…?!

Boxwoods smell like cat pee. Is that something you like?

Not everyone is genetically programmed to perceive a cat pee smell. Smells like coffee to me. I like it.

[Anonymous]

Put some siding on the front and make it a farmhouse. That'll make it more current.

Or stop watching HGTV and just accept it for what it is!

Someone in our neighborhood did this and it looks horrible. They also put up the black windows (took down shutters). It now looks very stark like a warehouse. The farmhouse style needs more architectural details than what a colonial has. Don't try to put it on top of a colonial.

[Anonymous]

Unless you have a ton of money it’s better to lean in to the current style of your home and make it as nice as you can. Unless you can invest in a complete exterior overhaul, it’s going to look off modernizing just a few things.

[Anonymous]

Agreed...please no more white farmhouse with black windows ESP on a brick colonial. I personally love a more traditional looking home. I think landscaping, stone walkway, replacing outdoor lighting, house numbers and maybe even the front door would freshen it up.

[Anonymous]

Landscaping and the walkway/patio can do a lot. It's not cheap though.