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. |
This is the opposite of a modern look. My friend has this and her house looks like a traditional (and dated) colonial. |
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! |
You think this house looks modern? It's like the epitome of outdate and stuffy to me. |
Yeah, too much HGTV. |
Not everyone is genetically programmed to perceive a cat pee smell. Smells like coffee to me. I like it. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Landscaping and the walkway/patio can do a lot. It's not cheap though. |
I agree. Nothing wrong with classic or traditional. You bought a colonial, silly to try to make it look like a modern build. |
That house is beautiful. |
I hate those fake brick quoins and the lawyer foyer. But the house is fine, it just looks of its era. |
Azaleas are elegant. Especially slightly overgrown in full bloom. |
Whitewashed brick looks so much better. |