Today, I finally opened a bit of junk email from Better Homes and Gardens and found these great "before and afters."
First, the Plain Jane Cape Cod--is a very common style that could have been built from around the 1940s up till last week.
BEFORE
A small front porch gable was added to cover the front door and a pergola was placed over the porch.
A new improved front door with sidelights was installed, the front window was enlarged and new garage doors were stained to match the house.
I think this face lift would be affordable and not too overwhelming.
AFTER
The next example:
Oh the yellow 1920's cottage--or it could be 1930's or 1940's here in Morningside.
This one lacks something that really bothers me--there are no overhangs. It's flat. The gutters sit flat against the house. Flat, flat, flat. Maybe it's a Southern Thing but I think houses should have at least a little eave around them. Really, I like houses with nice deep eaves, but that's not appropriate on all styles.
BEFORE
Ahhh...Much better. Don't you think the extended eaves really make the difference? Of course the wonderful sage green paint and new landscaping are huge, but the addition of eaves does it for me. (I love this one!)
AFTER
And last:
The oh too common North Fulton European Stucco (make that EIFS or synthetic stucco). This style is the bane of Realtors in the suburbs. These houses if not maintained can rot from the inside. On this particular house the stucco had broken down and started to leak which lead to a mold infestation--the cure--rip off the synthetic stucco.
BEFORE
New wood shingle siding, new windows, a portico over the front door, updated garage doors and additional trim brought this baby into the new millennium.
Now that's inspiring and gives my friends who think they're "stuck in their stucco" some hope.
AFTER
I hope this abbreviated tour has given you a few good ideas--it just fed my appetite for fixing and flipping.
Thanks for stopping by.
Later,
Patti
