Browse Forums Renovation + Home Improvement 1 Jun 28, 2011 2:28 pm Hey Everyone, I wanted some advice on what would look best to update the 80s look of this house. Its my one of parents houses but im living it in and want to do some renovations (figure I owe it to them seeing im staying there for free). They have just had the roof re-done and added a garage and driveway. I've attached some pics so hopefully they work. http://s1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee459/1312517413125174/?action=view¤t=DSCN1636.jpg http://s1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee459/1312517413125174/?action=view¤t=DSCN1636.jpg#!oZZ2QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1228.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee459%2F1312517413125174%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DDSCN1635.jpg If the pictures didn't work, pretty much it has a maroon/red roof, with brown guttering and pretty old brick work. There is a new metal cream coloured garage attached to it. I was thinking of getting the outside bricks rendered in a cream colour also? what do you think, will that suit the house. Also the guttering and all the wooden window skirting is brown, what colour would look nicer and suit the house if i render the walls in a creme colour. if you have any other ideas other then rendering the bricks id love to hear them, i've never done any renovations before so all suggestions will be much appreciated thanks Dave Re: Ideas to update the look of this house 2Jun 28, 2011 2:48 pm I'm one of the probably few people who actually prefer bricks to render. If it were me, I would paint the gutters and windows, etc (everything brown) the same cream colour as the new garage. The bricks are a light colour which seem to have the red and cream tones in them, so I think the red roof and cream coloured trims would work well. If after that you still don't like it then consider render. Also, unless you are set on those awnings I would be ripping them off. If you require some sort of protection then perhaps one of the fixed awnings seen on cottages (kind of like this might be better but they old-style canvas ones tend to detract from the appearance. Second Time 'Round Re: Ideas to update the look of this house 3Jun 28, 2011 3:02 pm I agree with Ray - all that is needed is to repaint the mission brown gutters and window trims to match the shed. Instead of the awnings, timber screens to shade the windows with a modern-style garden would look fantastic! Re: Ideas to update the look of this house 4Jun 28, 2011 6:58 pm Yes, I agree - the house looks pretty good as is - I dont think render would improve things - but then Im not a fan of render so Im probably biased. I even think the awnings look ok - but I do think the brown guttering etc is a bit of a heavy colour, I would re-do all that in a cream to match the garage - and that would pick up the cream colour of the awnings if you kept them and tie all the colour scheme together. I think its important when doing updates like this to keep them in character with the style and age of the house - you want it to look like an updated fresh 20 year old house - not a wanna-be 2011 house, if that makes sense Re: Ideas to update the look of this house 5Jul 01, 2011 5:38 pm I agree you need to tie the house and the garage together. By painting the eaves, guttering, door and windows creamy colour of the garage. rip the awnings off. Then you have to tackle that garden. You live in Queensland, so you need some palms to frame the house,then I think a low to mid height hedge as a boundry fence would improve the look with grass if you can grow it, or gravel with succulants. The roses are rampant and have to go Re: Ideas to update the look of this house 6Jul 01, 2011 5:48 pm I agree the brown painted areas need to be a light cream to match the shed but I wouldn't discard the awnings totally because it appears you need them for shade so I would replace the canvas with shadecloth (providing the mechanisms on the blinds are still OK). If you don't feel like tackling this yourself, your local upholsterer would be able to do them. Maybe choose a cream for the shadecloth as there is a fair bit of cream in the bricks and this will change the whole appearance of the house. And to be really picky...if you've got a pressure cleaner, then spruce up the concrete path so it doesn't spoil your 'new' house. Being a rose lover I couldn't bring myself to rip them out, but would attack them with the secateurs....I'm sure once the house is spruced up the garden makeover will follow. Good luck, it's a nice house and will look great when completed. Re: Ideas to update the look of this house 8Jul 10, 2011 9:57 am I agree with others. The brick looks lovely on the house and I dont think rendering would necessarily make the house look more modern. Definately painting the eaves, drains and windows a more creamy colour to match the garage would look better. I also agree that changing the material on the awnings might improve the look. You could also consider a more modern front door. Re: Ideas to update the look of this house 9Jul 10, 2011 10:13 am the house is what it is. mission brown will be back in fashion in 3 years.!! unfortunately the garage dominates the elevation. some render on the front to tie in with the garage would be good. i wouldnt be painting the windows. the best money spent would be to update new external finishes in driveway, entry path, porch etc. install some rendered brickwork piers with infill fencing at the front. you get the appearance of a larger more intergated house, security, privacy and increased street appeal. good luck with the reno. Hi everyone, we are struggling to find inspiration for our house renovations. We've got a mid-1980s home in Perth that we want to renovate ourselves (as much as possible… 0 935 No the fireplace doesn’t work. It’s been enclosed. 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