New Home Purchase - Any Ideas?

[smuenchrath]

Hi,

My fiance and I just purchased a 1952 bungalow in Calgary, Alberta.

We love the neighborhood and the interior has many improvements, but the exterior has no curb appeal whatsoever.

I would love to hear some suggestions/ideas as to design or landscaping improvements.

We don't care for the front porch and would like look at building a more welcoming front entrance. What about some sort of portico?

Thanks!

[csintexas]

I think good landscaping would help.

[smuenchrath]

Absolutely - on the landscaping front.

We certainly will be relocating the sidewalk from the property line to the center of the house - perhaps a stamped sidewalk, stained a darker gray.

Need to figure out something with that sideways staircase. Most likely will end up removing it.

[csintexas]

Oh, I don't know if I would do that, I assume that it faces the driveway side? That is a lot of work to remove for very little gain. Also it may have been built on the front setback line which may not allow you to add a front porch?

[smuenchrath]

Actually, the garage is accessed by an alley in the back and the front sidewalk to enter the home is to the right of those trees you see in the photo.

Its kind of an odd feeling for visitors as you feel as though you are walking on the neighbors property - the sidewalk straddles the property line.

Perhaps a different approach to the landscaping will make things appear differently.