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HowardV
Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject: adding a door |
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I am renovated my house and need some advice or adding a window or door. I am about to put vinyl siding on the house (light brown) and adding grey shutters. I am also going to put stone in the entrance way as well as construct a front courtyard. My question is whether to add French Doors, a large window, few small windows, etc to the rooom to the left of the garage.
This room is 11' X 21' (3.4m X 6.4m) and currently has patio doors on the opposite side of the room exiting onto a wooden deck. I am thinking that adding a french door will take too much space from the room since it is narrow and already has 3 doors (1 patio and two others). Even though I am planning a front courtyard it can be accessed from the front doors (left of the garage). I have been told that the french doors will look better and if that is the case I will go with these doors but if windows are a better choice what should I do? Do I make a large window to match the others or can I go will a smaller window(s)? Can anyone offer any suggestions?
thanks
please see the following photos
http://picasaweb.google.ca/DaveHV/Housw
Please this is before I have started construction so the colours are off (I did a bit of photoshop edits)
one photos shows what it would look like with two small windows
the next photos shows what it would look like with a large window similar to the other two front windows
the next photo shows what it would look like with french doors
the last image shows the proposed front courtyard design
thanks for looking |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1967
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Strictly responding only at the three images, the 3 pane window looks the most well balanced and integral with the house. However, there are a few other issues that jump out at me long before I even get to that part...
...for starters, color. Regardless of what tone you actually chose, the warm color in the beige range clashes with the cool color in the grey. Warm tones typically look better with contrasting colors or other warm tones (think "earthy")...and cool colors look better with other cool colors (think "tropical"). I would recommend looking at painting the shutters white to match the window frames or maybe in the green tones to match the "earthy" color of whatever beige tone you chose.
Theen I have a very hard time with your circulation...where is your front door exactly? Wherever it is, it's not immediately noticable from the street which is a drawback in my opinion. Which segways to the next issue of circulation...since this new patio is off your kitchen, the rec room seems to be the closest space that would access this outdoor space...so a french door would be the most obvious from that point of view. Perhaps even build a trellis overhead that makes it an outdoor "room" and somehow tying the rec room with this patio. Not sure though...would have to see some study sketches to really see, and again, this is without quite understanding the flow of spaces. All this work and still a hidden front door.
Anyway, ignoring all that, by itself, the 3-pane window does look better in that wall, in my humble opinion.
mx2.5
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*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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HowardV
Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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thank you very much for your comments.
. The side I chose is called earthen as seen at
http://www.gentek.ca/english/products.asp?z=63&m=2&l=1&d=65&mpg=1&pg=1&navproductid=4
unfortunately that is a very good match to the actual siding.
I will definitely relook at the colour choice for the siding
The front door is to the left of the garage doors. There is a breezeway between the house and the garage. I am planning to place cultured stone on either side of the door at the breezeway area
this is the stone I intend to use
http://culturedstone.com/products/images/cledge/large/chardonnaycountry.jpg
again the colour doesn't really match the actual stone
I also plan to paint the door a colour which will stand out from the rest of the house.
As for the French door/ window. The reason I am making this patio is to add some character to the house and a place to sit and chat when guests come over. As I said in my original post there is also a deck on the back of the house overlooking a butterfly garden and a small pond The family would probably use the deck in the back because it is more peaceful and a nicer setting. The only reason I originally thought a window may be better is because with the dimensions of the room it is hard to fit in furniture because of the traffic pattern. I could still add a french door and have it more decorative than functional. I could stick a table in front of it and move the table if I used the door
thanks again for you advice |
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csintexas
millennium club
Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1776
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I like the three windows that match the existing ones better also. Particularly when you say french doors wouldn't be functional anyway. I also agree that the front door needs work.
I don't much like the garden tent idea. Or the cultured stone idea. I do think nice landscaping always makes a house look better. In this case I suspect that the space will probably not be used much as an outdoor entertaining area and so money spent on a lot of patio, lights, walls, etc.. may be better spent elsewhere.
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project |
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HowardV
Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 10:15 am Post subject: |
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thanks
I also don't like the tent idea and won't be doing that. The cultured stone is just an idea and if it won't improve the appearance of the house I won't include it. I was just thinking it is a lot of siding and this would break it up a bit.
Unfortunately this house was added on 4 times and there wasn't an architect or draftsman used in the design. It's not the best laid out house |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1967
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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I'm with Chris on this one...I think it would be best not to waste your money on the front patio that won't be used. In fact, I would still add the window, landscape instead of adding the patio, make the rear deck more inviting to guests, and spend your money on doing up the entrance. In this case, I'm not sure what the best idea is without really looking at the complete floor plan, but in general, when houses are "stitched" together by multiple additions that end up creating odd conditions, by matching as much as possible will at least make it all seem cohesive. In other words, the siding ties it all in together. No stone. However, what I was suggesting was to somehow make the front entrance more visible and obvious, from the street. Perhaps a small covered entrance, a trellis, or something...again, I don't have the whole picture so it's hard to think up something.
mx2.5
_________________
*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building.
Last edited by mx2 on Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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csintexas
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Joined: 06 Feb 2006
Posts: 1776
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: |
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I like the trellis idea. I concur with mx2's stone comments.
I wonder if the existing windows facing the garage might be moved too the front? (at least three of them)
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Chris Stewart
Modern Texas Home Project
Last edited by csintexas on Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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HowardV
Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:04 am Post subject: |
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thanks to everyone for their great ideas
I am having a Landscape Architect (a friend of mine) come over on Friday to make a master landscape plan for the property
I think I will put my money the back deck and landscape the front. I will mention the trellis idea to him at the front door. |
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mx2
millennium club
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Posts: 1967
Location: Miami, Florida
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| Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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I think you're doing the right thing...good luck!
mx2.5
_________________
*Art of Architecture: The conscious use of skill and creative imagination in the production of an aesthetic building.
*Science of Architecture: The calculated use of technical skill and knowledge in the construction of a functional building. |
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