I need help with the exterior of our 1953 Cape Cod. We love our home and one of the coolest features about it is its location, near an old amusement park.
I have cleaned the exterior of the aluminum siding up. Originally, there were forest green louvered shutters on the outside of the windows, but they were rotten. I’ve included photos of the aluminum awnings on the rear that I hope to keep, but can paint for a new color scheme. However, now I am stuck between recreating the tame original owners’ vision OR going in a new direction that is still deferential to the era. I could go back and put new green shutters on and clean up the aluminum awning, keeping the white and green theme. OR I could paint the whole house and get a crazy door color and redo the porch cover and steps. The fence in front needs to be replaced too. I could use some ideas with plantings, shutter style, colors, fence. As much as you can throw at me I will take.
We used to live in a 1903 cottage in the same town and that confined us to a “cottage” look. In this new house, I love the ability to use more modern furnishings and play with brighter colors. And the location seems to warrant a dash of whimsy and fun as a nod to its past.
I’ve love your website as a resource, it’s helped me to love our home in a new way.
Right away it was apparent — this exterior makeover can go two ways — keep the vintage charm and maybe pep things up with color… or, go all the way modern. Anything in between might feel too much like a frankenhouse — and we wouldn’t want that to happen to Nicole’s charming Cape Cod.
Go Vintage
It is important to note that both concepts only make cosmetic changes to the facade of Nicole’s home — which could easily be changed up again down the road. With the vintage dream home and the history of Nicole’s neighborhood in mind, the first concept was born.
For the vintage concept:
- Keep the white aluminum siding as it is — aluminum siding was marketed to be installed right over existing clapboard to keep the exterior the house low maintenance — no painting needed. The white is also very versatile and coordinates with many color schemes.
- Use cues from what is already there — repair the idealistic white picket fence to once again nicely frame the yard.
- Add whimsical shutters in a bold and playful aqua to replace the louvered shutters that had rotted. Using a shutter designer custom shutter tool makes it possible to add horse head cutouts — a design element that gives a nod to one of the classic elements of an old amusement park, the carousel. We’re not sure if this horse head is really right, but you get the idea — maybe you could think of something more appropriate.
- Keep the awning but repaint it a bold aqua — painting the scalloped edge red to add contrast and highlight this whimsical and fun detail.
- Paint the trim and door to coordinate with the new bold color scheme.
- Paint the white foundation battleship grey to visually anchor the house.
- Add window shades with scalloped edges to mirror the scallop detail on the metal awning — repetition helps a design to feel more cohesive — giving the house the 1950s dream house appeal.
- Hang planter baskets from the porch to dress up the entry and soften the ironwork.
Go Modern
In this concept, Nicole could remove the aluminum siding and paint the clapboard that likely lives underneath. By removing only a few key elements and changing the color scheme — a more modern looking house emerges. While this concept is very modern — it would be easy to revert the house to the vintage look again by changing the color scheme, adding shutters and sprinkling a bit of whimsy here and there in the details.
For the modern look:
- Either remove the aluminum siding and paint the clapboard underneath or paint the aluminum siding a light green — (note, painting aluminum siding negates its maintenance-free appeal.)
- Paint the foundation a coordinating brownish green to help visually anchor the house.
- Add a thicker fascia board under the roofline to “connect” the awning to the roofline and create a more streamlined and modern feel.
- Remove only the scalloped portion of the awning to continue the streamlined look.
- Paint the trim and awning a darker olive green to add contrast to the light green siding.
- Paint the front door a bright orange to create the focal point and amp up the color.
- Instead of shutters, install window boxes on the lower front windows and fill with bright flowers.
- Remove the white picket fence and instead use greenery to create dimension in the yard. Ornamental grasses line the sidewalk while more dense evergreen shrubs frame the house. Adding more flowers around the shrubs brightens up the landscaping.
- As a finishing touch — add a modern bullet planter in a complementary aqua — to dress up the porch.
Whether Nicole decides that her exterior should look Vintage or Modern, one thing is sure — she has a classic, ever-so-versatile Cape Cod.
Readers, do you have additional ideas to suggest to Nicole to pep up her house’s curb appeal?
MarilynH says
I’m for removing the clunky, too-wide aluminum siding which makes the house look odd. Repaint in tasteful colors and replace the gothic styled fence with plain point pickets. Add a lilac or snowball bush at the corner of the house and trim the front tree.
Don’t add fake “shutters” unless they look like they would work, ie, cover the window when closed.
For a real cape cod look, red or pink roses on the picket fence would look nice, or an arbor over the front walk.
J D Log says
A picket fence really suits the place. If you are going to remove the aluminium siding Hardies classic plank matched my weatherboard place when I built my double garage it was far cheaper then wood and easy to work with, it has a high rating in a bush fire area (probably of no relevance to you). Colour is a very personal thing so if you can see some similar places in the area and look at period magazines might help you decide. Either shutters or window boxes would look nice with this type of house. Always take your time and never rush into anything you will regret.
Rachael says
We have a cape cod that looks almost exactly like this built in 1940. Likewise, we have the original clapboard covered under aluminum siding that was probably installed in the late 1950’s or early 60’s and the awning over our front porch. Like aluminum siding should, it has been faithfully protecting our house for all these years. However, when we purchased the house in 2010 it was seeing years of neglect, mildew and peeling paint from earlier attempts at “freshening up” the original white finish with subsequent coats of new white paint. This summer we decided to tackle the exterior. Since it had already been painted once before, and we weren’t sure of the condition the clapboard underneath was in, we decided to paint the aluminum siding. I am lucky to have a wonderful local paint store filled with great knowledge and they recommended something called Emulsa-bond which is an additive you add directly to exterior latex and acts as a primer and bonder especially for aluminum siding that’s in good condition (we were lucky ours is). Once we had thoroughly scrubbed, bleached and power washed the house we painted the entire exterior with the Emulsa-bond added in with the first coat. (Our house needed two full coats and you can only add Emulsa-bond to the first coat or it while flash with the second coat–per our great paint store owner.) Long story short and 5 hot sweaty August weekends later, we had a wonderful cheerful yellow exterior that looks like it could be the original color! Likewise, we opted to paint stripes back into our metal awning using the trim color we used around the windows. We live in the Northeast and haven’t had any harsh snowstorms yet, but the paint has held up great after some serious rain and wind storms without any problems. Painting the whole house ourselves was (mostly ) a labor of love, but the finished product made it completely worth it. Best of luck on your own project!
Annie B. says
What a sweetheart of a house. I like Kate’s vintage ideas for renovation. This house begs for the white picket fence with an archway over its sidewalk covered, of course, with a red rambling rose.
But, modern is good, too, as in no shutters, a Crestview front door, an some funky-modern stainless house numbers on the front. What to do about the awning?? Change the color to black?
You have a winner either way you go, Nicole.
Karen says
Vintage definately. Don’t mess with a good thing. The vintage vision above is a fabulous choice. It keeps the original character of the house and giving it a pop of color that is true to the vintage look of the home. We own a 1920s bungalow and would never think of changing it’s character to modern. If you’re concerned about the exterior not matching the interior don’t worry you’re not stuck. Incorporate some vintage modern pieces with your new pieces in the house. There is no law that says you can’t mix old with new. Good luck 🙂
tammyCA says
Oh, please go with Vintage! I think Pam’s suggestions are great & the colors too would echo the Vintage Amusement Park nearby.
You can go more Modern inside if you want that, but please keep the charm & integrity of the past on the exterior…people walking by will appreciate that, I betcha. I will tell you that I like the “shabby, paint chipping vintage” houses WAY MORE than the stripped naked brownish plain box make-overs out where I live. Years ago I saw in a magazine JFK Jr. & his bride coming out of a chippy paint country church and thought it was one of the most picturesque, charming photos ever…I clipped & saved the picture.
If a home’s exterior is originally Modern style I have no problem with that look…keep the intended integrity. We need our history. It’s like if thatched cottages in England all went Modern…the history & charm would be gone. Sorry if I sound vehement, I guess I have a preservationist soul…and, I’m also depressed today that yet another bookstore (B&N) is going out of business here! The closest one is far & in high traffic place and I bet even that one won’t be around much longer at this rate.
Back to the design…I am a shutter lover. A lot of the vintage decorative shutters out here have cut outs. I’ve seen diamonds, and kinda vase shaped…mine are ’54 original & simply 2 vertical boards with short horizontal boards across near top and bottom. Many others are Z shaped across the 2 vertical boards & X shaped across. One of these days after the holidays I am gonna go around and take photos. Shutters, decorative scallopy trim, picket fences, roses/flowers=adore. We don’t have window boxes but we do have the wood shelf under a window to support my potted geraniums. These shelves are also part of original design on the ’50s Ranch homes here (again, sadly, many disappearing along with the charm on flipped houses)…let me also mention that many, many flipped homes here are big on cementing over grass! People don’t want to take care of yards & too many people want a pool which then takes up the entire little backyards…so cement everywhere. 🙁
Kate says
I agree Tammy, I like the vintage — I was merely suggesting a modern idea since Nicole wasn’t sure which direction to go. The new owner of a mid century ranch in our neighborhood is gutting the inside (I peeked in the dumpster). It is really sad, since I had drooled over the original details of the house when it was on the market and prayed someone who “understood” would buy it — but alas — no luck. 🙁
Robin, NV says
Kate I feel your pain. My favorite house in my neighborhood (after mine of course) was bought by someone who immediately repainted it an awful greigy color and then cut down all the trees in the back yard. I just know it’s a time capsule inside and I’m dreading the day the rollaways show up to cart off all the original interior fixtures. Maybe they’ll let me do some dumpster diving?
tammyCA says
Right, you’re doing your job. 🙂 Boy, if I had my way I would be living in your state & I would’ve bought that house!
I know people have individual preference…it’s hard ’cause I have always felt I was born in the wrong time, 40 yrs too late…so the old things seem like disappearing old friends. Maybe I’m crazy but I feel such a strong connection that it comes as a near physical pain inside when I see the vintage design of buildings/homes…and famous landmarks eradicated…don’t get me started on disappearing trees & grass – that really breaks my heart.
I’m not totally against new stuff, but honestly I never see a new house/building around here that is great. I don’t know how it is in the rest of the country, but here the new homes are crammed into one small lot & look just like apartment buildings or cell blocks. What happened to design? Everything is blocky & covered in mud colored stucco. What happened to color?
So, when I see a house flipped from Mid- century to another swamp colored block I just cringe…and, wonder why?? Honestly, do people really LOVE this look? Do they not care?
Zoe says
I think they don’t know any better…
pam kueber says
so sad
oh Holland says
I’ll add my voice to what looks so far like unanimity for the vintage approach. The boxy shape and second-storey dormers make pulling off a convincing mid-century design a bit of a pickle. Also, I think you can incorporate mid-century furnishings inside a vintage home — especially if eclectically done — and get a satisfying dose of mod style that way.
But whichever way you choose, consider amping up the effect with a new front door: if going vintage, a Dutch door; if going MCM, a slab door with mod lites like those offered by Crestview Doors.
lisa says
I like the vintage the best, and it seems to me you can go as modern as you like on the interior without creating any sort of conflict. Also, if the vintage is just too cutesy for you, you could still remove the scallops and make the shutter cutouts something tailored, like a simple diamond shape (something resembling argyle would be very in-period for the house and could be painted on if the cutouts are pricey).
The blue/aqua is a nice color choice. Another nice combo would be yellow and black. Very dark green and red would also look good and take it in an even more traditional direction.
Kristen says
Thank you for giving the cape cod some love. After years of searching for a midcentury ranch in our price range, we finally gave up and bought a brick cape cod. It is cute, but almost nothing of the original interior exists, and of course, it’s nothing like the california style ranch I have been dreaming of. Would love to see more about restoring these sorts of midcentury homes. My search online turns up very little.
Laura says
I second Kristen’s request since I’m also a Cape Cod owner. Pam’s done some great stuff on Cape Cod style architecture before, but I would always be interested in more. As for this one, I think the aqua and red scheme looks so cheerful and cute! Love it!
Deb says
Do not, I repeat, Do not paint the siding. I speak from experience. It seems like every 3 years we are painting at least one side of the house, and we have tried different types of paint. The siding was peeling when we bought the house 25 years ago and if I had to do it over I would have replaced the siding. What was underneath wasn’t worth keeping. It seems like every spring as we walk around the house we find more peeling paint. Just my take on it.
Jay says
Yes, it can become a maintenance issue. My understanding is that like any painting job, it’s all in the preparation. The original siding has to be cleaned, deglossed and primed for good paint adherance. The previous owner of my house painted the aluminum sided gable ends as well as the stucco, as well as things that shouldn’t have been – light fixtures and storm doors. I just had the siding torn off and replaced with vinyl. At least it doesn’t look like a bad paint job anymore.