The biggest dilemma with the 1950’s beach cottage renovation was the front of the house.
This is an after photo, but, look at the…
Before… We have small property lots on Lido Isle and the front door is
very close to the sidewalk and on a high foundation.
very close to the sidewalk and on a high foundation.
These photos were taken on a trip to Charleston, SC before our renovation.
Here, similar to our situation, the townhouse facades are close to the street
and the entries are higher and somewhat narrow.
Here, similar to our situation, the townhouse facades are close to the street
and the entries are higher and somewhat narrow.
Note: For a beautiful Charleston home interior see this post by Splendid Sass.
The renovation process…
A new entry with columns, cement base feature and new windows were installed.
Smooth plaster siding, Dutch door and
Carolina blue stone was cut to form steps.
Paint samples were tested. We wanted the door color to blend with the stone
so that the door would not appear to be floating.
A slate roof and copper gutters were added and solid cement planters were selected.
Before…
After…
I’ll have to show this again when the roses are in bloom.
Welcome to our home.
Best Wishes,
Mary Ann
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roofing company Baltimore
I meant Mary Ann! Sorry about that….
Hi Marianne! What's the name of the door color? Thank you!
Beautiful, beautiful! You added SO much class and style. Cannot wait to see more of this home and your blog! Thanks for visiting me too–I'm so glad I found you and vice versa!
What a stunning transformation!! Simply amazing!! Love it! Can I move in? 🙂
Good Lord…is that really the same house????? I love it! Very classic.
Perfect! We have wanted to do the same thing to our house. I adds so much curb appeal – really looks like a completely different house. Well done.
Your home reno is a big success, by adding this façade you have given great importance to your house, some people might have been afraid to do this,thinking it might be too big for your house, but on the contrary it has given it a lot of style. You found inspiration in a much bigger house, you dared and it worked, Bravo
decogirlmontreal
Wow! Spectacular transformation.
How lovely. Really like your blog. I am a follower. Hope to see you at My Dream Canvas.
Oh by the way…each time I travel threw your home reno I mean to tell you THANKS….I thought I was the only one with stray socks…I never know where the other one is! And I love your idea of a basket for them!
OH my your home is wonderful..I will have to tell my sister that she has the same over door light fixture as you…she will feel like she has arrived!
I can't wait to see the rose in bloom!…I LOve your dutch door …wish I could pull that off !..hmmm.maybe I can??
Wow! Gorgeous! Love those columns!!
Your blog looks great by the way!!
Polly
Amazing! It's a total re-do and it turned out great. I just got a dutch door and am in love♥ I will never not have one…they are so great (and super cute!) I love everything about the after good job!
It's absolutely beautiful! I love the new facade and would love the photos of the plants blooming too- I bet it is gorgeous! 🙂
Wow! Lots of comments! It is an amazing transformation. I love the windows, the bluestone, and the dutch door! Charming!
What a beautiful transformation. I know it was a lot of time and work but what a difference. What beautiful columns and those steps! Lovely!
Donna
What a metamorphosis! I'm duly WOWed! What a Good Life! And beautiful for WW! Can't wait to see the roses!
I love every bit of this house…such a gorgeous transformation. Ahhh, I would love to see Roses in bloom, soon. My son and daughter in law live in Charleston and are expecting their first child in May. Given our upstate NY endless winter, that will most likely be my first glimpse this year of roses in bloom, can't wait. Kiawah Island here we come!!
What difference Mary Ann, It's so great to have a free standing home without having to rely on an neighbor association, like in my case. It looks amazing.
This looks absolutely marvelous – love every detail!
Kathy
What an amazing transformation! I love your new look! And A Dutch door, too. How fun is that?! Your turned your place into a beautiful "swan."
WOW stunning – looks like i found ur blog JUST in time – i need to get my entire house refaced! – i wanted to do it navy blue, i know sounds nuts, and i look all over for navy blue homes and NONE to be founhd – but i love the stucco work on this one!!!!
I’m hosting a give-away and would LOVE for you and ALL BLOGGERS to
Join Custom Sign Give-Away last day to join is tomorrow!
*kiss kiss*
Erika
~Tiptoe Butterfly~
What a FABULOUS transformation!! You did a really beautiful job and the curbside appeal of your house is dramatically improved. What a pleasure it must be to walk up to your new entrance every day!
Hi Mary Ann!
I have to comment again.
I love the choice of window you put in. Very European and you hardly see this. The slate is a brillant touch.
Your home could be on the road and I would still love it!!
Thanks for visiting me and becoming a follower…and
the also the wonderful compliment!!
Pamela xo
WOW! Just found your blog an am your newest follower! xo Caroline
Hi, just found your blog through Sarah's abeachcottage. Wow, have you done a lot of work to your house or what! Just looking at that inspires/exhausts me. Way to go! We have a LOT of work to do to our house. I'm a newbie blogger, with also a lot of work to do to my blog. I would love if you could drop by sometime if you get a chance and check me out. Have a great day!
Mary Ann, lovely! and what better inspiration than Chuck town as we call it! LOve Blue Stone.
I love how you were able to balance the facade with the posts on the porch. It changes the whole feeling of your house. Everything looks super!!
You've added wonderful substance…weight to the home. I love Carolina Blue Stone. Thanks for stopping by my post. Cherry Kay
Beautiful transformation!!! What a difference. Your blog is so lovely. Thank you for visiting my blog and for your sweet comment 🙂
Mary Ann, What a huge transformation. It doesn't even look like the same house! Beautiful job.
Hugs,
Sherry
ps: Thanks for being my 1000th follower.
This is incredible!!!
What a gorgeous home!
Pamela 🙂
New fan…just found you through Chic Coastal Living.
Wonderful transformation. I love the homes in Charleston. Thanks so much for joining WUW.
Wow, wow, wow! Is this the same house?! What an incredible transformation. You must be thrilled with the results! *Becca*
http://www.adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com
I just viewed your kitchen redo and it has so many features that I want to put into our renovation: the beverage center, the little sitting area, the long island, and the wood ceiling! We are redoing the old house that my husband grew up in. I'm from South Carolina and I've only been blogging a few months. I am now one of your followers because I love your style! I would love it if you visited me and followed me as well.
http://cottageatthecrossroads.com
Wow! What a transformation! We are looking to redo our front entry steps. Your post has really given me some ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mary Ann,
Thanks so much for stopping by and leading me to you! What an amazing before/after transformation! You did an amazing job on every aspect!
I read your "About" page…and it sounds so similar to mine. I've moved around a lot, too. And, I think that really does hone your desire to make the most of wherever you are!!
Newest follower, Elizabeth
I love, love, love your blog.
Your style is phenomenal.
Melissa
WoW! This is amazing! I grew up in O.C., Laguna was my beach, but have many fond memories of time in Balboa. I'm in the desert now, so thanks for letting me 'visit' the beach again 🙂 Thanks also for stopping by my blog, commenting and following!
~Laura
hayestone.blogspot.com
So pretty. I love the stone used for the steps.
Hello Maryann,
I'm sorry it's taken so long to get over here and say HI. We were just in your neighborhood on Sunday strolling around Lido and Balboa Islands and actually went into an Open House!
Wow, you live in such a beautiful place and you've done an amazing job on your new facade. I just love the small charming jewel boxes where you live! Oh and you are right about Juxtaposition… it is truly an amazing store!
It's hard to breath in there with your heart beating out of your chest!
I'd love to meet for coffee or breakfast at Pacific Whey if you are free sometime. We are leaving on Friday 🙂
Terri
xo
What a tremendous improvement ! Kudos !!
Hugs,
Kammy
Wow! This is simply fabulous! I bet your neighbors are happy too! I can't even recognize that this could be the same home!!!! Excellent job!!
Hugs,
Olivia
Goodness! It's amazing what you did to that house! What a beautiful transformation!
Looks great Mary Ann! Charleston is a great place for inspiration, I never get tired of visiting there!
Debbi @ the beach
Wow, what an improvement! You have a wonderfully inviting front enterance.
Barb
You did such a nice job with your house! It's absolutely perfect. I love your style Mary Ann … I love everything you selected and you knew when to stop. I'm so glad you shared this 😉
One word……GORGEOUS!!! I love your style girl!! Need to post about this one soon! xoxo Desiree
Holy Smokes! It is AMAZING! It does not even look like the same house at all. I love every single element here. You have outdone yourself, Mary Ann!
What a great transformation!
Wow MaryAnn! This is fantastic! I love the beautiful blue and the stone steps and porch are perfect. Great re-do!
xo
Donna @ Comin 'Home
So lovely Maryann, I would trade space for a view of the ocean any day of the week. You did a beautiful job changing the front of your home!!! Congrats on making all the right choices, Happy Monday, KS
Wow- beautiful renovation! You chose great materials- everything looks gorgeous! With such a chic, new exterior, it looks as if the house is further back from the sidewalk than before! You gave the illusion of more front yard space- amazing!
What a great "after!" I love the stone and the color. So fresh and beachy!
Beautiful! Such an amazing job. Doesn't even look like the same home.
It's just gorgeous!! I love it!! The tile with the door is so elegant! I can't even wait to give my house a face lift like this!! Right now it's stuck in the late 70's…yuck! Thanks for the dose of inspiration!
Kelle
xx
Wow, that is a beautiful transformation. Looks like a magazine spread. You must be thrilled. The steps, the windows, the colors, it's all gorgeous. When's the open house lol 🙂
I honestly had no idea they were the same house at first. That is an incredible transformation, I love it all!
Oh my goodness, Mary Ann. This is one of the most gorgeous makeovers I've ever seen. I love it! Did you think it up yourself? I'm totally in awe!
Sarahx
Beautiful! I love every single choice you made. Your inspiration was pretty but what you did was even prettier. Awesome job!
Gorgeous, Mary Ann! I love everything about the transformation, especially the beautiful garden that you keep in the front. To be honest, I'm a little envious that you can grow citrus… our New England winters don't allow such beautiful trees to grow naturally outdoors.
What a beautiful transformation! It doesn't even look like the same home. Love the bluestone and the paint color you selected for the front door. Can't wait to see it with your roses blooming. Thanks for sharing.
You did a beautiful job, Mary Ann! I love the blue stone and the columns are awesome. Very nicely done!!
XO,
Jane
Love a good dutch door. Can't go wrong…ever.
Wonderful change. I know you must be enjoying.
Thanks. I forgot to mention that we can see the Newport bay from the front steps…pretty view. But we do sacrifice space for living so close to the beach. Not a bad trade off though.
Mary Ann
It looks beautiful. I know Lido too, what a wonderful place to live, I'm sure. We're high desert dwellers, but grew up in South Bay, so my hubby still surfs. We usually go to Newport whenever he wants to go surfing 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Marcia
Awesome. Just gorgeous. I love the front of your house. So much charm!!
Lovely indeed, that really made a difference and the colors really softened up the angles.
Wow! Good for you… tremendous change! I love it… looks like a brand new house!
What a transformation Mary Ann. The after doesn't look like it was the same house. Beautiful.
Hard to believe that that was the same house, Mary Ann! I love, love the Dutch doors, and the blue stone is my favorite too. I had the blue stone around my garden pool. It is just stunning! I also love the windows. So clean looking. Wow! Bet your neighbors had to get busy.
Thank you so much for the mention.
Have a great week.
Teresa
xoxo
Oh Mary Ann! How very lovely! I love the blue stone and the peak. What a transformation!