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Split Entry Remodel Ideas??

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9.8K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  TxElectrician  
T
#1 ·
We just got our first house! We're gutting the interior, but what would you do with the exterior?

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I was thinking new railing, cladding the deck posts to look like pillars... Maybe make the front entry have stairs that go straight on to a front door with sidelites?

At this point I feel like sky's the limit, but it's tough to dress up a split level with t1 11...

Also note the deck ledger fastened to the cantilevered rim joist with nails, otherside is on grade pier blocks

:help:
 
#12 · (Edited)
Depends on budget and surrounding homes but...

  • Remove deck from front (who wants to BBQ with car dirt/noise or sunbathe with onlookers) and put in back where there is more privacy... as you can see in pics below, the deck you have now is a major distraction from what should be the focal point of your home...
  • Stone or brick veneer on bottom half with clapboard or siding on top...
  • Make entry-way focal point with stairs going up instead of from side... Remove window above (who wants to clean it anyway) and add overhang with accent pillars... alternatively, add accent window...
  • Add complimentary landscaping around entryway to remove empty space below window and tie areas together...
  • Add a Bay window...
Some pics of the different elements for visuals below to get your juices flowing...

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Those types of visual and utility changes to your home are going to add equity and market appeal for down the road, if you ever decide to move... but before doing anything, I'd encourage you to get computer drawings made up before hand (if you don't have the capability yourself)... while we all like to save money, it's better to spend a few hundred on the visual of what you decide to incorporate into your ultimate design before spending thousands and not being happy with the outcome...

Best of luck on your remodel... 8^)
 
K
#13 ·
If I had that house, I'd put up a privacy fence to the left and start to mound up dirt to elevate one side significantly to make it look more like what one of Kap's pix looks like:

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Take back the upper deck and make a lower, on grade deck on the left with shrubs/bushes and fences. It's way too top heavy. I'd also ditch the slider below and put in sliding patio doors, or maybe even make that the entrance and where the landing is inside of the house, close that off and glass it.
Walking up a flight of stairs only to have to either walk down a flight or up another flight would be annoying to me.
 
T
#14 ·
Damn. Thanks for the ideas Kap.

So the deck was built there because there's a view of downtown Tacoma, the tide flats, and even Fife from that spot. So you're losing the ability to entertain from that spot, but gain a house thats not so ugly.

I'll try to get some computer drawings before taking it down!
 
#16 · (Edited)
Pop yourself in a bay window and you'll draw a focus to the outside view from the interior... add the deck out back and a slider or french door (depending on what room you have - most likely dining room there now) to it so you can literally look through from the deck out the front...

Whatever you ultimately decide, don't forget pics of the after... :thumbsup:
 
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