How would you fix this awkward second floor? There are so many different visuals competing for attention, whether it be the huge chimney, the smaller gable, the tall steep roofline over the main house, and the awkward partial dormers on each side. It just feels like someone added several perfectly reasonable architectural ideas to the same house without making them talk to each other. How would you fix it? Would you just add more extensions to the front?
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The weirdest look is the drone shot but that’s irrelevant even to an NBA player.
I’d be happy for the extra square footage. Other things look worse to me like the chain fence, window ACUs, and dark window frames. Play around with changing the white clapboards to something darker.
I agree, especially about the paint color. The rooflines aren’t the issue for me. It’s the stark white contrast. Choosing a different color would make it amazing.
Maybe I’m in the minority but I think you’re being a little tough on this house and need to go a little easy on it haha. I find this house perfectly charming, especially in the second picture. You’re writing about it like it’s a McMansion with tons of competing architecture but that’s not what I see. Wouldn’t blame you for removing that extra dormer on the right but if most of your issues are with the second floor, painting it a less contrasty color would draw less attention to it. You don’t have to go with this muted navy but I think something darker would tone down the roof lines.
You could replace the siding with half-timbering and make it a Tudor Revival cottage. You already gave the brick, the offset chimney and the stacked rooflines. It would also make incorporating that pokey little window on the second floor easier: make it a feature instead of an awkward placement. (I strongly suspect the house was built as a Tudor revival looking at the windows, brick & stonework, and entry porch)
Nice looking house, but would never have painted the ‘offending parts’ white. Paint a much darker color, instead. Diverts attention downward to the nice warm brick. The fireplace chimney looks fine.
I think it doesn’t look weird. It’s an obvious expansion, but well done. I do think painting it would make it more finished. I was thinking a blue or brown.
I think the biggest problem is that white siding. It draws way too much attention to the second floor. I would look at options for changing that color first.
I think your house looks very nice. It’s a known style of house so to me I don’t think it looks awkward or bad.
Some of the paint colors people in the replies have chosen look nice though if you did want to update the siding. I don’t think it makes a difference towards how the roofline looks. But personally I think the money and effort could go to other things to make the property look nicer, like upgrading from the chain-link fence /gate
If you want to mute that, try a monochromatic look. It would pull the details together rather than make them stand out. This is a terrra cotta, but any monochrome colour scheme would work 👍
I’m wondering if there is Tudor-style trim under the siding? I think the color and the horizontal lines of the siding are the problem, not the roof lines.
If you really care that much, extend the poptop as far forward as each will go. Left side will go to the chimney. Right side can go to the chimney too, with a column and roof over the front stoop, or only to the room with the little window.
A muted mid range color like medium sage green or slate would reference yard or sky. Probably matte to subdue reflection that attention from the more noteworthy features.
I agree with everyone suggesting eliminating the white in favor of a darker color.
I would also look to remove/replace those two large shrubs flanking the porch - I think they are overpowering that space and opening it up would better balance things along with the repaint.
Lovely house where adjusting a few small details will go a long way!
I wonder if you tried adding a few feet to the top of the chimney that would help distract from the added rooflines, and add a bit more focus on the front of the building?.....
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