Garrison Colonial House Update, House Front Exterior - The Money Shot

• Garrison Colonials can appear puggish and they needn’t
• The house designer has two choices –
  • Gussy-down, meaning emphasize Garrison’s characteristic L2 overhang feature by unadorning in the true Early American style of Northeast Colonial
  • De-emphasize the Garrison feature with gussy-up 
• Before The Architect prefers gussy-up to stark on principal merits of
  • The latter’s out-of-place appearance in all but highly selected settings
  • It’s hard to get suffusive daylighting in the historic representations

Comment:  Of interest, ample fenestration approaching contemporary standards is not so tough by the time we’re designing in-keeping with the all-but-forgotten and gorgeous Southern Colonial house styles at large, except the very earliest presentations and the enduring Virginia Farmhouse style of Fauquier County.  Garrison’s – true Garrison Colonials – are just a tad too early in American residential development for adequate daylighting in this designer’s opinion.

• Now putting house design lipstick on a Garrison can take one of two basic approaches
  • Both involve adding features to the front façade 
  • Each has options
    • Add a pavillion, or the appearance of a stair tower, for the main entry
    • Add a portico
    • Optional modifications can include – and should selectively – anything else to soften the see-the-pug look
      • Big [read: correct] shutters
      • Window boxes
      • Bay window
      • Fancy and fenestrated main entry assemblage –
        • Sidelites
        • Transom or palladian
        • Wall sconces
        • Finials to a welcoming entry stairs of width and sizeable landing
        • Etc.
      • Across-the-front decking
      • Symmetrical entries either side of the main entry – if interior layout permits
      • Chimneys – false or fact
      • And so forth  
  • Herewith, we address the pavillion design approach
  • Elsewhere on this website, we address the portico design approach (Please see http://searchwarp.com/swa212310.htm)

• This picture is of the front façade of the Garrison Colonial which Before The Architect will update.

• All the markings
  • Banal and blah, almost a cliché
  • Uninviting entry
  • Unexceptional everything
  • And it’s a split 

• Here’s a mid-phase version of a Front Of House Elevation in model drawing format
• Adding interest overall
• Variously colored to highlight whassup.
• All that’s happened on this façade so far is
  • A front-face bump out in the form of a sort-of wall dormer
    • Adding 30 square feet of foyer
    • Lessening the Garrison’s overbearing overhang
    • Somewhat lessening the split level identity
    • Emphasizing the main entry with a modern-day version of an aedicule
• Window boxes 

• As designing progressed, an opportunity to be just a little different arose
• The additional, enclosed space in the back forced the new roof ridge over the addition to peak above the existing by about 3 linear feet.
  • Choices:
    • Peak the new roof as a clerestory across the existing ridge by way of a shed roof over the new structure
    • Peak the new roof as an overriding, intersecting, front-facing gable end.
• Here’s a massing or concept drawing of these two choices

• The owners chose the override
  • The clerestory design was too contemporary for ‘em
  • The designers agreed
    • Referencing the big bones of the Garrison style, however much muted
    • Referencing the neighborhood’s total absence of any contemporary design, however eclectic 

• Time passed, design and update demolition and construction progressed
  • New main entry pavillion
  • Plus-plus
    • New, major main entry door and surround
    • New sconces
    • New, gussied-up landing and skirted stairs
    • New cementitious siding
    • Larger double-hung windows
    • New shutters (store-bought)
    • New bay window with skirt
    • New window boxes with flowers
    • New trim
    • New paint
    • New fencing around back
    • Two more chimney chases – one for the furnace stack, one for a new fireplace insert
    • Two alcoves either side of the existing fireplace on the Right Of House in Dining for built-in cabinets
    • The overriding roof structure
    • Skirting

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Comments on this article:

» left by Anonymous (2 years 24 days ago.)
I'm wondering what approximately is costs to add a front to your door like this? Our house currently has no space when you walk in the door and we'd love to add an entrance if the cost is right. Any ideas would be helpful
Thanks

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» left by Ralph Pressel ^(48,060) (2 years 23 days ago.)
Dear Sir or Madam,
Building costs vary widely across our fruited plains. We've home-designed in places of less than $50 per square foot for building cost and over $350 per square foot. From where AG sets, there's no telling.
Please consider gaining a sense of home design and home building costs local to you in your own neighborhood. Reputable local design-build firms and other well-experienced home building contractors should be able to fully satisfy your interests in these regards.
Thanks,
AG
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» left by Anonymous (1 year 353 days ago.)

I have to admit that the home looks much better, however I still think it looks like a "split." I am buying a 1940's garrison home in the Boston area. The exterior needs tweaking and it needs major curb appeal. However, I feel in love with the charming interior & back gaden with Koi pond. What do you think about adding a farmers porch? I'm hoping the roofline will hide the "split" and add charm. What are your thoughts? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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» left by Ralph Pressel ^(48,060) (1 year 349 days ago.)
Dear Anonymous,

AG and The Missus suggest you consult with a local house designer.

Thanks,

AG and The Missus
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» left by Anonymous from CT (1 year 61 days ago.)

I don't consider split-levels to be garrisons, regardless of the top protrusion. I think the improvements just emphasized the split-level aspect.

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