The distinctive look of a Tudor-style house incorporates various components.
It has a gable roof, a vertical wood trim that is widely spaced, and, lastly, some decorative chimney pots.
The façade of the Tudor house style is usually stone, stucco, or even brick. These types of houses came into the limelight a long time ago.
Historically, they rose to fame in the 19th century. However, their popularity crossed into the 20th century but was short-lived due to the development of modern home styles.
Typically, you would only find a Tudor-style house in a high-end neighborhood. This is because they were expensive to build. The construction materials were pricey as well as the entire project.
The exterior improvements are also an expensive affair that is difficult to undertake.
But most of these houses do not look good in their old exterior designs. Some are outdated, and the color palette does not amuse anymore.
It would be a great idea to embark on a facelift to give it a fresh, modern look.
You can achieve this by utilizing modern building methods and components to give it a new breath of life.
This guide delves into the various components of Tudor-style houses and gives powerful insights on how to update them effectively.
You can adhere to these tips or choose a few that would give the Tudor-style house a new look.
These are some of the features that you will need to paint, reface, or replace to modernize your Tudor style house.”
- Vertical Wood
- Gable Roofs
- Dark wooden windows
- Wooden Doors
- Landscaping
Table of Contents
How to change the look of a Tudor style house: Factors to Consider
NB: You can go the expensive or the inexpensive way by following the ideas shared below.
Vertical Wood
The observable identifying features of a typical Tudor house are the wooden vertical slats that project downwards from its roof.
In most cases, the vertical slats are wide-spaced with some masonry work between the timbers.
Alternatively, they can be spaced with stucco. In those days, the builders used half-timbers and slats. However, the industry has changed, and the current versions are either foam molds or wood veneers.
It is possible to sublimate the timbers. You can achieve this cheaply by applying paint similar to that of the exterior rendering. Alternatively, you can reface the timbers using a stone veneer.
You can still add the same veneer to the space and come up with a single facing crosswise the house wall.
Remove the cross gables and paint them with the same color used on the exterior. Besides, you can reface the gables to give you a different feel from the Tudor style.
Gable Roofs
Most of the Tudor houses had dormer windows in the gable. Others were roofed with slate.
In most cases, it would not be an excellent idea to redesign the roofline. This is an expensive undertaking, but there are cheaper ways. Instead, you can utilize barrel tiling or even shingles.
Make sure you use them in a rush tone to deflect from the Tudor style. This shingles or barrel tiling gives the house a chalet or Mediterranean style.
You can finish the exterior with a light color that perfectly complements the roof.
Dark wooden Windows
A Tudor-style house has many windows that are multi-paned and made of dark wood.
The dark wood would match the vertical timbers to create a stunning Tudor home. But you can still move away from this style.
Ideally, repainting the dark wood window frames gives it a light look. If the home is brick, the white paint will give it a colonial feel to the exteriors, while an all-white repaint will give it a European feel.
Wooden Doors
Most of the Tudor home doors were wooden. They were also heavy in both color and weight.
However, repainting the doors can give them a lighter look. Alternatively, you can replace the doors with modern ones. You can get metallic doors with a light color that matches the exterior color.
If the house has an arch just above the wooden door, you can alter its color or fill it with some glass to allow light into the hallway.
You can also get rid of the heavy iron hardware or repaint it using the same color on your house door.
Give the entry a modern vibe with some burnished brass or even antique gold fittings. You can also get brushed silver to freshen up the entry if you do not like brass or gold fittings.
Landscaping
The English Tudor landscape designs are ever definitive. Many Tudor houses have roses, topiary, brightly colored flowers surrounded by a dry-stacked stone hedge.
But you can now move away from the English-themed garden feel and open up the home garden by getting rid of the hedge if there is one. In addition, you can paint the stonework with a bright color to complement the house.
You can get more plants that are native in your region to add to your bedding. For example, you can get some conifers and royal palms since they offer a Mediterranean vibe.
Make sure you choose the small conifers and some stately flowers to add to the bedding. You will get a new feel that is almost the opposite of a Tudor-style garden.
Bottom Line
Ensure you paint, replace, or get rid of the old features of your Tudor-style house.
You can achieve this by undertaking facelifts to the Vertical Wood, Gable Roofs, Dark wooden Windows, Wooden Doors, and landscaping. Paint with light colors to get rid of the dark ones that were initially used during its construction.
You can remove the door and replace them with modern styles. However, if you have to make a replacement, you must ensure the colors do not conflict with other features of the house.
They should all complement each other to give it a modern look. This project may not be a simple DIY task. Thus, you may have to hire professionals to handle it for you.