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It looks a little empty. Like a visual void. I have seen others in my area and on the internet that have a railing, and still others that have had a roof added that mimics the roofline of the house.
The house was built in the late 1920s. What would you do? What is historically correct? We have no old pictures of the house.
Depends. It might look ok with 3. Or with any number, and then a little garden picket fence in front of it -- the edging type that's only a foot high. OR, several large flower pots, that don't obstruct the window.
Try mocking it up with pictures to see what it might look like.
How about a new picture of the house? I don't get the original post I guess. Is it leaking, or does it just look odd to you? A flower box or railing strikes me as a little cutsie on a proper inverted dormer- but I guess it depends on the architecture and detailing of the rest of the house. Could you actually make it appear to look like a small balcony or deck but not actually use it as such? If the size is right and the window is large enough for a Juliet balcony you might be able to get away with that sort of detailing. I don't think it would look right with a double hung window though, only a casement or bi-parting casement could pull it off.
Usually early 20th century house designers had a pretty good grasp of proper proportion and detailing so I bet it looks just fine to most folks.
How about a new picture of the house? I don't get the original post I guess. Is it leaking, or does it just look odd to you? A flower box or railing strikes me as a little cutsie on a proper inverted dormer- but I guess it depends on the architecture and detailing of the rest of the house. Could you actually make it appear to look like a small balcony or deck but not actually use it as such? If the size is right and the window is large enough for a Juliet balcony you might be able to get away with that sort of detailing. I don't think it would look right with a double hung window though, only a casement or bi-parting casement could pull it off.
Usually early 20th century house designers had a pretty good grasp of proper proportion and detailing so I bet it looks just fine to most folks.
I'll post a picture tomorrow. Some people in my area who have them have a roof over it with pillars on each side. Original. Others have a railing. Some are obviously newer - wrought iron or Colonial looking - yuk.
I'll put up a picture. The side of the house is so interesting. The front, looks a little blah.
How about a new picture of the house? I don't get the original post I guess. Is it leaking, or does it just look odd to you? A flower box or railing strikes me as a little cutsie on a proper inverted dormer- but I guess it depends on the architecture and detailing of the rest of the house. Could you actually make it appear to look like a small balcony or deck but not actually use it as such? If the size is right and the window is large enough for a Juliet balcony you might be able to get away with that sort of detailing. I don't think it would look right with a double hung window though, only a casement or bi-parting casement could pull it off.
Usually early 20th century house designers had a pretty good grasp of proper proportion and detailing so I bet it looks just fine to most folks.
Here are photos taken of my home today showing the side and the dormer. Please comment.
I think it would have been built that way, with the gambrel roof. Unique house, I think it looks fine the way it is. Is it's frame not painted green like the other windows I see? I think having it green (or whatever the trim color ends up being) like the rest of the windows would make it pop a little more. Having it the same color as the siding will only make it recede further into the wall. Looks like there is detail already on the house so adding isn't really necessary, just some creative paint.
If you can afford it someday, a cedar shake roof would look awesome on that house (or at least the sides you can see from the front anyway). Its likely that was what was on it when it was new.
richb is correct, that style of dormers were very popular with gambrel roofs. I would leave it for the authentic and period correct look. The only minus that I see with keeping it would be the greater chance for roof leaks and the additional maintenance associated with dormers.
I like it too, especially if you establish that it is original to the house. One of the reasons I like it is that it must allow a lot of light into the room where it is.
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