Fixing a mini-McMansion.

Brent helps a 1980's house come to life by deleting many of the builder details that overwhelm the front.
Be sure to check out Brent's podcast. It's available on Apple and Spotify. He teams up with Richard from Finish Carpentry TV to chase after the Passion for Craft! Passion for Craft podcast is also on / passionforcraftpodcast
Also, you might want to find all the extra content on the Patreon page. A lot of great learning tools all the time to help you become a better craftsman and builder. / passionforcraft
Also check out our webpage: www.passionforcraft.com
Here are a collection of books used in this talk in my Kit.Co library: kit.co/brenthu...
Here are more great books to check out on my Amazon associates page:
Design book for houses 1920- Architect Small House plan book: amzn.to/37XWaUI
500 Small houses of the 20's- Good designs for period revival homes: amzn.to/3DiH3kh
Samuel Chamberlain's drawings of Rural France: amzn.to/3utg15G
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Brent Hull
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Musicbed SyncID:
MB010LXZMJXMK9C

[@slickmcCool]

I cannot express my amazement at how much better that simple sketch was than the actual house.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@j.frankparnell3087]

Man, that sketch looks so much better! So many of these large houses have roof peak overload.

[@BrentHull]

So true! Thanks.

[@jen43072]

That was a wonderful transformation. I went from feeling really ill at ease looking at the first photo to very calm and satisfied with your changes. Amazing how good design can do that.

[@BrentHull]

So true. Thanks.

[@LogansRun314]

Haha, oh man... You're in a great area for this Brent. Texas is full of these mini mcmansions. MORE... We want MORE!

[@BrentHull]

So true. Thanks for watching.

[@CPAndy-x5x]

Stately and understated. Much more classy.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!!

[@billk8780]

Great job Brent... especially considering what you're starting out with. The old adage of 'trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear' comes to mind.

[@BrentHull]

Haha, thanks Bill!

[@InuJF]

So much better. Seems less costly to build too, and yet more beautiful.

[@BrentHull]

Great point. Thanks.

[@nated1971]

These series are amazing! Talking through your thought process as you make the changes is hugely valuable!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@Greg_Gatsby]

You met the challenge! 👍

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@bestpilot98]

Definitely a huge improvement, Brett.

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@adamr1637]

Thanks for the videos! I love to hear your thought process and comments on these. What a difference!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@phillipquigley5095]

Love this series of videos! would like to see smaller-scale houses.

[@BrentHull]

More to come! Thanks

[@sarabates2046]

Yes, yes, yes you made that sketch so much better.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@jackww839]

This is the coolest thing I’ve seen in a while!! Keep these up👍

[@BrentHull]

Thanks! Will do!

[@colesargent7676]

Great stuff. Keep this series going!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, will do!

[@andrewkennedy9704]

I always thought if you did your fixes on modern production homes would be killer. And it is. Those fixes makes it look 1000% better. I know you focus on historical houses but I Imagine most home are these newer mcmansion ones. That and as a homeowner with a newer style home it gives me inspiration. Thanks for all you do Brett.

[@BrentHull]

Glad it helps. Thanks.

[@LogansRun314]

I would say the wood paneling between the windows, ditching the coining and removing the gables were the biggest improvements. The other details were great as well. You had your hands full with this one!

[@BrentHull]

No doubt. THanks.

[@tc9148]

So fascinating to watch you analyze and FIX an overdone McMansion. Some one should break all the pencils of that builder and home designer, just awful design. What you’ve done is simple and magnificent. I learn so much watching every episode. Please, oh please, continue this Wednesday series. I’ve saved every episode and it’s already a great library of classical design principles.

[@BrentHull]

Glad to hear. Thanks for the feedback.

[@FinishCarpentryTV]

Amazing transformation! It makes so much more sense. They need to turn it down from 11 to about 9 😂

[@BrentHull]

Haha, Agreed.

[@collegeri]

Beautiful. I wish people cared more about building nice houses. I wish there were lawn in place in lesser known states to protect communities.

[@BrentHull]

Me too. Thx.

[@Dev_KG]

Such a great difference!

[@BrentHull]

Thank you!

[@Hakaze]

Turned out a lot more dignified and elegant

[@BrentHull]

Thank you.

[@sethhamilton5824]

Amazing, I didn't even know that could be fixed.

[@BrentHull]

Ha! Well better, but maybe not fixed.

[@IanZainea1990]

one of your best re-designs IMO!

[@BrentHull]

Nice, thx for sharing.

[@crossroadschronicles4647]

Big improvement

[@BrentHull]

Thanks

[@AK-ic1yj]

This is such a great concept for content about design, architecture and building. Thank you! This is greatly needed to. Excellent work and please make more like this 😊

[@BrentHull]

Will do. Thanks.

[@ccwnyc5671]

The quoining looks like an invitation for a second story man burglary 😊

[@BrentHull]

Haha. true.

[@mrs.anonymous6291]

I probably am one of the few people who love the original McMansion. IMHO it is beautiful, full brick house. How many people would dream of owning a home like this. Quite personally, I am seeing a lot of hate discussing McMansion's on UT lately. So bad I heard Zillow sued one of the UTubers's that kept trashing them, to stop using their stock pictures and bad mouthing them. I myself, live in one, bought it 25 years ago. We feel so blessed to be here every day. Currently, we are in the mist of a big cosmetic refreshing of all the rooms. I wouldn't change a thing about it, arches, bricks and peaks not any of it remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I am sure the outcome will be beautiful for you.

[@BrentHull]

Congrats. Thanks

[@Lori-lg6lp]

So much better!

[@BrentHull]

THanks

[@ponysoldier6770]

Your sketch makes it so easy to read way more pleasing 👌

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks for the feedback.

[@stevemiller7949]

Brent, here's a wild suggestion for you. Please do a segment on some of the facades at Disneyland and explain why they please so many people and then why they don't hold up in real life. Just a thought. Main Street America must be doing something for people.

[@BrentHull]

Good idea. Thanks.

[@Fedgery007]

Love this series!

[@BrentHull]

Awesome. Thanks

[@torenrocks]

Much better!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks.

[@lewis7315]

In many cases of these McMonsters :)> I thought of just painting everything above the main roof line black to match the roof! Yes removing the small gables is good too. If the large windows at the left end of the building is a living room, just make a simular style large window to keep all the light coming in!

[@BrentHull]

ok, good idea.

[@rogerhodges7656]

Another reat job! I love this series.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks.

[@oltedders]

Pretty darn good. Paring down the excessive gables really helps give it a tamer look. The redo looks somewhat like a 1920s Hollywood home of a silent movie star. BTW, this is NOT a McMansion. They're generally under 2000 sqft. 3 bedroom 2 bathroom with a powder room off of the double height entry and staircase with a small designated dining area behind the tall front windows. They're built by the 100s in the nicer developments. Still a tract home.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@robbie2187]

It’s funny when I drive down the road and look at places typically like that house I know something is wrong it’s not pleasing to the eye but many time’s it’s difficult to pick out just what it is.Thank you for the tutorial I’m starting to be able to see it.

[@BrentHull]

Good! Thanks for watching.

[@chrisoneill764]

Such an improvement in what you sketched. Shy of an excavator, your plan certainly redeems the place. The only thing I'd maybe do is add a porch to shelter the door somewhat. One would think builders would go for plainer looks and less roof chaos to streamline materials and labor. Federal style might not be sexy, yet it is classic and somewhat efficient. The builders also aren't going to be the ones to pay to reroof these crazy roofs later.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks and yes you would think.

[@jaybutera3353]

Loved the transformation! It's so helpful to hear your insights and to see them applied.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks so much.

[@garynurkiewicz7789]

Brilliant

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!

[@christophsan4040]

BETTER! I would love to see actual before and after shots. The sketch is great but I want to see the actual

[@BrentHull]

ok thanks.

[@georgevandelay1778]

I've been so dismayed at the how many mcmansions homes are in my city and the lack of options to buy homes with decent architecture. Thanks for showing what can be done to an existing McMansion, I hope I can fix my home's aesthetics

[@BrentHull]

Good luck.

[@dukedude220]

That was a tough one to work with! I think you did fenomenale.

[@BrentHull]

THanks so much.

[@Neveronarainyday2]

Have been subscribed to your channel for a while. I really like this new content too.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@gospodinPipi]

Loving these new series!

[@BrentHull]

Awesome. Thanks.

[@BronsonDorsey]

We’ll done Brent. Getting rid of the quoins and bringing the entrance forward made a huge difference.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@woodybouyounes7281]

Simply good job… turned it from trying too hard to classy … well done

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@jelsner5077]

Definitely an improvement! I would have burned it down and started over.

[@BrentHull]

Haha, I'm leaning that way.

[@aalexander928]

Congratulations - you have made a huge enhancement to this house. I know you want to stay with architectural improvements, however, by centering the front oval lawn & driveway on the new Palladian window 'bay' and planting symmetrical large shaped Laurel trees or similar to the far left & right to partially hide the lack of symmetry would give this house an appearance of balance on the street facade.

[@BrentHull]

Good point. I need to start including landscaping.

[@tricia8727]

WAY better 👍

[@BrentHull]

Thanks.

[@feeldogs]

You took a horrendous thing and made it look…bad? Meaning that in the most complementary way. You have so much knowledge and so much talent. I hope you have some apprentices!!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!

[@evy1624]

A front columned portico would have been a nice grand addition and drawn attention away from the bizarre roof lines.

[@CF-3300]

This reminds of a book called what not to build where they show pictures of poorly designed houses and show what they would look like if they were well designed.

[@BrentHull]

Ok, i'll check it out.

[@ericlebarron]

I appreciate the comment about the tacked on gables. Spec houses here have been the same basic ranch with attached garage for decades, but they keep getting more and more fake gables attached to the front. It's really kind of comical.

[@BrentHull]

Yep! Agreed.

[@SOLT_Mark]

A lot better for sure. I would note that the entry door is fully exposed to the weather. Perhaps some kind of covered entry that fits would be worth consideration.

[@BrentHull]

Good point. THnaks.

[@MiamiHeat872]

Nice

[@BrentHull]

Thanks

[@DanielBelzil]

Brent . . . I love your videos, your thoughts, and the work you do. One thing that I think that they don't need is the music. Just my opinion.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, I'll let my guy know.

[@edmessina8392]

Great transformation toward classic orders Brett, particularly considering the visual assault you had to work with. The useless and inappropriate wildly varying and overdone streetscape roof slopes on these atrocities often show a third to half of the facade in overly dominant roof lines and emphasize dubiously chosen cheap looking roofing material. Joining the 1st and second story fenestration with the raised panel was brilliant.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching. Good feedback.

[@dirkjones1779]

I have one of those 1980s Dallas houses with elaboration everywhere. There’s no fixing it 😂

[@BrentHull]

haha, I think I agree.

[@miketackabery7521]

I REALLY like your fix! I wasn't able to "see" it myself, but the second you showed your fix I recognized it's rightness. It's beauty in simplicity contains SO MUCH MORE curb appeal than the original that it's kinda shocking! ... though what about another window on the right side proportionate to the left side as a balance?

[@BrentHull]

Good idea. Thanks.

[@ryansoo4000]

If I were going to suggest a change to the facade (in addition to your suggestions) I would stucco over the brick in a nice cream color and use black accents around the windows.

[@BrentHull]

I love the stucco idea. Thanks.

[@fredrobinson6990]

Your transformation looks much better. I don’t really like the two story porch ceiling over the front door that is so abundant in McMansions. A lower roof line would look better to me.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, I agree.

[@Gab_deb]

Another excellent Wednesday video!! Keep them coming! Sadly, it is nearly impossible to truly fix a McMansion and make it fit within the classical architectural language. You did your best!

[@BrentHull]

it was harder than i thought.

[@belindanashvillehere6822]

Much better! Less is more

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thanks.

[@stevemiller7949]

Somebody said if a man is forced to select a simple navy suit, white shirt, simple black shoes and quiet tie and he manages to still impress people, then he really understands design. Quality and subtleties matter.

[@BrentHull]

Good point. Thanks.

[@spencer04629]

Those houses that have every element "dialed up to 11" seem to be everywhere. Your changes are a clear improvement, but is it truly possible fix a house when the front entry is tucked back and not located on the front face of the house? Are there any historical examples of that or historical precedent for having the main entry moved back like that? I'm extra curious, because my 2010 house suffers from that same design.

[@Wazupiseeyou]

Build that part out? Idk.

[@BrentHull]

Well. it's possible but may not be practical. I don't find an historic precedent in America. One reason I don't recommend buying a new home is because these problems are often unjustifiable to fix. Its a problem but small tweaks are still possible and valuable.

[@sloqlap]

Man, i really gotta find plans for our house and submit it for your critique and help.

[@BrentHull]

Ok.

[@MadCarTK]

You should collab with someone who does Photoshop videos and have them edit the actual photo of the house to match your drawn redesign.

[@BrentHull]

Good idea. Thanks.

[@gtlfb]

I’ve mentally done the same to the many monstrosities in our area. Drives me nuts that builders just throw every decorative doodad on the front of a house, but the sides and back are usually the cheapest siding with no window trim at all.

[@BrentHull]

Yep. Frustrating.

[@robertbamford8266]

Love the application studies. “Throws everything”. It becomes a mash-up that can be improved by your simplification and modification. What’s frustrating is the waste of resources (labor and material) in the work that must be torn out and redone. Do you ever consider a D10 or D11 renovation? I thought this one was close.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks, Not sure what D10/D11 is.

[@robertbamford8266]

@@BrentHull (sorry) Caterpillar.

[@c.f.sedgwick1885]

The improvement is dramatic.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks.

[@jacobwysopal5127]

Brent what are your thoughts on moving the front door to front and center under palladian window feature? Put a normal widow in place of the old door. But over all the changes you made are huge. Just goes with the old adage less is more.

[@BrentHull]

I think that is valid and appropriate. I'm curious now how that would have worked.

[@jarrodhunter6968]

Hey, would a house that had castle style inspiration be a good idea? Or a forced perspective house? Or a forced perspective house with potemkin sections?

[@BrentHull]

Hm, those are good questions.

[@taim968]

I wouldve put a gable over the left side. It would add balance. The one gable stands out without uniformity and it has nothing else like it

[@BrentHull]

Ok. Thanks for watching.

[@who2u333]

That one looked tough to correct.

[@BrentHull]

Yep. Thanks.

[@thenexthobby]

Imagine being an architect today. "Congratulations, you're now the in-house designer" and then they realize what they have to do to "sell houses" to the builder's idea of success.

[@BrentHull]

That's a tough one.

[@Peter-fu5pi]

The new version almost looks like a Monterey Colonial… I wonder what a balcony over the entrance butting the cross gable would look like

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Good idea. Thanks.

[@eddyeroyal6024]

Some do tear down

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Thx

[@VincentVonDudler]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I like all the added interest of gable ends, the coining, the different sized windows. Without the gable ends on the two sides the two sides just look plain. There's little to not interest there. I think I must be the intended demographic for these McMansions. I accidentally happened upon your channel just now though so I have no idea about design. I just know what I like. The added gable ends make the house look sectioned...which makes it look bigger and more interesting imo. Taking away the gable ends you've got the big middle, where the eye rests...but really that's it. It does not look nearly as grand.

[@BrentHull]

True, please watch my other videos on house fixes, I'd love to hear your opinion of those. Thanks for watching.

[@Wazupiseeyou]

I thought you were gonna say, “tear it down”.

[@BrentHull]

That's what i was thinking. haha.

[@t.e.1189]

Yes, much better. And your right the coining doesn't look right. I think it stands out too much. Needs to be more subtle and not looking like a bunch of blocks stacked on top of each other.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thanks.

[@JoshPiland]

How do we fix McLowes Depot?

[@BrentHull]

Hahaha. Good question.

[@JackelineBon]

What can I do to avoid creating a Mc-Mansion house? I want to add a second floor to my house and I really want to do it right

[@BrentHull]

Its a challenge. Find a good designer/architect.

[@pointnemo369]

Way, Way, Way Better! Maybe I am off here perhaps and it's the angle of the photograph. The front part with the palladium window strikes me as prepositionally wrong it's too narrow in relation to remaining parts of the house. Hey that was the 80's everything was turned up to 11.

[@BrentHull]

You're right. The Palladian window is bad. Thanks.

[@stevemiller7949]

I went back and looked at the Carson house in Eureka, CA. Just a full-on, no limit, Victorian. Why is it I can feel glad it's kookiness and detail has been preserved and then feel less charitable toward McMansion's? Perhap's because a McMansion looks like it only took about 5 minutes to design the facade? Perhaps, or maybe because I always suspect the decor on the inside is even worse than the facade? Nobody is making me look at an ugly house and there is something to be said about letting your freak flag fly?

[@BrentHull]

Haha. Thanks.

[@jeffnhelen]

It’s saddening to see these houses wrapped in detail but lack personality or a defining architectural character. Bringing emphasis to the window projection and adding substance to the eave while calming down the other details really made a world of difference. Those changes in addition to moving the door forward in the elevation makes it feel more like a European inspired manor instead of a tasteless amalgamation of “design”. …Or in less elegant wording, “Way to polish that turd!”

[@BrentHull]

Well said. Thanks!

[@risalangdon9883]

Brent, bless your heart for even trying to fix this one lol. Sorry, but what an ugly structure smh. Very cringey. But yeah, you did slightly improve it. Some structures should be torn down. I can only imagine what the inside looks like 😆.

[@BrentHull]

Haha, thanks.

[@edmessina8392]

Acres and acres of sheetrock with atrocious accent walls throughout. Finger jointed base and casing. Some pre-finished engineered wood flooring and undoubtedly a misplaced overscaled fireplace with a 10 foot tv hanging above it. Add cheap stainless steel appliances and hang framed posters with inspirational quotes throughout. Plus underscaled single member crown molding in formal 12 x 12 living room.

[@strictlyaesthetic9202]

Quion Corner Hell....The balance is dreadful.... BTW... Circle Top Window.... Not Palladian

[@BrentHull]

ok

[@ChrisVideoNet]

never remove windows space IMHO it might look better from the outside but not the inside.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks.

[@RaulTorresMorfin]

You can't fix trash

[@BrentHull]

point taken.

[@michellepelley4123]

No

[@BrentHull]

ok

[@Giblet535]

There is no fixing that design. It reeks of desperation, laziness, and deep seated insecurity: those of the builder as well as the buyer. McMansions are tomorrow's contemporary designs. Quaint & quirky, but impossible to sell.

[@BrentHull]

well said. Thanks.

[@rgriffith6476]

so you just drew a picture of how they should do it, or does someone actually remove all the brick from this house and like… Do the hundreds of thousands of dollars in minor taste-adjusted tweaks? Lol.

[@BrentHull]

Just ideas for contemplation. Thanks.

[@maureenlangerfeld8489]

Soooo much better!

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks.