Fixing bad builder tricks. Giving a house a better story.

[@lochlansmith6611]

I'm finishing my last semester for my Bachelor Degree in Building Design and Construction. My architectural philosophy has changed from modernist to more classical, historical, and traditional. My senior project has been more traditional and historical and my professors aren't big fans. I'm glad to have learned so much from these videos and implement it into my designs.

[@BrentHull]

Glad to hear it. Keep it up!!

[@KevinSmith-qi5yn]

Make big flat blocks and large windows. Make it implied it has solar, R-50 walls, and triple paned glass. I am sure your professors would love it.

[@billk8780]

Brent, You are the limit! Asking the owner, Can I fix your house first? Love it. You go man!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks.

[@zachpw]

Two video ideas: 1) discussion of why houses have so many roof peaks these days; 2) how the silhouette should look from different angles. I saw a modern farmhouse (those white houses with multiple steep gables and board and baton siding with black trim) that had quite a lot of roof peaks. But when you looked at it from the side it was a chaotic mess of shapes and angles.

[@BrentHull]

Yes, good idea. It's a big problem.

[@MadelinePageCourts]

I hope they decided to go with your suggestions. Another great transformation, Brent.

[@BrentHull]

Me too! Thx for watching.

[@kelleysimonds5945]

All good changes and the shed roof, for the dormer, is the best.

[@BrentHull]

Noted. Thx.

[@bobbytaylor3177]

Would like to see the video after the improvements along with the pool house

[@BrentHull]

Ok. Thx.

[@tc9148]

Brilliant. Love all the changes. This is a tutorial on how to make simple changes to fix a builder grade design mess.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. THanks.

[@LukeLongboneOfficial]

Stories are essential to humanity. When we lose our story- or our capacity to share our story- we lose our identity. The last few decades of soulless, consumption driven construction are a reflection of a people who have lost their story. No wonder our political landscape is so dystopian. Thanks Brent. There’s still hope to change things for the better.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thanks!!

[@BradVaughn]

So much better. If the home owners implement the changes, please share the update.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. THx.

[@iancourter7291]

I love these videos. While I enjoy the current culture of DIY house renovation, these videos are a welcome antidote to its “anything goes” aspect, grounding us in more timeless principles of beauty. I’m going to show these to my cousin who is an architect.

[@BrentHull]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@markdavis6875]

Amazing change . WOW

[@BrentHull]

Thx.

[@Timmakesmusic]

Love the changes. Those eave 'stickers' are so tiny - the scale is all wrong and they look ridiculous. Your solution looks so much better - much more intentional and cohesive!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!!

[@jezza6575]

It’s like going to the barber for a haircut and him telling you…I’ll give you a haircut but can I fix your face first?😅

[@BrentHull]

Haha.

[@manm2003]

I love these design videos. It’s great seeing the fixes you propose to the client within your brief and budget but it would be great to see a second design that considers only design principles and your sensibility about what looks right so we could see what a home’s potential is.

[@BrentHull]

Ok. Thx for sharing.

[@PeatedSander]

Excellent ideas

[@BrentHull]

Glad you like them!

[@andy4717]

Good call on the timbers on those gables. We see those a lot here in the UK and they can be quite charming.

[@BrentHull]

Thanks!!

[@inreallife21]

Fantastic!

[@BrentHull]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@williampoe8658]

Nice upgrades!!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks.

[@marvinhaines9297]

Ick! That house was HIDEOUS - practically a caricature of a McMansion. I would have said tear it down and start over. You proved that there is, in fact, an attractive, more economical solution.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thanks!

[@EGFritz]

The double gables hurt my eyes either way 😩

[@BrentHull]

Yep, its hard.

[@bryanheidtman2476]

"gable stickers" gotta love that term! here in Ohio they use them everywhere now.

[@BrentHull]

shoot. Let's change that.

[@ddutton0]

Looks great!

[@BrentHull]

Thank you.

[@jefflawrentz1624]

Two thumbs up - you took it from cliche McMansion to classic.

[@BrentHull]

Nice. Thx.

[@rogerhodges7656]

Great improvements. I didn't see the original intent and still don't without your changes.

[@BrentHull]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@sharonvik2068]

Very nice changes! With an unlimited budget, I would also reduce the volume of the roof to let the front door and windows tell a story of light and connection with the outside.

[@BrentHull]

Great idea! Thx.

[@michaelbissen1946]

Great ideas, Brent !!!

[@BrentHull]

Thanks so much.

[@danielelse3914]

When you went for the timber frame look and blew up the budget, I expected you to swap out the windows in the "original" main portion of the cottage with a diamond pane design to imply Tudor style. You fooled me this time, Brent. ☺️

[@BrentHull]

Ok.

[@pcatful]

Using the materials to unify the facade is a great way to fix it, if you can't reduce the gables!

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thx.

[@Sigpilot97]

Excellent learning going on here. Keep posting videos and I’ll keep being your student. Cheers from OKC.

[@BrentHull]

Good to hear!! Thx.

[@jerrywalden7131]

THIS GUY KNOWS A LOT......... DETAILS GALORE.....

[@BrentHull]

Thanks for watching.

[@lravenhill]

The value of these videos dispensed through American homes can not be quantified

[@BrentHull]

Thank you.

[@yatta5000]

The house isn’t bad if that was the objective they were going for. As a person who appreciates the older homes, I love the changes you recommended. I would probably paint the brick white and went with natural or dark colored timber

[@BrentHull]

Thanks.

[@collegeri]

Could I ever send you a pic for one of your 80’s sketch videos? There’s an early 80’s Tudor nearby that is not that bad, but had a hideous addition put onto the side of it. I’d really love to see what you’d do to the house to make it more 1920’s.

[@BrentHull]

Those sketches are the result of consulting jobs I do. They take some time. That being said, I'd love to look at it. Send pics to [e-mail]. Thx.

[@MrBaconis]

The eve returns were half the battle I think.

[@BrentHull]

Agreed. Thx.

[@bestbuilder1st]

Just a question- shouldn't the stone and brick be reversed? I would assume that the "original" house would have been made of stone and then when they made additions, the brick would have come later since it is a newer, probably more expensive material?

[@BrentHull]

Yes, I'm not a fan of the materials but didn't want to reskin it.

[@Daihatsu_Hijet]

👌🏻

[@BrentHull]

Thx.

[@ryansoo4000]

Hi Brent, do you recommend stuccoing over brick, or would a lime wash to change the color be better?

[@BrentHull]

Limewash is better. My 2 cents. Both can work.

[@r.o.b.480]

Hey Brent, I've got a curveball question: in the art of "Feng Shui," having a front door in alignment with a back door is considered 'bad luck.' I'm not superstitious, so I won't comment on the 'luck' part, but could this be an example of bad design? What do you think?

[@BrentHull]

I'm not a believer in Feng Shui. I'm a believer in beauty based on a human scale.

[@benjaminledford6111]

I wonder how it would look to give that entry piece a flat roof with a parapet. It would at least reduce the profusion of gables.

[@BrentHull]

Good idea. Thanks.

[@maierhof]

What is up with the 2 double gables so close to each other? Who does that and why? Love bringing the wood back in on the tops of those gables. Nice idea. Seems to me that you are leaning more towards Tudor than Cottage imho

[@Daihatsu_Hijet]

It’s quite common now 😬

[@613kc]

Mormon Church members in AZ -> common design

[@BrentHull]

Double gables is a popular fad. Builders use it to create more curb appeal. I think a tudor is often a cottage.

[@maierhof]

You have mentioned it before: Just because something is a popular doesn't make it right in every situation. I am starting to say the same thing about the tapered flat stack at the bottom of a large beam next to a large tall slender window here in Lake Tahoe. Becoming overdone. One double gable - beautiful - but two and so close to each other? Just too much imho

[@aliannarodriguez1581]

The double gables have ALWAYS struck me as a builder trick. They clearly don’t serve an architectural function but seem intended to give the impression of a more complex interior structure. I’m guessing it must be a fairly cheap thing to add to a design because they’ve been popping up everywhere. Don’t get me wrong though, they are a big step up from the giant vinyl boxes that are the most common type of new home we see.

[@donlourie769]

You state you don't care for the gable returns because they aren't historical. But what about the Greek Revival Style. My 1820 Vermont house had these returns.

[@BrentHull]

Sorry. I should have stated Gable-end returns are great when done properly. These are not. Historical ones are.

[@urchin11]

Waste of money to modify exterior. Not every house is intended to be some kind of historic recreation, this is new construction it looked just fine as is.

[@BrentHull]

ok.

[@cw4091]

What is it with modern builders and all those freaking gables? Just...why? They're not functional and just make the houses way too busy. I am baffled by this trend. I just tell my kids, "let's count the triangles on this house." It's insane.

[@BrentHull]

keep spreading the gospel. Thx.