So much of the successful end result of design projects depends on the ability to take risks and think "outside the box" when in the planning stages. Being able to consider the idea of making one big shift opens up many possibilities. This was the case with the story of the redesign of the entrance and facade single family home in Chicago…
… featured in the current issue of Chicago Home + Garden. According to the feature, the architect Kathryn Quinn has a mantra of "what a difference a door makes" and put that thinking into play on this project.
By relocating the front door from the middle of the entrance area to the side, it created a foyer and the living room gained space for a more accommodating layout.
The exterior bonus of the project was the chance to make some design updates to the facade while the door-moving job was underway. The previously outdated facade was warmed up and improved by the addition of walnut siding and a color change to a light brown for the stucco. It's like a whole new house!
Check out the full story and all the (very lovely!) interior shots at: Chicago Home + Garden
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Beatriz's Fun & Functional Workspace
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Sheex Bedding
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
I thought the wood siding was the main addition - it makes for a nice change. Wouldn't have figured out the door had moved. Having front steps go to what is now, presumably, just a window must get rather confusing - I'm imagining delivery men and guests knocking on the windows...
You really don't get the effect of the changes until you click on the link to the article and see the new, updated interior - It's an amazing space now, and the shift to the orientation of the front door makes perfect sense now after seeing the article.
I read the article...and found it interesting that they talked in it about the dated aspects of the facade. Let's revisit this same facade in about 10 years, when we are all over the entire 'rustic wood meets metal' look and evaluate. Methinks that a victorian house with a face-ectomy is always going to rapidly look post modern at best and probably really dated. I can imagine this house with victorian appropriate white wood siding and minimal trim fitted out with crittall steel windows and doors...that would be modern but have soem longevity to it.
bet that cost a butt load
decorator dave: when this becomes dated, these owners will be selling and the next wealthy owner will just gut and renovate the whole place to their trendy tastes.
home body: Quinn merely moved the front door to the side of the alcove. I can only guess this was to stop direct views through the door into the living room.
The 2001 gut rehab was clearly dated to begin with as it looks like much of Chicago's post modernism from circa 1985. The fact that the owner's felt that some update was required less than 10 years later is evidence of this. Quinn's "dressing up" of the existing elevation with a new material does little to alleviate what is an uninspiringly designed facade.