Need Help Front House Landscaping Ideas (Photogallery Included)

homebound_2007

17 years ago

Photogallery of front house can be viewed at: (cut and paste entire link into browser)

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=abtrh2qv.algstckr&Uy=-j1t9yh&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0amp;UV=297251500024_163579927403

Need some advice for some curb appeal. Very unique home. Door to front of house in enclave of L-shaped ranch. 2-30ft tall blue spruce trees. approx. 20 wide by 15 long square area after trees to home.

What feels off:

1. Trim colour -- red, beige and cream right now. Not big into bold colours... paint door black? beige, cream?

2. Colour of brick - some repairs near garage discoloration. Paint exterior brick of home? Can't afford to stucco right now.

3. 2 front windows are 1) Master bedroom and 2) Bathroom. Both windows are not even same size. Can't do shutters and you can see neighbour already did a pergola idea... replace windows??? How? Make a porch width of enclave to create new front entrance? Paint vinyl trim of windows to a beige colour to make them not stand out as much (white is very bright right now.). Can't make windows too big as bedroom/bathroom?

4) Alternative to the porch is make a big center courtyard with a water feature? Widen the path to the front door? Make stairs, a gate-like feature between the 2 tall towering trees into the courtyard????

5) Grass with the tall trees seems to be an issue -- btw. the one next to the garage is on city property has to stay... the other one could be cut but may look akward with just 1.

Pictures of any ideas would be great! We can't find any similar homes to go by...

Although we might not have much money to fix right now, a phased approach, the longer-term idea to save up for!! We just want to know some ideas as we're totally stumped!

THANK YOU!!!

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Comments (9)

harleysilo
17 years ago
I wouldn't cut the one large tree that you could cut, they are beautiful.

I wouldn't paint the brick, you could pressure wash it with some of the biodegradeable bleach and see how it looks then.
You could cover up the repaired part with artwork or plants/vines. I prefer artwork.

You said a gateway between the two tall trees? I think that would be weird. I like your idea of creating a courtyard in the area near your front door, the gate could be right of the left side of the garage, fenced in to provide privacy and a grand entrance into your home since it's currently so tucked away.

What is your backyard like? Do you need to utilize the front yard?
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homebound_2007
Original Author
17 years ago
Our backyard is amazing and we have no need to utlize the front. It would be entirely curb appeal. We haven't been here long enough but apparently if you want sun you go to the front of the yard and if you want shade you go to the back as it is entirely treed and feels like you are in a forest in the back...

Here is the stucco look of the home...http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=14402&st=4

What did you think about the porch idea? Something like this but in brick...
http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=13411&st=26
OR
http://www.houseplans.com/plan_details.asp?id=28812&st=26
but with the brick look...

Thank you for your help! Great ideas!!
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Curvy or straight? The main point is to give beds depth. Rule of thumb for a border or foundation would be a minimum depth of 6 ft, but most look better if deeper than that. Narrow beds and borders, I think, are one of the things that leads some people to plant in the dreaded soldier rows. Also, although I sometimes think some people get a little anal about the "rule", it's kind of a common mantra in gardening books and on garden forums to hear that plant material should be planted in odd numbers. Three is the favorite number. For smaller plants, or for greater impact, try 5 or 7. If a plant has presence enough to be a specimen or accent on its own, then plant just one. Consider that most dwarf shrubs are about 2 ft at maturity. You need to keep an access space along the house, so you don't plant them write up against it. And, you just read this rule of 3 thing, so you have 3 little shrubs that you won't plant in a row. How much depth will your irregular planting of a trio of the same shrub or perennial need? Then you figure that ... hmmm ... a 2 ft shrub doesn't have a lot of presence by itself. What if it were to have a grouping of evergreens here ... and, say, here ... Oh, and the evergreens are something slow growing that will eventually reach 4 to 5 ft. Pretty soon you realize the border depth needs to be 8 ft to accommodate the shrub groupings. And, because I think it's how many of us think, I'm starting from smaller plants and working from there. Of course, the other common scenario is trying to plant something that matures at 6 to 10 ft with a similar spread into a bed that isn't deep enough. So, my recommendation would be that you get a working idea of the shape and especially the depth of the beds. Incorporate the raised bed idea if you like ... But for now, just play with the ideas on paper, keeping foremost in your mind the way these beds will enhance your home. Once you've got a paper plan that you like, you don't necessarily have to pull the whole thing off all at once. You have a plan. Execute it slowly. Given that you are trying to learn design and learn plants and "do" the garden all at once, give yourself permission to work at a reasonable pace. Maybe the shadier side first, and focus next year on the sunnier side. Give strong consideration to checking out if a local nursery provides design services. Often you can pay a reasonable fee (about $300) for a reasonable plan. If they seem to be going in a too cookie cutter direction, call them on it and indicate the preferences you are already developing. Mainly what you want is something to guide your process. And, there are designers out there who work specifically with clients who intend to put the plan in place themselves. Anyway, whether you sketch it out entirely yourself or get professional input, once you've got a plan, implement it in stages. Don't do what I've done ... rush out to look at all the pretty plants and come home with babies that need to go into the ground ... now! Give your future plantlings the courtesy of beautifully prepared beds with wonderfully prepped soil. You won't regret it. Focus on getting a particular section of the project done well. Maybe it won't look finished, but you have a plan and you know what you will be doing next to fulfill it. Hope that makes sense ... It's just often the case that we get an idea, and think we can execute it and then it turns out to be way more work than we realized when we were just playing with it on paper. Get the big picture on paper ... But, if you are doing the work, stage the execution in manageable phases.
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The controlling factor about where something is planted is not because there is space or someone planted something there before. It has more to do with, will the plant add something positive to the overall scene ... or will it have a negative effect? Surrounding the porch front with something of a height taller than grass is going to create a curb or barrier effect. Keep in mind that the grass itself is a large carpeted path. The porch is a hard floor. The porch is a receiving area. It doesn't make sense to divide the carpet from the floor with any barrier. Doing so will make the porch seem confined and less inviting. An exception might be if you plant something small (a clump of monkey grass for example) at the base of each column, whereas the plant becomes the column base. It's not necessary, but is an option. Generally, turf is tough. Grass has as good a chance at surviving rainwater pouring off the roof as do other plants. That said, it's an entrance area. Gutters have a purely practical reason for being there. Neither is a gutter going to destroy the look of the house. I would add it to the porch, at least. Even if you don't have gutter at the rest of the roof, it needs to be at the porch. There is enough blank wall space flanking the porch that you could add a pair of small trees, like Camellia, if you wanted some height in the picture.
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harleysilo
17 years ago
Well I personally wouldn't want to dump a ton of money into the home unless you are either planning to stay there for a long time, or think you really can get a return on your investment. Stucco over brick, have you priced that? Re-sizing windows have you priced that?

The porches you have linked to have a common theme, they have a roof over them, yours would not unless you plan to add-a-roof over the area transformed into a deck.

At the least I think a nice wide front walkway with curves would increase the appeal of the entrance to your home. Possible turning into an area large enought for a table and chairs as you approach the bathroom window.

Do you have pics of the backyard area? I ask only because someone here may have suggestions for that area that you might get more enjoyment out of then increaseing the usefullness of your entry area....
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view_west
17 years ago
Hi Home,

Your photo reminded me of a landscape question I saw in BH&G Garden, Deck & Landscape (Winter, 2000; Note: cost estimate may be dated). The site was in TX, the designer is LA Prof. Travis Rice, and there is more text in the magazine if you are interested.

hth,
VW
before
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design
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cost estimate
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Here is a link that might be useful: Designer Travis Rice
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harleysilo
17 years ago
Wow, how similar! I like that design!
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homebound_2007
Original Author
17 years ago
o.k this is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!! OH MY GOSH! Thank you so much!! How do I get access to more from this magazine!!!

Thank you thank you! No stucco for sure or a porch!!!

btw. those french doors in that one picture -- o.k for the front of a home? both of them even the more simple one... love these pictures....way cheaper too!!!
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view_west
17 years ago
A french door in a front bedroom might not work for everyone *grin*. But you could get a similar effect with a trellis or ???
(Also consider adding art glass, or at least privacy film to the bath and bed windows if you go for the porch idea).

Your question sounded so familiar, but I was surprised I was able to find the magazine this morning. (Now there goes any hope of clearing up some clutter by my throwing away my garden mag collection).

Here is the rest of the article. Just in case this is a major copyright violation I posted it on tinypic. You might email the designer Travis Rice, I'm sure he would appreciate hearing that his design was useful to you!

-VW

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homebound_2007
Original Author
17 years ago
What's even funnier is the article speaks of a 'Danny' and that is my husbands name lol...
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calbay03
17 years ago
Hi Homebound, replied to your post over in windows and followed your link over here. A lot of wonderful ideas here! Your original idea of what to do in the front sounds real good.

I would keep the trees too, it is so rare to have two large trees nowadays. I cannot see where they are relative to the edge of your yard and sidewalk but if they are far enough to the middle of the yard, I would build a nice wood covered patio designed around the trees. In other words, when it is done, it will look like you trucked in the trees to complement the structure.

A nice low picket fence or rod-iron or ranch style along the front marks a nice boundary and also provides security. If you need the grass for children, I would then plant low brush along fence line to prevent people from being able to just hop over. An alternative will be to convert some of the lawn into flower beds and install secluded seating areas.

It is nice to have a place like this where you can just do as you please from scratch!

Have fun!
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Need Help Front House Landscaping Ideas (Photogallery Included)

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harleysilo

homebound_2007
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Need Help Front House Landscaping Ideas (Photogallery Included)

Comments (9)

harleysilo

homebound_2007Original Author

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harleysilo

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harleysilo

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homebound_2007
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