My two cents, for what it's worth. A windowbox under the window on the left side would be a lovely accent with or without shutters. I think windowboxes under the two windows on either side of the chimney would be too much.

A......

Cameron, what a beautiful house you have! I agree that a window box on the left would be pretty. I was wondering, though, about drainage. Would you have to line the window box with a plastic liner or something to keep it from dripping dirty water down the side of your house when you water?

I don't think I would put any shutters. Shutters on only one window might look out of place. And I don't think the little windows around the chimney need anything. They look great already.

Susie

Cameron,

Your house is stunning. I would agree with the other folks about no window boxes on either side of the chimmney - it would detract from it's beautiful lines. I like the idea of a white window box on the upper garage window with white board & batten shutters.

Years ago I had window boxes on a house in California that had 2 dormer windows. Since they faced south, I found that growing tough plants like trailing geraniums and asperagus ferns made the window boxes easier to maintain. I had to water daily in the summer. In the winter I had just the asperagus ferns but I don't think that would work in your zone.

JMHO. I'm sure whatever you do it will be great.

bloominganne

My friend had 2nd story window boxes which looked lovely. She watered right through the screen! She said it did not stop the flow of water and was a lot easier than opening the screen all the time.

I think it might look nice with the boxes on all three windows - it would give it a more balanced look. I would probably not do shutters since you don't have room for them on the other windows, plus your home is beautiful without and I don't think they would add to that.

I also think your chimney is lovely as is. I know it's popular to grow something up them but your stone really makes a statement and I'd hate to see it covered up, which ND will do, plus it's a messy rose. I have a two story stone (river rock) chimney, too, and I considered growing a rose up it once. But I love seeing the stone against the soft yellow of my home without obstruction. Then there is the issue of training and upkeep of climbing roses, a chore one story tall let alone two. In addition, most climbers need to be trained laterally to really bloom well all over their canes, which can be tough to achieve on a narrow surface such as a chimney. A rambler would work better if you decide to grow a rose up it.

Btw, love your roof line on the chimney wall. It lends an English cottage look to your home, perfect for a cottage garden backdrop. : )

Diana

I agree with a few others...windowbox over garage only, no shutters. If you can tilt the box a little down towards the front and have the drainage holes at the front, any water that drips out should clear the house wall.

An evergreen vine on the chimney would be nice--as long as it wasn't the type that will damage the mortar. Then the trellis with rose & clematis for color, maybe?

Your garden area looks so pretty! I like the way you planted all around the pillars and fence.

It's good to get so much input before a project. That's one of the great things about having this forum.

Sounds like one window box, no shutters and perhaps no rose. I had garden phlox there last summer (now moved), but perhaps something like tall fragrant lilies will work best with the least amount of work. There is a semi-circle of Indian Hawthorns at the base of the chimney and the phlox were up against the chimney on the inside of the circle.

I do hope everyone up north does well in the strange, big snow storm on the way. We're supposed to get torrential rains.

Take care,
Cameron