Sleepless in Sylvester-photoshop help needed

15 years ago

I need some major photoshop help, I don't have that program and have genuinely tried to do what I need in a few other programs to no avail. Here's the situation, we built this house and just moved in at the end of March, while the inside is moving along nicely the outside is just dreadful. I am almost embarrassed to show this picture because it looks so ugly but I need help seeing what I want before I do it, can someone help??

OK, some info. The cladding will be board and batten, the battens are not up yet. The columns are going to be covered in stone, they are 15' apart and the steps will go from column to column in the door opening. Steps will be wood. I NEED landscaping help...

Can somebody possibly add the steps and columns and some greenery and flowers so my feeble brain can see what I have to work with? Any suggestions are welcomed to help my pitiful house look better.

Thanks, Lisette

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Comments (19)

joanie_b
15 years ago
I'm sorry I don't have PS but I just wanted to tell you what a great blank slate you have to work with.
It's going to look beautiful.
Sujafr
15 years ago
Wish I could help with the photoshop, but can only give this a little bump. I know you'll love the outcome though. We have a farmhouse near us that has columns along a porch that reminds me of yours. I'll see if I can make a picture to give you some ideas from it later today. It's so wonderful that you have a porch, and landscaping will bring it all together.
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janetgia
15 years ago
I will echo what Joanie said - it's a great blank slate! What I think it needs is something that says, HERE IS THE DOOR - WELCOME!! Right now, the door is just kind of another "item" along the long wall and doesn't really stand out. Even the color of the door is pretty well hidden under the shadow of the overhang. So - whatever you can do to surround the door with interest, in colors that win the battle with that shadow :) Maybe two white lattice trellises, one on either side, with something blooming working their way up? Or even just plain white lattice - I'm sure there's something more creative than that... hmmm... decorative tile in a contrasting color, maybe, making a mosaic "surround" around the door?

I think after that, create a nice little sitting area with some contrasting color furniture. Are those dark things chairs off to the left of the door? Maybe they just need a shot of light-colored Krylon Fusion paint to make them stand out. Be sure to add a table for resting your glass of lemonade!

You could have a nice kidney-shaped planting bed off to the left of the steps, maybe a small-scale tree (or heck, small GROVE of small-scale trees!) that blooms. Not sure what part of the country you are in but the Eastern Redbud (cersis canadensis) is common and is one of my all-time favorite smaller-scale blooming trees. You have a lot of horizontal-ness going on... it needs some vertical lines to offset the "plain box" shape of the house, hence the thought about trees.

The lack of a welcoming entry, that shadow, and the need for some blooms are the biggest issues for me.
blackeyedpeas
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi everyone,
Thanks for the encouragement and ideas!
janetgia,
Yes, it absolutely needs a LOT more visual interest, I think that once the steps are in that will help, they will be 15 feet wide. Funny that you mention painting the chairs, I just did LOL they were bright blue and white and are now a pretty chocolate brown. They are temporary, I think we'll probably get rockers and a pretty eating set since there is plenty of room.
I live in GA so the eastern redbud will work, I really want some Japanese maples but I think there's to much sun out there for them :-( I think I want planting beds running the length of the porch that maybe flare out against the steps and then at the ends of the house with lots of flowers to attract hummingbirds and butterflies. There are trees in the yard, I'll take a picture further back so you can see.
Thanks! Lisette
blackeyedpeas
Original Author
15 years ago
OK here's a picture standing much further back there is a shadow under there but not nearly as much IRL as in a photo(my camera can't adjust well between the brightness of the sun and the shade under the porch)

And just for perspective, I took this picture of my hambone 3 year old as I walked back to the house, no flash and no color or brightness adjusting done but I was under the porch and not competing with the sun. I just wanted to emphasize that it's really not dark under there :-)
DLM2000-GW
15 years ago
That hambone is adorable - gawd I miss that age!!!
blackeyedpeas
Original Author
15 years ago
One last bump before i give up...
eagle100
15 years ago
oh, I love all of the possibilities you have here. One thing I would not have any straight line garden beds of rows of plantings. Soft curves would help highlight your home, in my opinion. When your purchasing your plants instead of multiple smaller ones its better to purchase 3 larger ones. (Thats a hard lesson for me to learn!) Can't wait to see what you come up with. Oh, the Jap Maple are beautiful but won't do well with direct sunlight. You might be able to pot several and place on the porch - just a thought.
squirrelheaven
15 years ago
It's only been a day -- maybe bring it up again in a couple of days. I ps but can't take it on right now. Maybe Lindy or Chicory will come along, too (or someone else).
squirrelheaven
15 years ago
P.S. You might also try posting again after the rest of the house is finished with the siding, columns, etc.
greenthumbfish
15 years ago
Say Black Eye, you said you've genuinely tried to manipulate the photo to no avail... have you collected some ideas from the web that you can post here. I can piece it together for you, I just don't have the time to do the research.
lindybarts
15 years ago
I'm a little hesitant on PSing landscaping since I got a few negative comments last time but it's possible I may get some time to play around later. I thought once my kiddos were back in school I would have more "me" time but I think I may have signed up for one too many committees at school.

Hang in there, one of us will get to it.

Two quick questions..well actually three now that I'm thinking about it.

What color is your Board and Batten, what type of stone and where is your driveway...on the left??

Lindy
blackeyedpeas
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi,
Thanks for all the responses, I realize everybody is extremely busy(I know I am)! and I appreciate any suggestions and help :-) Now I understand how hard it must be to PS something without even knowing what I want, sorry about that, just cause it's in my head doesn't mean that it gets out... lol Anyway I bought a few small "Little Gem" Magnolia's today, I need a few more. I'll place them kind of where I want them and maybe draw out planting beds in the grass with spray paint and then post some more pics.
Lindy, Sorry you got some negative comments, it wasn't me and I don't really know what all that was about but the more brains I have in on this the better it will turn out, I'm sure of it. Sooo if you feel like giving it a whirl when you have sec that would be great!
lindybarts
15 years ago
Hey there...I've had a few minutes here and there but gosh this week went fast, didn't it?? Anyhow, the negative comments were mainly from the landscaping forum folks who were criticising my choice of plants etc. So, just a disclaimer here...I am NOT a landscape designer, nor do I pretent to be. I can cut and paste photos but I have no idea what grows in your area or what plants should be grouped together. I wasn't sure which side your driveway is on but you can swing that sidewalk either direction. I may go back and put something else next to the door. I like janetgia's idea about a trellis or something. I just haven't had much time to scour around for photos on the net. Also, wasn't sure what kind of stone you are getting or how your siding will look (color?)

Here's a start though:
lindybarts
15 years ago
Gosh, THAT's what was missing....front door lights. That's better! I also put a small house number sign but you can't really see it well.
blackeyedpeas
Original Author
15 years ago
Lindy!!

It's beautiful, oh my. it's gives me so much hope, THANK YOU!! I can't help but shout because I love it!
The siding is already painted it's just the battens that aren't up, it's a sagey green but I really like the color you picked also, The columns and steps are perfect, exactly what I want!! Oh and definitely shutters, they make a world of difference. The driveway IS to the left, good call.
This week I bought 3 "Little Gem" Magnolia trees(Still very small) and started a bed to the left of the walkway. I'll post pictures of it when I get a little further along. I'm so excited now, my house is really going to look good!
Thanks Lindy, from the bottom of my heart!

Lisette
lindybarts
15 years ago
You're Welcome! I would love to see how it turns out. Keep us posted!
no_green_thumb
15 years ago
Lindy, Congrats on another beautiful ps job. The ps version is absolutely beautiful - and Blackeyedpeas, you will have a beautiful home!
kareen
15 years ago
What a great job Lindy on the ps. Blackeyedpeas, have you tried over on the gw perennials or cottage garden sites. I have heard the landscape site can be brutal but they are really great on the two sites I mentioned. Just remember in all your planting excitement, that these trees, although dwarf, will get bigger so plan now on your placement so you don't have problems down the road. Kareen

Sleepless in Sylvester-photoshop help needed

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