Beach House needs curb appeal HELP. Open to anything.
Chris
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (20)
apple_pie_order
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Help, my house needs curb appeal!
Comments (4)What a lovely house. Classic and cute at the same time! And with white siding, your options are truly wide open. I will third everyone else's advice to use a colour you love on the shutters and door. Perhaps just paint the door first and leave it for a while to decide whether you love it on the door as much as on the paint chip :) Then, when you find a colour you love, do the shutters the same. There is a huge gap between the plants against the house and the windows, so I would try planting some taller shrubs back there (that will not grow over the windows in time). If gardening is not really your thing, try to plant some native plants which should not require as much care and nurturing as non-native species. Your garden centre should be able to advise in that regard. jlc712 already gave you the advice I was about to. Maybe think about turning that grassy area in between house and walk into a garden bed. It doesn't have to be done all at once. Perhaps get a garden plan created at your garden centre and just add a bit at a time as you are financially and time-wise able to manage. Good luck. I am sure it will be wonderful. You are starting with a great canvas!!...See MoreMy windowless brick wall house needs curb appeal! Help!
Comments (24)The way I see it, the blank wall has one possibility and that is as a backdrop for a proportionately sized planting arrangement. The most likely possibility of plants that fit would be an arrangement of 3 small, multi-trunk trees (12' height ... made of what would otherwise be known as large shrubs) where two are at the back row (a few feet from the wall) and the third is centered between and in front of them, as a 'front row.' They would be limbed up to half their total height and sitting in a bed of groundcover that is substantial in size. In fact, the bed would also encompass the existing tree. If you'd imagine a 12' circular bed with the existing tree centered in it, that would be a major part of the bed. Then, in line with that same tree, extend the front edge of the bed straight over to the drive and parallel to the house front wall, fine tuning the details as to what makes sense. (Thus, the front-to-back depth of the bed would be roughly equal to the same distance that the tree is in front of the house, where that measurement is made 90* from the house facade.) The multi-trunk trees would be spaced such that the the width of their finished form fits comfortably within the confines of the brick wall width, excluding the entrance area. It seems that an effort is being made to obscure the entrance door. I think this is opposite of what the goal should be. I'd remove whatever screen is in front of it and widen the drive with an abutting walk that goes directly to the entrance area. There ought to be 25 square feet of seasonal color planted left of the entrance door....See MoreBeach House Curb Appeal
Comments (22)Thanks everyone for your input! I think I will do the following this spring: -Install a paving stone border -Plant something bigger in the planter ? Armeria I will ask local landscape for recommendations -Update mailbox/House number with a pop of color: there were a lot of comments about the mailbox but since this is a beach house, we barely get any mail! Maybe 1x month -FIND driftwood to make the pile bigger…did you know driftwood sells for $250 for a two foot piece! I hope to share and updated photo. Also, stayed tuned for photos of the interior! In the future: Painting the trim…my contractor/handyman/painter aka DAD just repainted the white…so we won't be touching that for a few years. Plant hydrangea bushes or, various plants on the whole front year, or replace the small planter with two larger Dig Doug: I love your renderings, especially the trellis! Additional comments: House is in Lavallette (good eye Dig Doug!) Won't widen the boardwalk…it would expand into the driveway Won't paint or stain the shingles…too much upkeep. Yes, the front room is a porch. The "real" front door is inside there. Creating a patio/porch: I like the idea and the look but the front room is a porch and we have outdoor seating out back. Town rule we cannot pave (or paving stone) the whole yard=drainage issues during storms Not sure about termites…will look into this. Thank you for the warning!...See MoreHELP Need Curb Appeal for my wicked boring looking house!
Comments (13)Personally, I am not a fan of contrasting corner trim. If you ever re-side, I would lose that, increase the size of the window trim, and perhaps do a vertical siding on the bump-out. I agree that the driveway needs to be made smaller. Normally I wouldn't suggest faux shutters, but they could add some interest to the front. A front deck and pergola at the door would be pretty....See Moreer612
6 years agoBette P
6 years agoauntthelma
6 years agoKD
6 years agoKim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
6 years agochloebud
6 years agoYardvaark
6 years agoKim in PL (SoCal zone 10/Sunset 24)
6 years agotatts
6 years agosusanzone5 (NY)
6 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoChris
6 years agoChris
6 years agogtcircus
6 years agoChris
6 years agoemmarene9
6 years agoNHBabs z4b-5a NH
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agogtcircus
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
Related Stories
EXTERIORSHelp! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?
Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors
Full StorySELLING YOUR HOUSEHow to Style Your Home for an Open House
Our room-by-room overview explains how to make your home more appealing to potential buyers
Full StoryCURB APPEAL10 Surefire Ways to Boost Curb Appeal
A designer shares her top 10 tips for sprucing up the front of a house
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESHouse Planning: When You Want to Open Up a Space
With a pro's help, you may be able remove a load-bearing wall to turn two small rooms into one bigger one
Full StoryEXTERIORS17 Ways to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal
The word on the street? Homes with appealing front views can sell faster, lift moods and convey a warm welcome
Full StoryARCHITECTUREHouse-Hunting Help: If You Could Pick Your Home Style ...
Love an open layout? Steer clear of Victorians. Hate stairs? Sidle up to a ranch. Whatever home you're looking for, this guide can help
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNGive Curb Appeal a Self-Serving Twist
Suit yourself with a front-yard design that pleases those inside the house as much as viewers from the street
Full StoryMIDCENTURY STYLENail Your Curb Appeal: Midcentury Style
Complement the modern style’s clean lines with a splash of color, upgraded features and low-maintenance landscaping
Full StoryEXTERIORSMini-Me Mailboxes Add Curb Appeal
The spitting image of their parents or merely sharing some genes, these mailboxes show that good design goes beyond the front door
Full Story
Dig Doug's Designs