Late 60's Garrison Colonial Curb Appeal
We recently purchased a home that could use some help with curb appeal. We do not want to paint the brick, but would consider staining it or something else that didn't require frequent maintenance. Also, the siding is aluminum and needs to be cleaned. It is a light blue or green (it is tough to tell). We would like to come up with a long-term plan to improve curb appeal as well as some short-term, inexpensive projects. The tree on the corner of the house (Japanese Maple) on the right side is way too close and probably needs to be taken out at some point (though it breaks my heart). The other tree on the right (some other kind of maple) has some problems (may have been struck by lightning) and may also have to go, but we would likely replace it. I definitely want to add some kind of covering over the front door so guests don't have to stand in the rain waiting for us to answer the door. I would really like to have window boxes just for the gardening fun, and all the windows have screens that would easily allow watering, but I can garden in other places just as well. And yes, the lawn needs some work.
Comments (16)
PROBeth H. :
5 years agoagree. call in an arborist and see what he can do about the trees. of course landscaping will bring in the majority of the curb appeal. the house itself is nice.
I also love the black trim w/the brick and the cedar shake. you could also do a cedar-look siding to bring in the same tones.
down the road when you want to do the entry way, there are diff things you can do depending on cost and how ornate you want it to look.
I like this copper awning
Your door could use some paint. glossy red or black would work, as would a navy or green.
I'm on the fence w/your white railing. It's just so prominent. ditto your garage doors. I'd prob paint them dark,,like black and paint the siding in a cream, or gray shade. (look at the black garage doors on the brick house w/the copper)
I just don't think that white siding, white doors/railing, are helping your house. It's ok, but it could be better.
Beth thanked Beth H. :Related Discussions
Curbing curb appeal
Comments (55)What term can describe the result of this extra effort for this first view of the front of a property? As used above, I would just simply call it the front garden. I think there is a bit of west coast vs east coast different pages thing happening here too. Yardvaark's observation that plenty of people put all their effort out front and have a dog patch out back they would never dream of inviting guests in to is completely valid. Outdoor privacy, found in the back yard not the front, and privacy in general was valued a lot more out west. Much like 'foundation plants' had a certain ethos and design style associated with it, 'curb appeal' these days does too. Inkognito's original question way back at the height of the housing frenzy before the crash was "Is this whole notion that the only reason for working on the way our house and garden is presented is so that we can sell it on detrimental to domestic garden design? Yes it is. As the wealth of working people is clawed away from them in service to the god of vulture capitalism's endless greed for growth and profits, homes are ever more considered their last available investment and asset that will likely have to be sold off for people to survive their decrepitude with any amount of dignity. They can never really expect to grow old and die peacefully at home. This is an investment not a home. Not that 'curb appeal' implies completely ignoring everything else, but when it becomes a primary and most valued focus of applied residential landscape design, is it driving standard residential landscape design towards the banal beige of real estate agents wet dreams? When does it really become just another form of capitalist consumption that has to be changed out every so often like paint and wallpaper to keep things fresh? What about real homes and a sense of place? What about real gardens filled with life and individual personality? "Oh great. You have fabulous curb appeal. Do you garden?" Added: Yes you can read this as an extreme take on things. Few things are that black and white or all inclusive. It's not like the term 'curb appeal' makes my skin crawl. There is also a valid need to stage homes when they go on the market. It's more about how the ethos contained in this thinking takes hold and affects people's thinking and expectations about what gardens are really for. No matter, there will always be the Hyacinths who continue keeping up appearances....See More~ options for the front of my garrison colonial ~
Comments (54)I took a little road trip this weekend and happened to notice a fence that made me think of your post. It took some time finding what the style was called, but I think this is similar. It is not solid on the bottom, but has a second set of pickets that are so close together, nothing from the bad neighbors could blow through. And the advantage to the open pickets is a well aimed leaf blower will clear your side of the fence and will simultaneously blow their leaves away from your fence without you having to move off your property. I completely understand not wanting to access the fence or a hedge from their side. I have neighbors like that, too. Ugh! From what I can see it's called a puppy picket. I know this is taller than what you want, but this is the idea. Another example (I don't care for the top portion of this fence, but you can see the idea of the double pickets at the bottom, with more open pickets at the top). I am linking because the pic is large and I can't seem to reduce it. Here is a link that might be useful: puppy picket This post was edited by olychick on Wed, Nov 5, 14 at 11:17...See MoreHelp! NO Curb Appeal on our Colonial, what can we do?!
Comments (58)All great points NHbabs! Thank you. We will have to see how quickly the boxwood grow, but can plan to trim them each year if needed. The Arborvitaes may have actually all died over the winter, so we will have to wait and see if they come back and if not perhaps replant new ones further apart or plan to have them topped each year. Once again, thank you!...See MoreGarrison Colonial Curb Appeal
Comments (23)The color is a custom mix. I always loved the color of a certain house in a nearby neighborhood, so when I saw the owner working in the yard I stopped and asked her about the color. She said it was a custom mix from the previous owner, and sent me to the local paint shop where they had the color on file. If I can find a can with the details, I'll post a pic. It's the perfect greige. Not too gray, not too beige, and it looks great in all lighting....See More
Beth
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoBeth
5 years ago
PROYardvaark
5 years agoThe most major consideration in the street appeal department is fixing the retaining wall. It looks cheap because it doesn't have "returns," and extremely "busy." It should be extended farther forward (because the slope continues) and limited to maybe 3 levels, as opposed to the sawtooth and innumerable levels. The taller shrubs along the steps look obstructive and messy (as no rhyme or reason for their arrangement), The bald mulch is not a good flavor, and having the turf lawn extend into the sloped area seems like unpleasant maintenance and a shortcoming in the bed geometry. I'd opt for a lot of groundcover instead.
The low hanging tree limbs need to be removed. Whether the Jap. maple can be cleaned up and retained ... we would need to see a picture of its trunk relative to the house wall.
I'm not trying to show the capabilities of planting in the picture, but just the walls and logical bed line.
Beth thanked YardvaarkBeth
5 years ago
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