Curb appeal help for 50's 2 front door rambler!
Aubree Shelley
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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Aubree Shelley
5 years agoRelated Discussions
In need of curb appeal advice for PacNW 1950s rambler
Comments (45)It's really not hard for me to conceive of "no rain and long days". living in one of the driest areas in the nation (#1 in the Summer!) and going 9-10 months without a drop of rain, makes me very familiar with this issue. When I mentioned supplemental watering, perhaps you've misunderstood. No where did we make mention of OP having a 'huge swath of lawn'. I hardly think planting a few (maybe 8-15) types of shade loving plants (see Dougs drawing) as well as some native types, and having some drip irrigation, is going to cost an arm and leg or drain the state reservoirs. the area receives 38" average rainfall a year. I realize the numbers could be down, but nowhere near what our numbers are here in so cal. We've been averaging 5-9" over the last few years. So, I mentioned the supplemental watering for those few months where you don't get any rainfall. It's not that much! All you people are acting like we're proposing he plants acres of lawn! stop w/the dramatics and understand having a few plants that need a little extra watering in the summer is completely reasonable! Let me just share this tidbit regarding water conservation. I had the district water supervisor to my house to talk about water issues w/my home. because I have koi ponds that need frequent water changes, I was concerned about going over my limit and paying a fortune. He told me I was well within normal usage (and I have lawns and plenty of flowers and plants!) Anyway, he said during the summer they end up dumping thousands and thousands of gallons of water out to the ocean because of bacteria buildup. he said people do such a good job of not using water, the water sits in the sun and accumulates harmful bacteria that they can't treat safely and then use for potable water. So every few days they have to dump it. they don't even get to use it for irrigation. it's dumped down to the ocean. great huh? he said if the public knew about it they'd have a fit. so here we are letting our lawns die (which looks like crap and makes the neighborhood look like a ghetto. Badge of honor? I don't think so) while they dump off the water. On top of that great news, the water company isn't making the same revenue, so now they increase the rates to the people who have so diligently cut back on their usage. So here's my take on that,,,,,conserve water, have all your landscaping die off, and get charged more money,,,,, only to have the saved water get thrown down to the ocean. Yeah, no. not happening. I'll water my lawn and my plants as I see fit. I won't be wasteful and i'll conserve where I can (I water w/my pond water that's getting changed out) and let the lawn stay a tad on the dry side w/o completely dying....See MoreNeed curb appeal advice for my little rambler
Comments (7)Congratulations on your new house! Expanding the garage is an expensive proposition. Do you have the budget for something like that? The first thing I would do is remove the shutters-they're too small and not suited to the style of the windows. Then I would add risers to the steps of the porch and stain the whole thing in a color that compliments the house. Add a tall planter on either side of the door for some color and interest. You could add small evergreen trees in them for the winter that can then be planted in the yard next spring. I don't see any house numbers so I would add some vertically to the left of the door. If there's electricity available, I would also add a light to the the left of the door. For a few hundred dollars, you can have the stump ground out. Adding a flagstone walkway from the garage to the front door is a nice idea. There are crack fillers that you can use to fill the cracks in the driveway, then you can power wash it and use a concrete stain to freshen it up. I would also paint the shakes on the garage gable in a color that matches the house. Don't forget to paint the downspouts in a color that matches the house as well! With winter coming, it's a great time to sit down and spend some time online learning about what plants you could add to your landscaping next spring and summer to enhance the curb appeal of the house. In the meantime, fall is a perfect time to throw some tulip and daffodil bulbs into the garden beds to provide some pretty spring color. Hope this helps!...See MoreHelp! No visible front door/poor curb appeal
Comments (14)Could you post a close up, straight on, of the immediate area of your door, standing back so we can see the utility boxes, etc.? If the boxes can’t be moved back towards your street...perhaps run a small white picket fence from the driveway to your lot line, and then turn it back towards your door, enclosing the boxes from view. Plant in front of the boxes...creating a pretty flowerbed, etc. Yes, the boxes will be visible to people entering the house, but not to those driving by. Just a thought. And, of course....a new garage door, for sure! One with windows. Perhaps something mid century? Patricia’s query, above, is a good one. What is the room with the two windows? Perhaps the door could be relocated there?...See More50s Ranch-style Home Exterior Update and Curb Appeal Help
Comments (5)Thank you, both! I certainly understand and appreciate where you are coming from. Waiting has been our mindset for a long time. We have lived here for ten years mostly focusing on saving, doing infrastructure projects, and tackling smaller landscaping projects (it is on 3+ acres and much has been done in the back). It doesn't look like much now (spring has not really arrived where we are) but the beds will be full with plants soon as it warms and we always plant annuals, planters, pots, and baskets. The greenery always does wonders to make it look more welcoming! We have gone back and forth about waiting. Unfortunately, the paint has been slowly running off the house when it rains since we moved in, some places are down to bare aluminum, and the deck has not been done for three years and is in need of painting anyway. We feel like we need to address it now in order to maintain the house and keep from opening ourselves up to bigger issues down the line. Aside from the painting (which we plan to do ourselves) the other projects should not be impacted when we renovate (patio furniture, trellis, steps, etc.). A good chunk of the funds will go toward furniture and based on our budget estimates. The paint and associated supplies will represent a much smaller portion....See MoreAubree Shelley
5 years agoAubree Shelley
5 years agogigirambles
5 years agoAubree Shelley
5 years agohoussaon
5 years agoBette P
5 years agogigirambles
5 years agoAubree Shelley
5 years agochristineindamascus
5 years agoDig Doug's Designs
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoYardvaark
5 years agoEmbothrium
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agosheloveslayouts
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years agoDig Doug's Designs
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agowoodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
5 years agoSigrid
5 years agoSigrid
5 years agoMarianne
5 years agoemmarene9
5 years agokatinparadise
5 years agoAlexUnder
5 years agoAlexUnder
5 years agoRebecca
5 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
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