Curb appeal: landscape and exterior color

5 years ago

we would love to have some color and depth in the landscaping but maybe lao update the look of this 60s ranch split level. The interior is styles in a contemporary/modern style.

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BeverlyFLADeziner

5 years ago

The shutters and colonial light fixtures should be replaced with a cylinder metal light sconce..

Select simple metal numbers on pins for your address.

If you want to keep the house light then paint all the windows dark

I would work on the front steps to make them more important like you see above.

Comments (10)

PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
5 years ago
I would go with white color and charcoal trim for windows.
chiflipper
5 years ago
Pretty, pretty PLEASE remove the awful "shudders".

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

Minimalist, low water landscaping would be very appropriate for you home. Low water does not mean "no water", you'll still need an irrigation system. The selection of plants, their placement, and the watering system should be planned together. Look at lots of photos of similar homes for color combo suggestions. I'd opt for a medium-grey body and perhaps wider white window trim. Bring in color with the plantings. Nice house.
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Glad you enjoyed the link. Yes, it will definitely need to be scaled down, but the pictures give you a sense of what types of plantings you'll need. To widen your sidewalk... Imagine you are standing in the driveway looking at the sidewalk. Now, step 4 feet to the right and mark a point. From that point at the edge of the drive, connect it to the corner of the sidewalk (patio). It should make a triangle. Now, just make a little curve to the line, either in or out, whatever you like, pave it in the same stone as your other area, and now you have an "entry court" instead of just a sidewalk. I'm imagining the entire paved area as one big space. You could even move some of the shrubs from in front of the windows to enclose your little courtyard, or an outline of lavender would look really great too. Then you could plant some creeping fig on the garage wall behind the bench and put up a little wall fountain which will eventually be surrounded by the plants. Or put 3-5 big pots with Italian cypress or other tall narrow shrub along the wall. Certainly save the crepe myrtle, It would look fine on the L of the drive. The other thing to think of is what you are going to be using your front yard for, if anything? Do you need the grass for play, do you want a strolling garden? You mentioned a nice entry and some privacy, is the side road busy? Do you need a big hedge on that side, or just something to add interest and make the house seem less exposed? ANother thought- put an oversized lantern on either side of your garage (mediterranean style, of course!)
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Sabrina, thank you. I love the idea of black trim, my husband and I discussed that and it seems like a few others like this idea as well. Sandra, I love the idea of printing out the photo and coloring the area to see what works. Zibbe, you are right, we are less than 2 blocks from Buzz Cafe and close to the Conservatory and the park. Beverly, thank you for all of your ideas and photos. I love the planters and FLW style. I will definitely incorporate a lot of the ideas that you all have shared. I appreciate everyone's feedback and ideas.
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(@ Yarkvaark) "Thank you so much for your input. My problem is my windows don't start til a little over 5" high so I need larger foundation plants. I like what you put there. I was thinking of trying an aborvite in the middle of the two garge windows. What is the shrub you designed in front of each window? It looks perfect! I had been thinking a rhode but I'd love something different since most house have the rhode up here. Much much thanks!!" The purpose of landscaping is not to rebuild the facade of the house in plants, covering all of the exposed siding. I think an Arborvitae be between the garage windows would clearly be in that directions. There's not room for such a plant and it's not necessary. The shrubs I"m showing below windows come to the bottom of the sill so they surely are large enough to do the job ... but then, they're generic. I don't know where you're located and shrubs would need to be selected according to your climate. It looks like the shrubs near the porch would work if someone would let them grow taller. There would be many option for shrubs this size in any locality.
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If the goal is to upgrade the curb appeal, I would look to landscaping because your house colours are mostly working as is. That said, you're showing the Gentek samples which I'm assuming are for the soffit. The soffit doesn't actually show so I'm not sure why you're starting there. They help bounce light into your windows, so going with the lightest colour that goes with your lightest bricks (NOT white) would be a direction for the soffits. The door and siding are an entirely different matter. The brown that you have now on the siding goes perfectly with the darkest brown bricks. Just refresh it. The thing that looks out of place is the overly white vinyl windows and door. I'm guessing the windows can not be painted so that leaves the door . (If the windows could be painted, a beige colour that tied back into the brick would be the idea. ) The front door could/should be a different colour than the siding. The natural wood tone suggested by Freedomplace1 would work with your brick if you changed the door, but probably not as a paint colour. What were you thinking for the door?
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PRO
William Roy Designer Kitchens
5 years ago
I would consider taking the look towards a mid-century modern (MCM) look which would be very compatible with your modern interiors. MCM is hot and will remain hot. You can Use a medium grey on the house and accent with color on the front doors. Ditch the shutters, please.

This is an example of Grey body, dark grey trim and turquoise door.

ALSO: the door was flat, added the trim to give it the look of a $4K new door. This would look great on your double doors.
felizlady
5 years ago
Your current “landscape” is essentially all one color, all one shape, and all one height. All boring. I would replace them with an assortment of (fewer) plants which will be allowed to grow naturally into their own shapes, and which will have different leaf colors, different mature heights and different leaf forms. A tree placed off-center in the yard could be a starting point. Some shrubs with seasonal flowers would also be nice. Native or zone-friendly plants are the best choices for success. Leave enough space between them to allow them to reach their mature width, and add a few large rocks or small boulders for interest. Pay attention to the tags on the plants and space them generously. Be careful not to plant a wide/tall shrub or bush in front of a window because it will eventually block the light or view. If you live in a low-rainfall area, install irrigation lines.
It’s a lot of work to remove the old plantings, so if any of them are worth saving, do so, but leave enough space around them to allow them to grow naturally.
felizlady
5 years ago
Somehow my response ended up under the wrong post! That’s weird. It was meant for the person looking for landscape ideas for their overgrown front yard.
emmarene9
5 years ago
I suggest posting in the Landscape Design Forum. Most of your improvement will be there.

I like the no mow yard you have but would change the area around the entrance. The plants are crowding the stairs.

I would paint the doors white. Remove the shutters and upgrade the lighting.

You could do something interesting with the wall to the right of the entrance.

Is it time to repaint?
silviakunst
5 years ago
You have room on the right side of the front door for a flowering tree ...in a grand pot or dug into the ground ...that would make it more interesting . And add some flowers within your shrubs ...or exchange some shrubs for flowering shrubs ..
.. . Unless it needs painting ..paint it white and be happy with your lovely house ..! Looks good as is ...also !
felizlady
5 years ago
Would you start your new landscape by taking out the skinny tall palm?
groveraxle
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
When did it become a rule that every house had to have shutters? Is this a result of climate change? Is it now an actual law?

I would paint fascia and gutters the same color as the house, paint windows black, and spring for modern house numbers and a modern door. I'd hire a landscape architect for the rest.

ETA: In case I didn't make the point, the shutters have to go.

Curb appeal: landscape and exterior color

BeverlyFLADeziner

Comments (10)

Celery. Visualization, Rendering images

chiflipper

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