Need design help - Painting an UGLY duplex exterior
Grant Bennett
5 years ago
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suedonim75
5 years agoGrant Bennett
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Plant / design ideas for ugly boring exterior
Comments (16)If you are looking to add some visual interest, I'd seek out unusual plant combinations for along the front of the porch. Look into shrubs with foliage or other features that stand out. Weigelea My Monet, Deutzia Chardonnay Pearls, contorted filbert (Henry Lauder's Walking stick), witch hazels, come to mind. If you like boxwoods, a row of them could give a tidy look to your front as well as provide a pleasant evergreen backdrop for some other plants. Or, you could have one boxwood on the far side of the porch with other shrubs and perennials filling in the area. I wouldn't mess with that conifer unless you want to put in a large garden in the front (of course, I think that coudl be lovely as well, but it seems beyond the scope of what you are looking for). How about a few shade perennials slong the curved walk way. Perhaps lady's mantle, variegated soloman's seal, bleeding hearts, toad lily. These coudl be underplanted with some smaller bulbs (crocus o& small narcissus). I would avoid blulbs with large leaves since this is such a high visibility area. The dying leaves just aren't pretty. Also, I would get rid of the shutters. They look out of place to me. Plus, a different set of pots and bench could compliment the front of the house better. Instead of the urn style, I'd look for some more upright planters with simple lines. I love the look of the bench, but it seems too ornate for the porch. Is there anythign wrong with the existing walkway? Uneven surface, poor drainage, etc? I'd focus on a few plants with features YOU find interesting instead of tearing out hardscape features unless they have issues that need to be addressed....See MoreHELP!!! Ugly 1950's Exterior Lava Rock and Brick. Need Advice!
Comments (23)Those white painted rocks in the pics above make the house look like its made of marshmallow fluff! Not a good look. OP, Im willing to bet that those rocks are on the front only, am I right? Usually I argue in favor of saving original house parts but i have to say, the 50s thing for attaching fake rocks or brick veneer to the front only (like we cant see the sides??) is really annoying. Take it off! (Be sure to post after pics). Glad the tree is staying. Its not that close, and looks to be in good shape - a good tree adds value to a house. When the time comes redoing your front beds and adding a snazzy new door will add much more appeal....See MoreIs my “ugly” house just ugly landscaping? Help needed!
Comments (10)Do you know the name of the shrub that's between the windows? What is behind the brick raised bed with the hedge? I like the suggestion to remove those bushes. What you do next depends on what is on the other side, next to the house. If you have a porch the same elevation as the front entry then I would buy some easy care annuals each spring, such as pansies, petunias, french marigolds. Creeping thyme will help control weeds. If the other side is more lawn or wanna-be lawn, then I'd put something in there that will get about a foot taller than the planter bed. Maybe an ornamental grass. To replace the shrubs I'd put something that will trail over the edge such as creeping thyme, moneywort, trailing petunias. As for the space between the windows I think you've made a good start with the shrub or small tree you have. It needs friends, something that is a bit shorter, one on each side. Maybe nandina, or camelia, depending on your climate zone. Neither needs much care and rare pruning. There are some roses, particularly floribundas that need very little care. When I lived in Bakersfield, California and in the Sierra foothills I cut them back to about a foot high each winter and that was it. I didn't fertilize, spray, nothing. They grew and bloomed just fine. The yellow and peach colored ones were the toughest and most reliable. Floribundas are generally smallish, about 3'-4' tall and have many small rose blooms....See MoreHelp! need to get rid of this ugly yellow! complete exterior remodel
Comments (2)Don't you miss those shade trees? Bet they helped lower HVAC bills! If you like a more classic look, here is something pretty. Especially helpful if you like shutters; right now they're out of place on your window style. This is a combo of metal and shingle roofing, probably because the garage and front porch were additions to the existing house I'd guess. Exterior lights should be about 1/3 of the front door's height. Columns could change to 8' squares, IMO. Romabio can help you change the brick color if you want to lighten it....See Moresuzyq53
5 years agoGrant Bennett
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