In Desperate Need of Curb Appeal
I’m looking for ideas on how to improve the exterior of our home. I know it needs something but I just cant figure out what I should change. The siding of the home is relatively new so I don’t want to change that but I would be open to changing the trim/gutters, shutters, garage door color, front door, etc. Any ideas on how to brighten this up? Thanks for your help!
Comments (17)
K Laurence
4 years agoRelated Discussions
How can we improve curb appeal?!?!?!
Comments (12)Does anyone use the walkway to the street? If not then maybe eliminate it as it looks like a bright gash across the lawn. Instead, do a path from the driveway to the front door that can meander around some curved, perhaps mounded garden area. I think the walls/planters do detract from the front of the house. But the biggest thing to me is the color. I'm not a fan of brown trim anyway, but it is especially stark against the light building, which gets really washed out in the bright FL sun. I think adding color to the scheme will help a lot. Adding color to the garden would help as well. Dad always filled his planters with bright red geraniums and they looked fabulous. There are a lot of colorful plants in FL that you could use...bushes that bloom all year, crotons with their colorful leaves. And one of my faves...bird of paradise. The mature trees are lovely. But the small ones in the planters are too small and lonely. The 2 "Xmas trees" in the front on the right are also too lonely and out of scale. They will grow, but especially until they do, some other plantings will soften the look. I agree about that back walkway being too narrow and definitely nothing I'd want to navigate with arms full or in heels. Pavers that don't meet and aren't level are just dangerous IMO, as is that trip hazard in the front...that little lip where the sidewalk meets the porch....See MoreMy house is in DESPERATE need of curb appeal please help!
Comments (57)Thank you ladies : ) but these last images of the house are Jay's vision for his place. Awm, I especially appreciate your acknowledging my input and ideas, as the photoshopping is simply a design and communication tool. I always wonder if anyone notices, or appreciates more than the shopping! The creativity and challenges are where my heart is, aside from loving to help people solve their problems or achieve their vision. And, of course, I want to be good at that, too! I'm glad you always learn something. So do I! One always needs to learn more, and it makes the process all the more fun. So, thank you, again, for your compliments and encouragement on projects : ) It is very much appreciated....See MoreHelp needed with exterior design. We are getting nowhere fast.
Comments (2)@Angel 18432, We have about one week to ten days before we have to give him a solid plan on the exterior....See MoreIn Desperate Need of Curb Appeal
Comments (19)At the least remove the tree against the house. Discard the shutters, use Cultured Stone on the walls of the offset at front, left side and inside porch. Paint the brick! Yep, the whole house. Use Hardi Plank shakes on the front gable. Replace the post with cedar or pine 6x6 posts with brackets slightly cut on an inside curve, stained a natural weathered cedar color. Remove the rocks and paving rounds and replace with a sidewalk from driveway to entry. I would also remove the sidewalk to the street if possible. Kill off existing lawn and replace areas you want to keep as lawn with sod. For the garage doors paint the same color you paint the brick rather than making them a focal point but add an awning or pergola like structure that matches the new porch posts over the garage doors. Front door with 3/4 glass or full glass and a decorative porch light would be nice....See More
J Williams
4 years agoJ Williams
4 years ago
PROBeth H. :
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agogreat,,,my whole comment disappeared. i'll try this again.
There is no contrast between your siding/trim/brick/garage doors. everything blends. notice this one and the contrast w/everything. perhaps if you did your fascia and trim w/a soft creamy white?
nice contrast w/the white, the shutters and the door color. otherwise the siding color would just blend in w/the stone. great landscaping too.
If you're up for doing the brick, i'd use the Romabio. (sample a small portion. if you don't like it, it rinses off completely within 72 hours)
landscaping. remove those hedges and plant something that enhances the home. here are some ideas. (courtesy of DigDoug designs)
beef up the posts to something in a nice cedar or doug fir
garage doors,,,either new doors, or add some glass and some hardware. also, exterior lighting
also great contrast w/the blue and white trim color (and wood doors)
JS88 thanked Beth H. :- PRO
myricarchitect
4 years agoI would beef up the porch posts, they are visually too slender for the massing of the house. Large square or tapered columns, with or without a masonry base, some examples
JS88 thanked myricarchitect suezbell
4 years agoJS88
4 years ago- PRO
JS88
4 years ago- PRO
Beth H. :
4 years ago 
PROPPF.
4 years agoNot suggesting anything other than the 2nd floor. Note the lower pitch gable roof and how the center section sets back.
Another option.
If you can paint the 2nd floor siding, I'd experiment with a darker color to help minimize its size.sheepla
4 years ago- PRO
PPF.
4 years agoThis doesn't look so good, and is not too practical, but gives an idea of what a darker 2nd floor would look like.
Changing the landscaping like removing the wall of bushes in front of the house, and increasing the column size (and painting them a lighter color) to give more presence to the first floor will help.
JS88 thanked PPF. JS88
4 years agoJS88
4 years ago
Here are some close up pictures of the brick. It’s like a dark brown brick with orange showing through... not a good look. That’s why I’m seriously considering the Romabio. Any additional thoughts on that option?
decoenthusiaste