Face-lift for small home curb appeal
We are ready to renovate for siding and front door. Roof is new. We do have an upstairs, but dormer windows face the back. We like taupe siding, white trim and a black entry door.
Energy Star ratings are important as well as aesthetics. Any and all ideas and photos welcome.
Comments (14)
Related Discussions
Need curb appeal help on small lake house!!
Comments (35)One other thing, as far as plantings go, eventually you need to identify what the trees and shrubs are on your property. That's key to deciding what to plant around them, and how to care for them to keep them looking their best. For example, if one of your trees has a wide, shallow root system, that is going to determine what can grow under it and how to plant it. Some plants express toxins from their roots or leaves that inhibit the growth of other plants around them, etc. You may never get lush growth, depending on what the trees are. Something to think about as you progress. I wouldn't repaint the house, save the money for more significant improvements, and I'm wondering if you have vinyl siding which would make that problematic anyway. Landscaping is artfully solving problems, which to me looks like you need a stoop and as long as you're at it, some type of awning or extension of the roof to cover the stoop so that when folks knock on your door when it is raining they're not standing in front of where all the water is going to run down off the roof! It looks like you have a groovy walkway already no? After that, I also second the suggestion for a little picket fence to visually block off your lake side from weekend gawkers driving around the lake. Not necessary but would be nice. Doll it up with plantings if you like. I am totally jealous, I would love a little place like that. One quickie suggestion, to add color and contrast to your hosta beds out front, try astilbe, or various ferns, and various types of heuchera. The classic combos. Also European solomon's seal and lilly of the valley for spring scent. Sweet woodruff makes a good groundcover in shade, as does vinca, the old standby, or ajuga. For spring color, jacob's ladder or virginia bluebells or some type of wild geranium or phlox. Throw in some turtlehead and bottle gentian for summer and fall blooming. Keep it simple, don't plant all of these, they are just suggestions of easy to grow shade garden plants. You want to enjoy your time at the lake and if you don't love to garden you want low maintenance. I'm not sure if they'll grow well in your zone, but azaleas and rugosa roses are classic landscape shrubs. Any of the viburnums would give you beautiful white blooms and low maintenance UNLESS you have a deer issue. If so, they can be grown but need protection. But if your hostas are still alive, the deer may be under control already....See MoreCurb Appeal for Small Red Brick Home
Comments (20)The hedge at the right looks a bit messy. You might be able to sort through it and clean it up and find something within it that could grow into a small tree form in the vicinity of the house corner, while the rest of the hedge is trimmed clean and shapely. There might could be a similar form to be had at the left of the house, but we can't see that area. I second Babs concern about the Hosta. I wouldn't add any unless you can develop some shade somewhere. The rest of my suggestions are self explanatory (I think): a couple of shrubs, some annuals, a perennial and some groundcover. I'm not picking the specific plants ... just suggesting relative shapes, sizes and organization. A walk connecting the parking space seems like it would be nice, but it's not that far of a walk if someone uses the street either.Pic edited. I saw in another picture there is room for a small tree at left....See MoreCurb Appeal for Small House
Comments (11)Usually, small trees off of the corners of a house help it seem integrated into its surroundings. Here, two plants -- being trimmed as shrubs -- seem easily capable of becoming small trees. Why not cultivate them into this form and turn them into assets instead of keeping them as monster shrubs that want to engulf the house ...? Turning them into small trees is a much easier way to maintain them as one barely, if at all, needs to be concerned with trimming the tops. A circular bed of groundcover around their bases would make the picture seem finished. The more centrally located large shrub needs to go away. The hedges seem like they could be kept ... so long as they are kept up with....See MoreCurb appeal side/back of house facing street 1900 Farm house
Comments (8)We have only owned the house for a year. You would be amazed how much tree/shrub cutting we have already done! All bradford pears were removed. Several hackberries removed and a LOT of tree limbing. We trimmed up the shrubs a bunch last year but didn't want to totally shock them. Took them down some more this year. So its a work in progress. All that to say...the property is actually very charming, even magical : ) There is LOTS of shade but also that pretty scattered light coming through the trees. My biggest concern is that brick chimney wall that faces the street. We have discussed Japanese Maple or Japanese LIlac tree. The maple is pretty but I'd love a flowering tree if possible. It is very shady though and don't know if the Lilac would do well? Appreciate any ornamental tree advise please. Here are the boxwoods when we purchased the house! There is one tall section left in the trimmed pic above b/c a robins nest with eggs are in there right now. But basically we have brought all of those down to porch level except the ones on the corners of house....See More
violetsnapdragon
4 years agoI'm not nuts about the look of the window on the left. I'm sure it improves the look of the living room from the inside, though. I would go with something more classic. I'm kind of torn since, obviously, someone thought that window would be a nice upgrade and it could even be new.
estherliba thanked violetsnapdragon
PROUser
4 years agoWhat an adorable home! Love the new roof, clean little shrubs and front steps! To add to the great suggestions above, I would replace the railing to something more decorative, like this:
I always love when the cement pathway is lined with red brick to match brick steps. You could also "beef up" your window and door trim. Other than that I think updating your exterior light, numbers and mailbox will also help putting the finishing touch on the exterior.
Hope this helps!
estherliba thanked User
PROMaster Edge Homes
4 years agoIt is a charming home and some wonderful suggestions already noted here. Have you considered adding a covered entry to the front of the home? It would add some interest to the front elevation and provide the benefit of keeping you dry when fumbling for keys to the front door. Example below
Face liftbeige vinyl siding · More Infoestherliba thanked Master Edge Homesestherliba
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoMaster Edge Homes and houssaon that is an awesome suggestion. I found this one that I like very much, without the long vertical supports. I would recess the lighting. Don't like the light fixture in the photo so much. What do you think?
armchairshopper
4 years agoThe suggestions for a gable front porch are great, but now that you already have a new roof, you might be surprised what it will cost to install that porch. It would have been cheaper to do it when the roofers were working on the house. Shown below are a cloth awning and a metal awning that might be less costly alternatives. I know that some people are very picky about shutters. I’m not. I accept them for what they are: decorations. I think black decorative shutters on the right window might be a way to balance the bay window on the left.
P Allen Smith's Garden Home · More Info
Cottage Charm · More Infoestherliba thanked armchairshopper
groveraxle