Please help, need curb appeal for boring L-shaped Ranch
I'm primarily looking for ideas on how to improve the front landscaping around the house. I'm willing to change out any of the existing plants if needed. Please share any plant/layout ideas. Should reshape the bedding perimeter or leave it as? Also, I'd love to hear suggestions on how to update the look of my home. I feel the siding color and shutters are outdated, but changing the siding is a bit costly. Are there any ways I can update the look of my home without major costs? Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions!
Comments (9)
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
3 years agoKelli Bischoff
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Ugly Ranch needs Curb appeal ~ Advice Please!
Comments (4)I think that some fairly inexpensive things could make a dramatic difference. First I would replace the iron columns with some more substantial 6x6 supports (with some moldings perhaps) and add some railings. Also, I would not paint the porch, but stain it. I think taking out the concrete porch would be a very big project. I would also add railings and wider wooden steps to the front door. Paint or replace the front door for pop and in your individual taste. The shutters look out of place and out of scale for the picture window. Shutters should look as if they would actually work, these do not. Once this is done the right of your house would be heavy and you would need to balance this out with a nice curved bed on the left with a fairly large tree to add balance. Zone 5 maybe a nice magnolia. Fill in the large bed around the tree with some nice plantings. Towards the road cries out for a small fence with a gate or maybe some hedges with more beds. A flagstone path up to the front steps. A small tree (maybe a Japanese maple) on the right and curved beds along the walkway and driveway. I think this would take your home from plain to fantastic with the least cost and with things that you can probably do on your own. I am sure you can. I do like the idea of shutters, but think you should look at different sizes and styles. I don't like being critical, however I think that by asking for help you are probably looking for honest evaluation....See MoreCurb appeal help, please!
Comments (7)Thanks everyone for the feedback! To answer some of your comments and questions: Those big boxy things at the top of the driveway are huge boxwoods, cut into huge squares. SO ugly! I'd like to cut them right back, almost in half, but I wonder if I'll just wind up with gaping holes in the middle that will never recover? I don't mind keeping all of the boxwood, but I prefer a less manicured, boxy cut. Any ideas of how to let them develop a more "natural" look? You cannot see the stairs because the shrubs are in the way, but they're bluestone. Prairie, I like red shutters too. Unfortunately, these are original to the house and although you can't tell from the picture, they're very faded and worn looking. Sueb, I do plan to replace the storm door with a full glass one which hopefully will highlight the freshly painted door. I like your idea about doing something with that area just to the left of the garage door...I'll have to think about that. Unfortunately, the garage door is fairly new so we're stuck with it. Thanks again everyone. I think you've confirmed that some of the ideas we've got will work. I'll post before and after pictures in a few weeks! Ellen...See MoreHelp with 50s blank-slate ranch curb appeal!
Comments (5)@visualizemaven Thanks for your response, and those photos are gorgeous! Love the earthy/industrial vibes and the stone. We might one day add stone to the bottom half of the exterior right below the midline trim, but it's looking like it's out of our budget for now. All we have planned at the moment is paint/roof/landscape. Metal roofs are very uncommon around here, but I'll look into it. Also appreciate your thoughts on colors; I'll admit that I'm a bit color-challenged. Any ideas on what would be better?...See MoreBORING CURB APPEAL
Comments (59)I guess I should have said, 'Paint the shroud of the air conditioner the same color as the house." Don't go painting coils, fins, fan blades, etc. Not much you can do about it. Has to have air circulation around it. I would carefully inspect the roof flashing, porch construction and supports because there is a potential for a lot of problems there. Hopefully, somewhere down the road when the unit needs replacing, it can be relocated. I like Grover's little roof idea but looks kinda doubtful that there is enough room for roof and still have adequate air space around it. If you're located somewhere with four seasons, you could screen it during the cold months when you don't need AC and remove the screen when the weather heats up....See MoreKelli Bischoff
3 years agoThank you Doug. This does look great and gives me some thoughts to consider for our entrance area. I'd love to see how your ideas would look from a front view of the house. I took some better pics to try to give a full view.
PROYardvaark
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago
emmarene9
3 years agoKelli, this is my amateur opinion and drawing.
The roof, the siding and the fascia/rain gutter are all about the same color. The fascia would be better in white. I used black because I couldn't make the white work.
The tree near the street is ready to be trimmed up.
I think the bed in front looks shallow and the shrubs seem planted too close to the house. I would deepen that bed.
I do not care for the extended part of the bed because it blocks the view of the entrance. I would reuse those plants and rework the entrance a bit.
I might plant a large shrub in front of the second part of the driveway. People should notice the house more than the driveway and this would hide a bit of it.
It is a very attractive house and I would love a three car garage.
Kelli Bischoff
3 years agoemmarene9
3 years ago- PRO
Yardvaark
3 years agoWhile the tree itself looks nice here, I think for a tree of that form and size, it is in a bad position, blocking too much of the house.
It would be an improvement to reorganize and simplify the foundation planting, coordinating with windows and adding some repetitive color.
With a semi-hidden entrance it would be good to make it more obvious. Painting the door and trim white would make it more visible. Substantially widening the approach walk would give a better clue as to where the entrance is, and make it look more inviting. Keeping plantings low as much as possible while still retaining overall balance for the front of the house, would help.
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