Ideas for making my narrow front path to front door more inviting?
Robyn A
3 years ago
Hi there, we have a narrow corridor to our front door and would love to make it more inviting. I'm stumped for ideas. What would you do? We'd eventually like to paint the house a warmer color and change the red door to a cedar door.
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Comments (6)Here's one thing I forgot to think about. We use our front door a lot. There are fallen petals right outside the front door about 8 months of the year, and they get tracked into the house all the time. As to the dormant period, which is only about six weeks here (right after pruning) the bare canes look surprisingly good when nicely and neatly arranged. People even comment on how interesting the structure of the rose is when leafless. But think carefully about that fallen petal issue. I keep a broom by the front door now. Have to. If your archway is away from the front door, it's not so much of an issue....See MoreSide-of-House Front Door - Curb Appeal Advice (+ Landscaping/ Walkway)
Comments (15)I think that solving the main problems is going to boil down to two things: the walk; and the making the entrance visible. The walk should definitely be wider - 5' could be a goal, maybe wider near the stoop - and then it should make a better connection with the drive. I don't think this means to necessarily cut across the lawn with it. Given that the yard is small, you could widen the drive a bit with whatever the walk material is, continue on by widening the city sidewalk with the same material, and then turn the corner with the walk, heading to the entrance ... in effect bordering the yard with a "U"-shape "invitation" that extends from the drive to the entrance. (The portions adjacent drive and city walk would not be the same width as the main walk to the entrance. They would be like decorative borders.) When it comes to the portion of walk that heads toward the entrance, I think it would be beneficial to pull it away from the neighbor's drive and incorporate and "S"-curve into it. That way, room for a SMALL tree could be created between the walk and neighbor's drive. It would also have the benefit of making it look like it belongs to your property without any question. Note how entrances are typically clearly marked by some type of enlarged, often raised, paved area, and a roofed covering that offers shelter from the elements. I think you need to create such a structure over the walk, in the front yard, near to the house. It would be the obvious first "entrance" that people reach when approaching the house. But after they've reached it there would be no question about where they would continue to in order to reach the actual house entrance. The structure could be a very nice arbor, or it could be more architectural in nature (such as with brick columns and an actual roof.) BTW, I don't think there's the first thing wrong with your yellow brick. Maybe you're bored of it and that is the driving force behind staining it. But I think it would be a mistake, or highly inefficient at the least, to attempt to change it to another color. If the brick was flat out ugly I'd be all for it. But it's not. You might end up creating, after spending a lot of money and effort, something that is not near as nice. If you could replace the top panel of the garage door with one that has windows all the way across, that would resolve the boring quality of the existing door. There seem to be two main approaches to planting: smother the house with hedges; and smother the house with a variety of all kinds of plants strewn in a randomish fashion. You might consider "matching" shrubs to windows (like steps would be "matched" to a door) as the main shrubs of the landscape scheme. Perennials and annuals can be fit around them in some artistic scheme, keeping it simple preferably. I would plan on keeping shrubs below the window sill height. I would hunt for a spot for another small tree at the right side of the house. (We can't see that area.)...See MoreHow do I make the front of my chalet more appealing?
Comments (17)I'm responding to your first picture. The low, sagging "ceiling" that is created by the bottom of the tree canopy makes the place look overall, neglected. It will look tidier if your create some clearance between the tree canopy and the face of the house. Also, If the structural appearance of the tree is important to you, you'd remove the left limb that starts out like an upraised elephant's trunk. It's headed toward being a major part of the canopy but looks substantially out of whack with the overall branching patter. (It should have been removed years ago and it's getting to the now-or-never state.) To achieve visual appeal of a house, it's necessary to have an inviting and secure path to the entrance. It should be obvious, easy to use and not confined ... all things that would appeal to a human. It should take the mystery of how to get into the house without getting dirty or bruised. Some simple, distinct landscaping would help, too. Groundcover around the base of the tree would look better than dirt and be easier to maintain than trying to grow grass....See MoreBest rose (or hydrangea, or other idea) for front walkway hedge?
Comments (87)A look at the rose garden in my circle drive, year 2. The anise hyssop shot up and almost completely obscure my fountain, so I've begun transplanting them elsewhere. On the left is a new bare root Apricot Candy rose that's still small. Le Petit Prince on the right is fabulous, so I'm considering buying a second and relocating the Apricot. Earth Angel Margaret Merril Celestial Night These knock-outs were the only roses when I bought the place and they looked awful. I pruned down to three canes almost to the ground in March and they are doing amazingly now....See More
Maureen
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago- I’d paint the front door and garage the same color, to unify the house and black could be impactful.
- Would change all the lights - need to be larger.
- Add a wreath, large mat and a lantern/planter, etc to draw the eye to the entrance and walkway won’t feel as long
- could add a bench and some potted plants and include a tall one near meter so it’s not as prominent
There are different treatments you could do on the cement and it would make a big difference. If interested, there are all kinds of tutorials on line.
https://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/blog/stencil-a-faux-brick-paver-walkway.htmlRobyn A thanked Maureen
Tatyana Ko
3 years agoI’d add planters, and maybe a few by that window too, a wreath, a larger door mat, in a warmer color. Those are quick things you could do.
For a bit more diy, making the walkway brick would look nice, also change the front lantern to something more dramatic.
Robyn A thanked Tatyana Ko
Rina
3 years agoAlong the same lines as Maureen's last suggestion, you could explore resurfacing some of the concrete to make a path withing a path. And greenery could make a real difference.
Robyn A thanked RinaRobyn A
3 years agovtlady52
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago
decoenthusiaste
2 years ago
kadimullins7
last year
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