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Design Dilemma Home Decorating

Help with curb appeal !! Any thoughts?

2 years ago

Hi everyone! I’m looking to get some guidance on adding a little curb appeal to my home. I’m not looking to spend a fortune, but I was wondering if I should add 2 more of these potted plants to the outer two columns for better uniformity?? In addition, besides adding a little bench…is there anything else I can/should add? Thank you all!

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Comments (9)

grapefruit1_ar
2 years ago
Your house is very cute. I would choose a different door color, perhaps dark red, olive green, pumpkin , or others. It appears that the railing is black, so I would paint the posts black, also. Then, maybe decorative house humbers, large porch lights, and window treatments that look good from the outside as well as the inside…
KW PNW Z8
2 years ago
i agree with @grapefruit1_ar about door color & house numbers that are more visible. I suggest bold black numbers to tie in with fence & gate. I also agree about painting porch posts black. If you change door color, big pots same color as door & planted with seasonal colored plants would look great. I wouldn’t add more of what looks like jasmine in the 2 pots you have - do something else for variety. Rather than adding a bench to porch, I’d add 2 comfortable chairs & a small table between. Black chairs with colorful cushions to match front door. I don’t know what front of your house faces but if porch looks inviting & friendly with comfy chairs, you might enjoy sitting out there
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Nice little cottage. I would play up that aspect. Right now the entire house looks sort of washed out. I would paint the main body of the house a deeper color, blue, gray, etc., the windows white and take the railing down and beef up the columns. Then paint the door a bright color to draw the eye. Finish up with some landscaping and you're done. If you're interested in seeing some virtual makeovers of your home check out my website, Creative Visual Concepts.
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are you residing the whole house? Or are you choosing paint colors for the existing siding? Expaint what the siding plan is and what you need help deciding on colors for. If it were mine, I would leave or freshen up the shingled siding and paint all of the clapboard siding white. Paint the door a bright color and forget about making it victorian. Brighten up the interior of the screened porch with White.
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Comments (27)
Do you feel comfortable telling us closest big city to where the house is located? We can give you some ideas for landscaping that don't cost the earth (pun intended). Depending on where you are, during planting season (early spring in 4B) there are good deals on the common types of evergreen shrubs. Those would look best across the front of the house, all year. You don't need to get things that are expensive or exotic. "Garden variety" yews (for shade) or Juniper (for sun) is fine and you can find them on sale at the big box stores in early spring. Look closely at the tag to be sure you get something that won't get too large. Before you buy, check how many hours of sun you get where you are planting. Choose shrubs that will be happy with the amount of water and light they will get in that spot. Don't plant them too close together even though they're small. Plant far enough from the house that they will be a foot away from it at maturity (although this will look weird at first). Look at the tag and space them accordingly. Planting too close together is a waste of money and you'll have to move them or prune them later if you do. To me it looks like you need about 7-8 evergreen shrubs, which won't break the bank. When shrubs are small, I plant white sweet alyssum all over as a living ground cover between them. Cheaper than mulch, looks great, and reseeds itself every year. Tiny roots so easy to remove if you want to get rid of it. As the shrubs get larger they will cover it. If you want something taller against the house before the shrubs are mature, cosmos are so pretty. Again, inexpensive and readily available as tiny plants at the garden center in spring. As far as flowers, maybe in front of the shrubs, there are lots of ways to do that economically too. Some of my favourites come up from seed every year (white alyssum, bachelor's buttons, calendula) or are perennials where I have received cuttings from friends. Unless you need more pathyways functionally, I wouldn't add more hardscaping if budget is a concern. As far as edging, some types are a big pain for mowing. My preference is to just take a spade and dig straight down to make a little trough. Re-do it early spring and mid summer. You can mow right up to it. If you like you can use a weed-eater to trim it, or a pair of garden shears. Free and looks good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBgqBC4EIxQ
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Trista Taylor
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you for your feedback!! I love all of these ideas…. We JUST painted the door because the previous owner had it like a bright red. I also think the numbers need to be larger as well and black in color 😊 Thank you both!!
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KW PNW Z8
2 years ago
@Trista Taylor - since you just painted door, you certainly don’t want to do it again. The turquoise color is good. I think the problem is colors look differnt on monitors. The house must be gray, yes? It has a lavendar tone on my screen. If you add more black with numbers & painting porch columns, the theme will work. Add more of the turquoise door color in chair cushions & big plant pots
Trista Taylor
Original Author
2 years ago
I love that idea….!!! I am getting this unit to rent out so we are looking at cost effective options! Honestly all these options sound great! I’ll look at chairs tomorrow!
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ShadyWillowFarm
2 years ago
Move the potted plants to the outside posts - they crowd the entry. Are you sure renters will take care of potted plants?
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
IMO let the renters buy the chairs and as for the plants I would get fake since in my experience renters do not take care of plants .At least move the garbage cans to along the side of the house between garbage pick ups . Since you have no yard keep it simple it looks like there is a gate to close off the driveway I think a nicer idea would be a fence with a gate at a walkway to the entry with some planters along there to give thta place a bit more of a feel like a home.
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KW PNW Z8
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
@Trista Taylor - yes, I agree with @Patricia Colwell Consulting Because this is a rental I would upgrade the house numbers and that’s it. Unless this is a short term furnished beach rental where cute porch furniture & plants will benefit you by higher rental fees etc & you’re in the property frequently to care for potted porch plants etc. I assumed it was trash pick up day & that’s why bins on street!
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Trista Taylor
Original Author
2 years ago
The potted plants are actually for the appraisal . They will come with us when we leave
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