Need help on how to fix curb appeal!

last year

We bought our home several months ago and the previous owners boxed in two windows on the front of the house (left side of picture) to create a large master closet. We love the closet but not the way it made the front of the house look so asymmetrical! Does anyone have any ideas of how to fix this? We will probably be removing the ivy and adding shutters to the windows on the right but this would still look asymmetrical with nothing on the left. Help please!

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Comments (20)

decoenthusiaste
last year
Photo doesn't give us much perspective on the closet box issue. What is the greenery growing on the house? That could damage the brick. Are you removing the plants? There is not room for shutters by the door or by the downspout. I would put that money into landscaping, and plant a small ornamental tree about 8 feet in front of the closet area. Landscaping is the key to your dilemma and to curb appeal that is missing. Get a local pro who knows what plants do well in your area to plan out something you can install this fall and next spring.
HU-662549959
Original Author
last year
just noticed the lack of space between the door and the downspout. thanks for pointing that out! we plan to remove the ivy growing on the house at the recommendation of our yard guy but i worry the house/windows will look so bare when we do. good idea on planting trees on the left side. Are you thinking 3-4 trees right in a row to completely cover that area?
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"Obviously if there were other homes better suited to my tastes I wouldn't even ask, I would buy the other home! Only house for sale in subdivision!" "Did I mention limited budget?" The answer is really, No, you can't make changes to this house to make it more traditional looking or appealing to your taste at a limited budget. The limited budget answers are 1) wait until something more to your liking comes up in the subdivision, 2) look in a different nearby subdivision. If you had a high budget and could afford to either pay for the house, then tear it down and pay to build another, or you had several hundred thousand dollars in addition to the purchase price to substantially alter it, then sure, you could substantially alter it. (While you were living in another house because it would probably be uninhabitable during most of the renovation), then the answer is yes, you could do anything you want with enough money. It rarely makes sense to tear down a house unless it is really unsuitable to the lot, or the neighborhood in terms of surrounding houses and values, or for some reason it is uninhabitable or condemned. This usually only makes sense in densely populated areas where land values are very high, or there is something extra special about the property, such as being oceanfront. I live in an area where property values are very high. They recently tore down a commercial building and built 6 houses on the parcel. Each house is twice to 2.5 as large as the houses in the surrounding neighborhood. Each house is being sold for at least 4 times the typical selling price of the surrounding neighborhood. My neighborhood can support such variances in value, although Most people who already live here have said they would not spend nearly that much to live in this neighborhood. Can you afford to spend $200K (a 1700 sq foot house at $117/ft.) and then spend another $250K (a ballpark estimate based upon a more typical larger house at the same price/ft), for a total of $450K? Could you Sell a $450K house in that subdivision? Is that a limited budget to you? That's a serious question, because to some people a limited budget is $1M. If your limited budget is $100K in addition to the purchase price, I would say in no way could you change the character of the house And make other renovations like kitchens and baths.
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Hi All, I used Penn State extension calculator to determine the sq ft i would need to accept the downspout water based on roof size, soil type and average rainfall - that was how I came up with the initial plan of a 10 ft wide recessed area. Phase 1 - Goal - Stop melting roof snow from creating icy pond on walkway and street sidewalk as first step in overall plan redirect downspout and improve curb appeal. We dug a 50ft x 4ft x 6 in recessed area, 0.6 in rain tested it. The troth was filled, with overflow onto the lawn, a bit over the sidewalk and ponding between it and the berm. Prior to the troth overflow the sidewalk to the berm was not ponding. Pointing to this as the source of the icy problem. Phase 2 Based on reactions to prior mock ups, i wanted dark stone or mulch to ground the bldg, a subtle safe walkway from the emergency door (the back of the building faces the street), a rain garden to be part dryriver bed, part plants and part graded lawn. Below is a draft, not shown isgrading from dry river bed out 6 additional ft across from left to right. The software I used has limited colors, river rock will be lighted than shown. Additional plants will be added. For Phase 1 I would do the river rock and gravel right around it, and revamp the downspouts. All and any advise welcome!
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I'd get the soil tested by your local extension service or state university, and then amend the lawn as needed and reseed the bare spots. I'd take this photo to a local nursery where they have knowledgeable employees and ask for suggestions for low-maintenance, shade or part-shade plants that don't mind wet roots--if your flooding problem is near the house--and plants suitable for your zone. While there, you can look at annuals and perennials and see what you like! I envision a garden bed that extends a few or several feet along your driveway with a nice curve that tapers off near your front door, outlined in mondo grass or something similar. While your trees are gorgeous, thinning them will allow more light to come in and help dry your lawn--and help with the longevity of your roof. If you have a big budget, you could look into regrading your lawn. Trim or weed the plants on the left side and fill in gaps. Other suggestions:: the driveway looks beat, so considering resurfacing. Consider hiding your garbage cans on the side of the house with a privacy fence or bin. Paint front door, perhaps the blue of the shutters--but the shutters are way too narrow for the windows. You didn't say what color your are considering for the trim, but I think this blue looks fine. Finally, if you have enough room to pull your car all the way into the carport, considering getting a garage door.
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I like your house pretty well "as is", but agree it could use just a little tweaking to pull attention to the front door. I like the pergola over your garage doors -- it looks well built. I'd leave it for now, and put your energy into other changes first. I very much like Beverly's depiction of a large two-stage deck sort of structure -- it does give weight and importance and ease to the entry. It looks fairly easy to accomplish, so (hopefully) isn't a budget buster. A large colorful pot of flowers or greenery at the doorway, as well as painting the front door a lighter/brighter color, would be nice. The large beds at the entry need work. To balance the large rocks on the far side, could you get more rocks and put a "stream" of them on the near side (3 or 4 foot wide max, NOT on filling the whole space) up against the new enlarged deck? That way the eye would find the picture more balanced. Then some sort of larger shrub in the corner of the mulched bed, and a lower groundcover to fill the rest of the mulched bed. Take care to not disturb the roots of that tree too much. Oh and that nice bench you already have, I'd place on the enlarged entry against the wall under the light fixture. To me a nice bench says, "come and rest here" and it would be easily accessible, a logical place to sit.
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apple_pie_order
last year
Put up a rectangular white trellis the same size as the windows - move it around to find the balance. You could add one or two more trellises on the garage wall, too. Climbing white or yellow roses would be striking on the trellises.
Sigrid
last year
Plant a smallish tree. You'll want it far enough from the house that the canopy won't be a problem as it grows, but it will distract the eye and you won't notice the asymmetry.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
I like the idea of shutters on your long windows.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
The house looks great! its the landscape that needs doing. And I would consider a new front door that has some glass. We need more pictures though.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
The issue with shutters, the windows at the end do not have the space for them.
HU-662549959
Original Author
last year
What does everyone think of this? I removed the ivy, added trees and replaced the front door.
PRO
RL Relocation LLC
last year
Its an underdeveloped landscape. Those shrubs might be a good idea but the entire landscape needs to include a lot more.
HU-662549959
Original Author
last year
Yeah just not sure I have the money right now for a full landscape redo so I'm trying to take little steps in the meantime to make it look bearable. Are you aware of any evergreen trees that I could plant that are already mature 5-8 ft. tall?
decoenthusiaste
last year
Pay for the plan and install the beds and plants over time as you have budget.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
Put the windows back, then add closed shutters in the closet and working shutters on the other two windows (if you aren’t a purist you can add brick Moulding and closed shutters on the left, working open shutters on the real windows)

Sorry but this is the front of the house, the architecture needs to be fixed, don’t waste money on bandaids.
HU-662549959
Original Author
last year
It's not possible to put the windows back in the closet. The closet has custom shelving that would have to be torn out to put windows in. Much bigger pain/expense than I am looking to take on. Plus, as many others in the comments have mentioned, I don't have room for shutters on the two windows closest to the door and the downspout so shutters are out. I've got a contractor coming out Monday to look at it/give me some ideas but I think my best best is probably to plant 3 evergreen trees in front of the brick wall and then do some landscaping throughout.
decoenthusiaste
last year
If you prefer evergreens to ornamental trees, you might consider an espalier on that wall.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
“If you prefer evergreens to ornamental trees, you might consider an espalier on that wall.”

I don’t follow this reasoning. That is a pear tree, which like most espaliers, is not an evergreen. There are already evergreen climbers pruned into panels on the walls.
ptreckel
last year
First, move your downspouts so that the run on the side of the house, not the front. Then you should have enough room for full sized, appropriate shutters on the rights side of the house facade. Second, mount sets of CLOSED shutters on the voids left (or filled) with brick on the left side of the house. I would mount them as I would the ones to the right…with full hardware so they appear to be real. It is not uncommon to see old houses with functional shutters to have some shutters closed on some windows. That is the look you are seeking to emulate. Then….landscaping. I wouldn’t just line trees up to block the old windows, and between the windows on the right. REAL landscaping that will enhance the house. Get a plan and implement it over time. Good luck!
Jennifer Hogan
last year
You don't want to plant the wrong thing only to have it ruin your foundation or get too large or just not look good in a few years. The larger the plant the more expensive it is and often it only takes a few years for your gardens to become mature and look great.

One free service that I have used extensively is the local Master Gardeners Program.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_gardener_program (Associated with the Dept of Agriculture).

The volunteers can help you select appropriate plants for your area and your project. The people who have helped me provided a wealth of information and helped with everything from plant selection to helping me with issues where a plant wasn't thriving. These people are passionate about gardening and community service.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
What style of house do you like? IMO uncover the windows I love the natural lightin my walk in closet and your home needs those windows/ No sutters for sure anfd If MCM is a style you like this is fbulous inspiration for that style of alndscaping . No matter what landscaping you eventually choose that is what will make this house . Please do not ever paint the brick. Clsets can be reorganized and IMO money well spent to get tthose windows back
Jennifer Hogan
last year
You are not necessarily wanting to cover the entire area with plants or trees, but creating a look that provides balance so people don't notice the large expanse of brick with no windows.

Here are some evergreens that stay relatively small - (you don't want a 60' evergreen next to the house).

https://savvygardening.com/dwarf-evergreen-trees/

You may also want to look at Arborvitaes (again varieties range from 2' to 60' at maturity)

and Holly.

I also like some of the red twig dogwoods and willows that offer a bit of winter interest and color to the landscape.
fissfiss
last year
What gardening zone are you in? It’s great that you started, because things take time to come into their own. We did pay for a “master plan” at our first house…and gradually filled things in, giving each other a shrub on anniversaries or birthdays, etc.

Need help on how to fix curb appeal!

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decoenthusiaste

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decoenthusiaste

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ptreckel

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