Very Ugly 1967 Duplex (single story) needs curb appeal boost. Ideas?
Mark Stepchin
last year
last modified: last year
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Need help on curb appeal for California Ranch
Comments (15)Why stain your driveway? It's common for us CA folks to see a huge swath of concrete with our houses. It tells us there's extra parking for parties, if nothing else. What appeals to our local markets is very different than what sells in other states. I do think the hedge would look better shorter, as it shows in your "old" picture. I'm not in love with the house color myself, it seems more an Arts & Craft color than MCM. Nonetheless, it is new and not worth doing over. As a gardener who appreciates low-water landscaping - and since Southern CA folks use our water, LOL - I would never suggest lawn ANYWHERE. The hedge adds a big swath of green that is obviously low maintenance/low water, almost as valuable as a mature tree. No flower box. Plant along the house on both sides of the door, instead. Easier to keep alive and tons more impact. A colorful assortment of mini-shrubs for both bloom color and foliage interest (the latter a lot more important than flowers which will fade in a month's time). Some dark reddish-brown and silver-grey mini-shrubs mixed with flowers will give impact, complement the house color, and draw the eye to the front door to look welcoming. Be generous with the number of plants. We are talking mostly quart-size container plants, maybe a couple of 1-gallon mini-shrubs for instant impact. You want a quick sale, so there isn't time to grow the plants. It should look 'filled in' as soon as you pat down the last trowelful of soil. Some inexpensive edging will keep the dirt off the concrete to make it easier to keep things tidy. The windows are small, proportion-wise. Keep the plantings at 2' high max. Balance is "the name of the game" for a house of your design (not symmetry, which is matchy-matchy)....See MoreMy house is in DESPERATE need of curb appeal please help!
Comments (57)Thank you ladies : ) but these last images of the house are Jay's vision for his place. Awm, I especially appreciate your acknowledging my input and ideas, as the photoshopping is simply a design and communication tool. I always wonder if anyone notices, or appreciates more than the shopping! The creativity and challenges are where my heart is, aside from loving to help people solve their problems or achieve their vision. And, of course, I want to be good at that, too! I'm glad you always learn something. So do I! One always needs to learn more, and it makes the process all the more fun. So, thank you, again, for your compliments and encouragement on projects : ) It is very much appreciated....See MoreGot the house and need 2 opinions on curb appeal. Continued!
Comments (10)Justgotabme, Hehehehe you crack me up lol. In theory I like the idea of the hazelnut brown or walnut for the windows and double doors. In reality though the door area gets a lot of shadow from the porch area so I think I need more vibrant doors. While I love wood tone garage doors, I think on this house style its best if the garage door is either the same color of the house or perhaps a tic lighter. My goal is to take the focus away from the garage by adding a somewhat vibrant color for the front doors. However, since the garage door is sooo prominent I do want it to look nice. What IâÂÂm not sure about is do I also want vibrant window frames. I think I do? Annie, I have already discovered an area the tannin hits, itâÂÂs near the two front windows. When I do the landscaping I will use low water plants there and change the sprinkler head type. That tannin is a pain. It does come off paint with an acid wash but window glass is another story. The only thing I found that works (canâÂÂt remember the name) is a product in a yellow container sold at Wallyland that is a mild compound found in the car wax and cleaning supply section. Birdgardener, I love that look! However, if itâÂÂs more expensive itâÂÂs a no go. Husband said no way to the garage door and windows to start with. I have just been pretending he didnâÂÂt and all the while proclaiming that I am not living in an ugly house lol. Luckily he is coming around. He is nearing sixty and it makes no sense for us to lug hurricane panels around and put up ourselves every season. The windows are old and need to be improved to hurricane glass. The garage door I picked is Miami Dade approved and has expensive hurricane glass. Sheesh, the things I gotta do. I sent this picture of a garage door after a storm to my husband at work the door is like the one on the house now....See MoreWill this landscape plan repair the curb appeal after house addition?
Comments (113)Thanks Yardvaark. The original pic at top of thread was in mid construction so of course it was not welcoming -- very ugly it was (or perhaps you were referring to the original house with white siding that had overgrown burning bush that obscured the circle pavers). Either way the result is an improvement for sure. I am very glad we decided from the good advice on this thread not to do plantings around the circle entry courtyard as I like how open it is now with just a garden around the birch (future garden that is). emmarene, We are definitely still doing the glass railing around the deck over the garage. We just have not got that done yet. That will really finish off the outside....See MoreMark Stepchin
last yeararcy_gw
last yearlast modified: last year
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