I don't even know where to start...
Any advice on replacement windows (color? size?); siding (color? shake?) roof (metal? asphalt? color?)? I am clueless on color and what would enhance this American Foursquare built in 1930 that we just purchased. The roof leaks like crazy so that's getting fixed ASAP and I'm using that as a springboard for everything else. I'd love advice, thank you so much!
Comments (13)
JP L
last yearRelated Discussions
please help a newbie figure out where to start?
Comments (8)How about this for starters: one bag of potting soil (any size you can carry), 2-3 windowboxes, and a few seeds which are for sale all over the place. Oh..and don't forget gloves and tools. Short, bushy, and trailing plants fit windowboxes and small pots well. And for taller plants, large pots. Instructions are usually right on the seed packs. If you still have cold weather and want to WS them to give them a head start, cover part of the boxes with plastic sheets so that rain and air can still get in. Make sure to put recycled lids of something like that under containers for good drainage. Balconies + trailing and climbing plants = gorgeous. Herbs and vegetables will adapt to balconies too. Even small fountains where you can grow cress or other water loving plants. Raid library and bookstores for books-books-books. You'll learn a little bit from each one, and years from now you'll be "the wise garden" sage. I have a book from a Washingtonian gardener who made her oasis on her balcony in the famous Watergate--she suggested putting a mirror in any dark, deep shade areas of a balcony, not in the sun, and it really adds a lot to the view. I grow mostly edibles on my back balcony. You can see a little of my backyard balcony railing in this: Here's another sunny balcony (not mine) for inspiration! Nice how the yellow flowers add a little depth to the trailing petunias/torenias....See MoreWhere to Start?
Comments (6)We have horrid Virginia clay here, so I feel your pain. I would get several small shrubs, so you don't need too large a hole. I always dig after rain-much easier-or my DH goes out and digs for me. He has been known to resort to using a pickax to get started. Some that do well in my dry spots are Abelia, dwarf sweet box, (Sarcococca hookeriana humilis), digitalis pupurea (wild foxglove which isn't a shrub of course, but is so pretty in drifts of 7 or 9 plants), nandina, and hellebores which also will do okay with some sun. I would also go to a local public garden and/or nursery for advice that suits your area. Some hostas can take a fair amount of sun. Check out the Hosta Forum for ideas. Liriope might be good, too. The nandina, liriope, and hellebores will spread, too, after a couple of years. You will need to be patient if you start with smaller plants, but the payoff will be a lovely garden under those trees. Oh, and remember that those trees will grow as well, so you could end up with less sun than you have now! I am not a fan of those ground covers like vinca. Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff) would be a lovely alternative. Once you plant, you could add a soaker house up on the hill and attach your hose once a week to give the new plants a good soaking once a week when you don't get at least 1-2 inches of rain in a week. I am afraid there is no way around that for the first year. You might be better off to plant in the fall after the really hot summer is mostly past. Good luck. I am already picturing a lovely hillside there! If you do plant, come back or send a note to me through Garden Web-I am linked on my page for that. I would live to see your progress!...See MoreSo new I don't even know where to start...
Comments (1)You can deadhead the blooms at any time but some people like to keep them for winter interest. On the other hand, if these are reblooming hydrangeas, deadheading promotes new bloomage so feel free to cut the strand that connects the bloom to the stem. If you have no fungal problems on the shrubs, feel free to use the spent blooms as mulch!...See MoreFaucet - Where do I start?
Comments (13)Wow, this is timely! I just went through this over the weekend. I actually bought a Kohler Forte with the side sprayer and then someone told me about how much they liked their pull-out sprayer. So I took it back, studied more faucets and ended up with a Delta Linden. It came with the soap dispenser, which went into the hole where my side sprayer once resided. It can be easily filled from above the counter. Here's the nitty gritty: We have a double stainless sink and I had just recently read a thread here where people were talking about their faucets splashing (faucet too high or too big) so I took a measuring tape with me. I had the Kohler Forte in my basket and then realized after measuring that the water would hit the front side of my sink, and not the drain hole. So I measured the Delta Linden reach and it was almost 2" shorter. The water hits the center of the drain hole perfectly. Two other things I like about this Delta faucet: It has an aerator so I can switch back/forth from spray to aerator. There is also a full-stream button if you need to fill a large pot. And it is water-efficient low flow. Win-win. It also has the ceramic disc cartridge,which was another feature we wanted. The pull out sprayer does glide back into the faucet nicely and the faucet swivels very easily. My DH installed it - said it was no problem. This is my first ever stainless finish faucet. I was always a chrome girl and so far I am liking it. Here is a link that might be useful: Delta Linden...See More
elcieg
last yearlast modified: last yearThe front door is not original and the replacement is Victorian with faux leaded glass; I'd put a new one on the bucket list. I see a picture window. I can't tell if that is original or not.
Let's say you keep the stone, then I would do a similar color on the horizontal. Love this one with the metal roof on the porch roof in the tone of the clapboard and the roof in dark gray. Very nice mix.
This combo will work with the stone, as is, or if you remove the stone and replace with clapboard.As for windows, even though I love black, with all the trim and columns, I'd go white.
Our first house was a four square and we were the second owners. It was built in 1911. Windows were original and, If I can remember correctly, the muntin pattern was 4/1.
BTW, we had very good luck with Anderson 400 series.
decoenthusiaste
last year
Sigrid
last year
Jennifer Hogan
last yearI would want to draw attention to the lower story and away from the upper stories, so I would pick a nice dark brown/gray roof, a mid tone neutral for the upper stories and then use a creamy white for the posts, rail and trim on the patio. Add a couple of pretty chairs and small table, flower pots . . . Make it inviting.
Sorry - just colored the roof and second floor/garage
RedRyder
last yearelcieg
last yearlast modified: last year
PROSabrina Alfin Interiors
last yearIf the stacked stone is staying, your roof color will have to coordinate with those earth tones. I'd stick with colors from the historical color palettes of either Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams. Here are a few exteriors of foursquare homes for inspiration:
Midtown - American Foursquare · More Info
Winchester American Foursquare Exterior · More Info
Porch and Exterior Mouldings Design and Colors · More Info
PRO
ShadyWillowFarm
last year
PROBeverlyFLADeziner
last yearStart by looking to see what others have done with their homes. You've been given lots of good examples. Here are a few more.
Your home seems to be missing lots of trim that the others have. I'd double up on the windows on the second floor so those rooms are not so dark.
gigi marie
last year
kandrewspa