Curb appeal help for older character home
jbh078
11 months ago
I am trying to figure out what to do with this front yard. It is very large and deep. I am not able to get rid of the large spruce trees as they belong to the city. I want to get a new sidewalk, front step and create some interest in the front with either a deck or some raised beds or something. I feel that the sidewalk is too narrow but also think the placement may be off. I reside in Canada, zone 3. I would welcome any ideas and all ideas!!
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PROSabrina Alfin Interiors
11 months agoI think I'd redo the walkway from the sidewalk to the house and make it more organically curvy, rather than straight. Maybe do pavers or flat stepping stones instead of concrete. Then landscape around it. Some ideas:
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Help needed with curb appeal for our new house
Comments (9)My first thought on reading your question was that you'd precluded the one thing I immediately thought of, which was to remove the camellia near the door. It unfortunately does not appear to be the dying plant you have your eye on. So I had to think about this one a bit. This forum is a little different from Home Dec, and some of the differences cause us to move a little slower! Obviously the front of your house had the same effect on me as on Rhodium. I've included a link to a question recently posted here with similar problems although the house style is very different. You may be able to appreciate the effect of a blocking plant and a dark door if you see something similar on someone else's house. You may still decide not to change it, of course! The palm by the driveway gives a little character in what seems to be a cookie cutter neighbourhood, so more power to you for keeping it. Given that you don't have much time, the prime part of the look you're after - manicured - may be best achievable just by pruning those boxwoods. But for the colour objective, you either have the wrong plants in, or not enough plants. To add plants you pretty much have to add beds, which means adding work. You see again how your parameters have somewhat precluded helping you get what you want :-) So I'm going to go around your parameters to make suggestions, and let you sort out which ones you do want to flex on if any. I would take out the camellia and put your decorative pot under your house number, not in the doorway. I would also paint the front door a brighter colour. Then I'd use the area next to the front door for your colour bed; it's small, but I think you'd enjoy it coming and going. Prune the boxwoods as well as the bushes to the left which are getting a bit shapeless, and maybe replace those grassy things in front of them with annuals or perennials that you like. Light coloured hostas would work in my zone and provide longer term interest than plants that have only flower interest. If you really want more planting beds, I would add them out further in the yard, something like an island bed out toward the left corner. KarinL Here is a link that might be useful: wanting a welcoming entry...See Morecross-post from Smaller Homes Forum, appeal for curb appeal :^p
Comments (7)You have a great house - and that landscaping is to die for! I agree that going bold is the way to go - and I'd probably go red! Red window trim, a red door, even paint the chalk board wood red. I think it would look great with the grey. I would probably get a whole new door, if you could, or at least new hardware. I would probably leave the porch railings black, but you could put some pretty red plants in the window boxes, and maybe even a red rocking chair or two on the porch! (Or am I going too far?) I agree with getting a new mailbox. One to match the door hardware metal will make it all click. Use the same metal with your new house numbers and a new light fixture. I think copper would look great, and would look for some already with that green 'aged' patina. You have done so much with the landscaping, I understand your need to have your house live up to it. Be sure to post your 'after' pictures so we can all see!...See MoreStyle of home/curb appeal help!
Comments (55)Lyfia-I like the idea of the low stucco walls along the front. We were thinking more Craftsman inspired with the pillars and roof gable,but we love Spanish style too. I have trouble picturing spanish w/o the tile roof, however. I love the idea of a pergola, mostly because I imagine it is less expensive than adding a roof structure. But I am having trouble picturing it in front of the house-I think of them as more casual, in a backyard setting. This picture was on the link you provided, and I do like the front pergola here: [Traditional Exterior design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2107) by San Diego Architect Christian Rice Architects, Inc. I do want to turn that odd second door into a window, as that is the kitchen, which is currently windowless. That will then be incorporated into the kitchen reno. What about doing a lower, flatter roofline, similar to the garage, instead of the gable?...See More1st Home - "Snout House" - Help with Curb Appeal?
Comments (14)This style is very common in my neighborhood, in a 2 storey version. The nicest ones treat the area beside the garage as a courtyard. Landscaping can accomplish this, and some have a wall across too. The entrance to the courtyard from the driveway is also pulled away from the house, so it feels very spacious, not cramped. Some have a patio area in front, one has a really nice fountain. I'll draw something to give you an idea. You already have a tree that sort of defines the area. Search Houzz or Google for front courtyard ideas....See More
jbh078
11 months agojbh078
11 months agolast modified: 11 months ago
PROjbh078 thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering imagesjbh078
11 months agolast modified: 11 months agoThank you for all of your ideas and wisdom. I reside in Edmonton so we do not have chinooks and high winds like Calgary does, but we do have freezing temps in the winter that can plunge to -30-40 C (-22-40 F). I would like to change front walk unless there is an option to make it workable.
Enzo was being camera shy, it was a rare moment 🐻jbh078
11 months ago
PRODig Doug's Designs
11 months agoHere is a variation which moves the walk slightly & uses Dropmore linden instead of a Kentucky Coffee tree:
jbh078 thanked Dig Doug's Designsjbh078
11 months ago
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