What can I do to "tart up" the curb appeal?

9 years ago

This has been a short term house for us. Originally we were planning to stay longer, but the commute is killing us so it's essentially a 2 year flip and we have to limit our investment to be able to move to a more livable situation.

Even though it looks colonial-ish, it's actually a 60s era multi-level. It has the original baths and we're in the process of renovating them to put the house on the market in the spring. So most of the budget is going there and new counters and backsplash in the kitchen.

The house is vinyl sided in a miserable off white/yellow shade (think phlegm) that we can't afford to replace. It actually looks better in the picture than in person. The front door and steps/railing are pretty homely too (a hot mess as my daughter says).

The most I could probably do is paint the door and/or door frame and maybe the screen door (although I'm not sure how well that will come off). And perhaps the garage doors. I have a budget of about $200- $400 to put some lipstick on this pig.

At first I was thinking of painting the garage doors black and the front door and frame a deep red, but my husband vetoed painting the garage doors black. Then I was thinking of trying to work with the house color and paint the garage doors a deeper shade, but a tan or goldish color seems almost more hideous!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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Comments (3)

delyanks
9 years ago
$200-$400 is going to limit you to paint. It looks like the window colors are mix matched. The shutters could be another color. Maybe a dark gray, charcoal, brown, tan, or clay. Maybe some hardware for the garage door to make it look carriage style. That may leave you with some money to replace the screen door and possibly the front light at the entry.

I think you need to do something with the steps too eventually if you sell. Stone treads and stoning risers, top and sides is cheap way to dress them up.
minuteb thanked delyanks
Carlos Lamadrid
9 years ago
I would take the screen door off. and paint the from door black. Lay blue stone on top of the stairs to freshen that up. Get a really great set of large classic clean lined pots and put two large boxwoods in them. Place them at the bottom of the steps on the edge of the front walk way path. This will draw the eye to the front door and hide the not so attractive side of the stairs. Also, shape the Japanese Maple a bit. It's looks like it's fuller on the left. If possible Take out all those green plants and replace with a row of 36" Yews almost like a hedge. Keep them tight and clean.
minuteb thanked Carlos Lamadrid
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kathinks
8 years ago
I think I'd look to reduce contrast that highlights the ugliness by painting the shutters a medium color that exists already.... perhaps an olive green tone that can harmonize with the khaki. I'd do something with the steps, but if tight on time and money, I'd buy terra-cotta planters and paint them to match the newly green shutters and add plants and flowers with butters, oranges and reds as well as greenery. I would want a large planter up next to the front door so that it draws the eye in rather than back to the whole. Regarding the plants...with money tight, I'd leave them as backdrop and add a few other plants with prettier leaves and flowers.