No Curb Appeal!

11 years ago

Need help on front elevation. Budget $5000. Considering painting barrel roofs to match roof. Painting trim a grey to compliment the brick? Trellis closing gap of eve in front of barrel vault on the left. Adding trim to create column look? Removing barrel vault on the left and match existing roof line? Windows with divided lines? Plantation shutters inside to add interest outside?

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PRO

Hhhh

11 years ago

Good afternoon!
I think your home is distinctive and already has a lot of great things going for it. As a landscape designer, I am looking at your home's curb appeal from perhaps a different angle.

Firstly, your photos are quite good -- I always consider curb appeal from the street and then slowly walking up the driveway. It's amazing what you see when you slow down! Secondly, I look at it from close up -- when you are near the front door.

From the street, it appears as though you could have stronger lines for your plantings -- and perhaps some color as well. I would consider one great color like shades of purple to offset the cream, perhaps.

At the front door, you have the perfect courtyard setting! Some brightly colored pots to the left of the front door. Some plants or containers to accent the round patio inset along with some seating would be very enchanting.

Finally, almost every home can have increased curb appeal with outdoor lighting. If your guests can easily see the front door for an evening dinner party -- it is very welcoming.

Best of luck with things. With this beautiful home, I am sure you will get many suggestions to consider!

Heidi

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Comments (12)

User
11 years ago
Your place is a lot nicer-looking than you give it credit for! How about painting your trim a slightly lighter shade than your door and window trim? You don't want it too dark, but there are some nice gray tones in your brick. Don't mess with the barrel vault. I see you have decorative ironwork in your entry. Adding something over the window at left would be in keeping with your look. The trellis at right is not quite beefy enough visually. You could still get away with it by putting an evergreen plant up against it. Another thing that would help the overall look of your house would be to replace or tidy up the shrubs out front. Some of the older types tend to get gangly and no amount of pruning will get them to fill out. Put something lower under that window on the left, even repeating the ferns you have in your entry. You should be able to do everything for well under $5000.
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horselover222
11 years ago
I love your home already I don't think there is anything to do!!
Barbara Almandarz
11 years ago
I agree with Artisans of the Earth. I would add some color for interest, even paint the door a bold color if it is possible.
apple_pie_order
11 years ago
The house itself is quite attractive. What it needs is new landscaping. This architect-designed house needs a professional landscape design to bring the curb appeal up to date.
justinalexx
11 years ago
Your house looks great. I would focus most of the budget on landscaping. Something bordering the walk would look nice. Look into hiring a landscape architect. If that too much trouble/money you can get ideas from your local nursery. Just bring pictures and an overhead sketch.
Curt D'Onofrio
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Yup. I would add plants. Here's an pic i saved a while back. I don't know the names of these plants but go with evergreens
Klemann · More Info
Some people in my travels add solar lights also
marilynellis
11 years ago
It's beautiful the way it is. Spend that $5,000 elsewhere
Curt D'Onofrio
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
In the arch way w/out windows i would add climbing roses
Exteriors · More Info
PRO
Scott Design, Inc.
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
A front door is an important part of curb appeal. Your door is hidden by virtue of its recessed location and size relative to other structures. The path seems to be the only indication as to where to start the journey into your home and it seems very long. Consider reinventing your entry area. Install a prominent gate between the two wings of your home that will be your new “front door” and the introduction to your home. This will create an intimate courtyard behind the gate using less stone, more plants or soft surfaces (hide the downspouts) and interrupt the very long path while providing a variety of ways to manage your landscaping deeper into your front yard. The gate can be a tall metal fence with a door or double doors or a combination of stone and metal or wood and metal that would also provide a surface area for front lights.
I’m not a fan of the barrel roof lines and I would eliminate both of them but that’s secondary to the entranceway.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/exterior/iron-front-entry-gate-
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Claudianne Young
11 years ago
I like your idea of painting your trim a more subdued color. I would play up your beautifully curvy walkway. I would love to see hydrangeas bordering it on either side. How about bringing focus to the trellis area by putting hard scape in a semi circle in front of it and hang a fountain in it. Then put pots on the hard scape or maybe a bench or chairs on the hard scape.
grobby
11 years ago
I agree that you have a lovely home. Really like the curved walkway, it brings energy to your front door. A few things I would consider is low landscaping so your windows are unobstructed and I would remove some of the plantings and decorative wall decorations at the entrance. If you want trellis over the left window, I would try trellis over the entire "window" on the right and paint all trim the same color.