Great ideas. This home dictates a really classic feel.

Do the other properties around you offer any insights? Lindsey offers some good ideas, but in historical neighborhoods around me, 1 and 2 would look cheap, and none of them would pass committee review. If you don't have to go through that, YAY! If so, also inquire with the committee.

Most places have wrought iron or the older, historic "rock" walls that are laid on top of each other. I wanted a wrought iron look alike, at least the part of the fence that would be visible from the street. I was thinking black chain link in the back because no one would see it, then something else in the back. We have a really nice dark wood stained picket fence now, but I don't like the upkeep.

Another option might be a low boxwood hedge around the property. Sometimes a psychological barrier is as a effective as a physical one and it would be in keeping with the historic nature of the neighborhood.

I don't know why but I hate having kids (and dogs, for that matter!) behind chain link. It's certainly just a personal hang-up, but it comes off like incarceration to me. Understand the need though, please don't feel judged!!!

Have you looked into the cost of an aluminum fence? They are available in the style that would compliment your house and still be maintenance free while giving you the look of wrought iron at a less expensive price (so I've been told).

Love the above fence! Great idea, functional yet beautiful.

We have aluminum fence and it looks nice..They come in different styles

Did you prive aluminum vs. wrought iron? Is it indeed less expensive?

We did not because we weren't considering wrought iron. If you check the prices, you will see that the difference between the two is not that much..I saw an example where they were saying that the aluminum would be around $13 a linear foot, while the iron would be around $16

We upgraded to aluminum rather than iron several years ago for lower maintenance. At that time it was slightly more than iron. But you still have rust issues at welded joints. I am very concerned for your finances. In both your posts you are seeking cheap "bandaid" solutions in a historic home and location. While you can be cost conscious, I worry you are getting in over your heads and this can only lead to terrible crisis down the line. Don't kid yourselves. A home like you are describing requires a lot of cash reserves. If you don't have that, walk away from this choice. If you have the cash, hire a good historical designer to help you. With your young family, you have NO spare time. So hoping you don't jump in the deep end of the pool and find yourselves sinking rapidly.

Please take Flo's advice to heart, she is being truthful.

"If the house is old, neglected, and requires the budget of a small Country to rehab...somehow...it calls my name".

Powder coated aluminum is the choice over iron. Invisible fences are wonderful for dogs once the kids are a bit older and many people use them in case the dog gets out as a second barrier. One thing to consider, aluminum fencing is more permanent and needs less maintenance than wood.

Here are some photos both without masonry work and with. Obviously the masonry work adds to the cost but is a much more beautiful effect.

Lived in a 1920's home by Charles Dilbeck - they take time to make sure any changes you are making are true to the original architects vision and then everything is three times as expensive to fix or remodel because its an older home. I loved it but when i moved i went with a much more modern home built in the 1970's. I had absolute freedoms to do what I wanted and while still expensive it was nothing like the older home with the slate roof, plaster walls and of course cast iron waste pipes (that all had to be replaced) and the knob and tube wiring (which all had to be replaced) and last but not least the asbestos which you will find somewhere in that house that has to be dealt with. If you don't have the stomach, the time, the wallet or the strong marriage to survive it - run away to something newer.

Thank you, everyone. We are giving up our 1927 home (slate roof, old pipes we replaced, asbestos we removed, etc) to move to this larger 1920-something home. Its all been refurbished for us - wiring, pipes, everything. Its quite lovely. We simply want the least obtrusive but effective and classy looking fence. The masonry work above is beautiful and an option we haven't considered. It sounds like aluminum might be our best option.

Yes, having it done so you get to move in to enjoy is the way to go.

Sounds like you have the experience you need to pull this off. Best of luck. It will be beautiful I'm sure. Post some final pics when you get to that point.