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juliavalerie

Adding curb appeal without a big bill!

13 years ago
I need some opinions! I am not great with curb appeal. Without changing the color of the siding, how would you add curb appeal? Trim color? Door color? Add shutters? I feel like the porch should be painted, what color would you paint it? Thanks for the help:)

Comments (25)

  • 13 years ago
    Shutters may help to add dimension but the bees and wasps love making homes behind mine. I think the trim colour is too close to the siding colour but i like a white porch not sure what it would look like painted a colour
  • 13 years ago
    I would paint your front door red. Add black shutters and add some hanging baskets with flowers!
  • 13 years ago
    I agree with Carolyn
  • 13 years ago
    I would also paint the porch ceiling a pale blue.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Shutters will not fit on the upper windows due to the angle of the roof. I discourage shutters on double windows unless they are the width of the windows. I am a traditionalist when it comes to shutters. I follow the authentic approach as to why shutters are applied to windows...they should have the capacity to pivot on hinges and cover the window glass entirely when closed.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    I think we need to call a movie company to film in front of your house....something patriotic and sentimental.
  • 13 years ago
    Glad to see others thinking the same thing as me! Hanging ferns or flowers, painting the porch ceiling pale blue. Colorful pillows on the chairs and a beautiful hanging light fixture. Call me old-fashioned, but where is the porch swing with a colorful quilt on it? In the yardscape, add something taller to break up the low plants, like a half barrel with a trellis or three pronged metal frame that some vine could climb and the flowers would spill every direction.
  • 13 years ago
    I also agree with Carolyn. I don't think shutters would work or look good on your house. Flowers and new paint on the front door would look great.
  • 13 years ago
    Thank you everyone for the comments so far. Would you leave the trim the current color?
  • PRO
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    What a great house! You could add a small amount of stone veneer to the slats on the skirting of the porch. It's a small area so wouldn't take too much, and the stone would contrast and compliment the rest of the home and add the touch of color you might be looking for.
  • 13 years ago
    What about light blue porch ceiling AND painting the door the same color? Then you could add flower boxes and landscaping with a variety of different colors. Just a thought.
  • 13 years ago
    I think your house is perfect the way it is! the colors are classic. I would not put up shutters because your house doesn't need them!

    I agree with everyone that said flowers. Red geraniums would be a classic choice. Would love to see a nice blue hydrangea instead of the ball topiary bush on the side of the porch.

    I think your porch just needs some "furnishings. Put the 2 chairs on the same side of the porch with a small table to hold a cool drink between them. A bench or some other furniture with pads would be comfortable too on the other side. An indoor outdorr rug might add some color and be a nice welcome by the stairs to the front door area and keep dirt from being tracked in. I bet there are lots of ideas on Houzz in the ideabooks for furnishing a front porch.
  • 13 years ago
    I had a very similar porch. It took some risk on my part ,but I painted the floor a deep blackberry purple, painted just the top railing of the porch black, leaving the rest white. I put red glass post caps on. My front door is painted black and the shutters are black as well. I hang boston ferns.

    Paint the chairs to give a pop of color!
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Your house already has more appeal than George Clooney does. It is perfect. I think the blue ceiling would add a bit. House was probably built in the late 1880's? Some wicker furniture with comfy pillows. Call me…I'll be right over for coffee.
    Mimi and Eric · More Info
  • 13 years ago
    I would add some porch furniture and hanging baskets with colorful flowers.
  • 13 years ago
    Hi there. I LOVE YOUR HOUSE THE WAY IT IS!!!!! Simple. Classic. Agree w handyman and Judyg. Definitely put colour into surrounding flowers beds. Two chairs flanking front door would look awesome red w blue pillows or vice versa. I want to join coffe party too !! ;)
  • 13 years ago
    I love your house too, just the way it is! Agreed... just some pretty flowers and some porch decor! It's beautiful... we just don't have houses like that here, so much character just on it's own.
  • 13 years ago
    With that beautiful large tree in front, if you don't have enough light for geraniums, red impatients might work as they will take shade.
    Beautiful home.
  • 13 years ago
    I think your house is awesome and I like the simple, clean landscaping. I was surprised to hear so many people say not to paint the trim - I think I would. I'll look for examples.
  • 13 years ago
    Here are a few examples of contrasting trim w/o shutters. All of these have a darker base and white or light trim, but it seems to me the reverse would work well too. I love the interest your house has above the center upstairs window and I think it would be great to show it off with a trim color. It seems like most felt you shouldn't paint the trim though, so maybe I'm crazy.
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  • 13 years ago
    Contrasting trim colour is fine in theory. This house is classic!!
    Serene. Changing trim colour would be a waste of time and money. Unless you really just want a change.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Beautiful house!!! I would do: Lantern sconces on either side of a bright red door. Urns on either side with great big green ferns. Two ferns hanging between posts on front of porch. Paint porch ceiling sky blue. Gray with hint of green porch floor. Hang swing and paint it avocado green or white. Paint adirondack chairs avocado green or white too and put at opposite end of porch from swing with white (or red if you paint chairs white) ceramic garden stool between them. Possibly add two large urns on either side of bottom of steps with bright red and yellow flowers too.
  • 13 years ago
    Nice ideas Hannah! Agree with lantern sconces, urns w big ferns, blue ceiling. I would hold off on swing. See how you feel w just chairs first. Can always add