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thepoehouse1

We need curb appeal!

13 years ago
My husband and I just bought our first home in Florida and have no idea what to do with landscaping in the front yard. From what to plant and how to go about it, we need your help!!

Comments (3)

  • 13 years ago
    It seems like your biggest issue is that the home is relatively dark and with very few colors. It would really brighten the house up to paint the fence on the right side of the house white along with the garage door white or off white. The door and entry way are dark too so painting the front door or if you have the funds, to buy a new, bright colored door. If you are comfortable with it, red or orange would be great for a Florida home. If you go with a colored door, you could paint the window frames the same color to draw the eye there and brighten it up. If behind those two walls is a flower bed, some colorful flowers in the lower part would be great. Behind the right wall that is taller would be nice hydrangeas to add a lot of color. In the dirt around the tree, you could build a small bed around it and lay simple stones around it to really mark and define the area. You should add very bright flowers there too. The tree would be one of the first things I'd do. Then the door, and fence, then the garage. THe garage would be preference because it would just be so the fence and garage are the same color. A colorful mail box would be cute and inviting too. Have fun and post results of whatever you choose to do :)
  • 13 years ago
    It's hard to see exactly what is going on, but first I'd take the tree, is it a banana tree? A palm? and transplant it to the right side of the garage or behind the half wall to the left side of the house. Then I'd paint the horizontal piece under the brown front gable (where the address numbers are posted), the same as the piece over the garage door below the brown. That will offer continuity, where presently it is chopped up.

    I really like the horizontal lines offered by the two levels of partial walls. I think I'd add one to the right side of the garage to hide the A/C condensor from the street, making it the same height as the tallest one. Then I'd add another one, maybe only a foot high from the end of the current lowest one over to the driveway, enclosing the walk to the driveway.

    I'd change the front door; oval windows in doors are so dated. Then paint it a color that pops out. Is this house stucco? I'd repaint, using a color in the gray/taupe tones, keeping the white trim color. The brown color of the gable should be darker than the wall color. I might even do the garage front wall all the way over to behind that tree a different color from the rest of the house. But I'd move that tree first and see what it looked like. Or even continue that different color on the low walls, which would have to be darker than the color on the rest of the front of the house. But they would have to be different shades of the same color. You could have the beginnings of a mid-century modern look going on here.

    Then the rest will be done with landscaping. Keep it low; don't obscure those low accent walls. And don't be afraid to use colorful flowering specimens. It looks like the lowest wall encloses a "flower garden" area. Color would look good here, but keep it below the window trim level.
  • 12 years ago
    Remove all those awkward low walls in the front yard. Create a harmonizing color scheme for the walls and roof. Map out specific planting areas close to the house and island spots in the center of the yard. Consider landscape lighting, lawn sprinklers, and stamped or stained concrete for the sidewalk and driveway. You can't go wrong with single, not double, hibiscus bushes in a single color, maybe yellow. Sheffelara's add needed greenery, and don't forget the ground cover. Good luck.