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heather_jackson66

Help with exterior makeover!

8 years ago
Just bought this house. It’s my husband and I’s first home. Any ideas to make the exterior have more of a ‘wow’ factor?!

Comments (18)

  • PRO
    8 years ago

    Heather Jackson thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 8 years ago

    Love the pergola and windows for the garage door. Painting the garage door the siding color would help make it less of a focal point.

  • 8 years ago

    Love this idea!

  • 8 years ago

    I never thought to paint the garage door. If we were able to find the exact color, it would be perfect! Maybe add a white pergola above too.


  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Agree, paint the garage door a color to blend with your siding and paint the front door a bright accent color. What color do you like that works with the siding color? Landscaping is the best thing to add curb appeal. It is especially nice if you can tie your front door in with the landscaping.

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  • 8 years ago
    Congrats! I would consider painting the garage door a darker shade of your siding colour. Shutters should appear to close and cover the glass, remove them from the two large windows. Adding the proper hardware would be a nice touch, maybe change them out to a panel style. Add some colourful annuals. Garage Pergola would be lovely.
  • 8 years ago

    I agree with Bette on the shutters. They're especially out of place on the largest window.

  • 8 years ago
    I love the idea of having a front door that is a major “pop” of color. Should the window shutters match?

    Also- we plan on doing a lot of landscaping that way I’ll definitely help the curb appeal!

    What do you all think of window planter boxes?
  • 8 years ago

    No to window planter boxes.

    Please use a landscape designer and local plant nursery's. In fact, post to the landscaping sub-forum here to get great ideas for your home.

    The window shutters should not match the front door. The front door should be an accent color to draw the attention away from the garage and to the front door :)

  • 8 years ago

    The garage trellis is directly opposite in function to painting the garage door the house body color. One draws attention away from the house and to the garage, and the other minimizes the garage and allows the house to be the focal point.

    If you have the necessary evil of a front facing garage, it should not be emphasized.

  • 8 years ago

    While you're working on landscaping, add a large, tall pot filled with colorful annuals under the window of the entrance. It will instantly brighten the spot.

  • 8 years ago

    Agree with Denita, Sophie, and others to develop a professionally designed landscaping plan. You can find designers who can do this it smaller garden centers rather than big box stores. You can get the plans and do the work yourself. It's smart to get the gardening going right away so you have the pleasure of it right away.

    I also agree that you do not need shutters. They don't belong on those windows. A bright door, darker garage door paint, and landscaping are all you need.

    Look, no shutters:

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    f

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

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    Notice in this photo that the designer created deep curved beds close to the house to balance the tall straight lines and more curves at the driveway entrance. You also have a lot of tall angles, so deep curved beds would really set off your house.

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  • 8 years ago

    I was thinking the same thing as kat...tall pot under the window by the door. Perfect spot.

  • 8 years ago
    I like the idea of removing the shutters, but the house is so bland and flat that I feel like the shutters help the aesthetic. I LOVE the idea of a big pot with flowers underneath the little front porch window. I think that will be beautiful!
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Heather, the shutters can stay on the single windows. The shutters on the double windows are just too small as Bette P mentions above. Yes, the builder put the shutters on the wrong windows, it isn't unusual for builders to add too small shutters for color. It is faulty thinking by the builders but an entrenched mindset for decades now. So much so that some builders have no idea of what a shutter is supposed to do and have no idea of the right size. This link gives you more background: http://www.oldhouseguy.com/shutters/

    Read this brief article to see why the small shutters don't work in your design: https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

    The way to make a house not bland is to do the suggestions mentioned above by the posters here. Your home will not be bland, it will be outstanding :)

  • 8 years ago

    You could beef up the window casings, add larger lanterns, a real walkway, and flowers or something more interesting than the bushes the builder installed.




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