curb appeal help

4 years ago

Excuse the half done painting job (painters are waiting on dry weather to finish so a lot of the trim isn’t painted yet and most of the lights address numbers etc are down. Anyway looking for some ideas once paint is done for some curb appeal. The middle are is so long an awkward on the front of our house! It’s the ugliest side!

I was thinking of doing a black trellis with a star jasmine between the two windows towards the back of the house.

I would like to do something to cover the electrical meter and maybe break up the space around the kitchen door (the middle door). I was first thinking some how trellising something up both sides and around the door but I can’t find a trellis that would accommodate this or something that would add interest all year long to grow on it. Then I thought maybe some olive trees in wine barrels on either side of the steps? Or maybe some arborvitae? I am in the PNW (zone 8)

We originally wanted to make the porch substantially larger but the cost to do so was extremely out of the question (we just did new siding and paint).

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Comments (4)

mindshift
4 years ago
The type of trellis you wanted for the kitchen door is actually an ARBOR with trellis. These are not usually available at a local store, but you can order them. HERE is one seller, but they are available from most sites that sell outdoor furnishings. Before ordering you have to make sure the path between the uprights is wide enough to fit either on or to either side of the stoop and that the arbor on top is tall enough to accommodate your existing exterior light fixture. Start by measuring your stoop and the maximum height to clear your fixture. Below is how these trellises might look. Remember though that perennial vines take longer to get growing, so you could plant morning glory or such the first and maybe second year. I also added a couple of low bushy plants on either side of the arbor.

While there are ways to cover utility boxes, they must be moveable. In this case I don't think it is necessary. The trellis and vine draw the eye. Painting the box the same color of your house is sufficient camouflage.

The plants to the right of your front door are growing so well. You should consider moving some of them to other beds along this side of the house for continuity of design.
Angela Stevenson
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you! This is helpful! Yes I have plans to do a lot with the other landscaping just waiting till painters are done because I know they are going to smash anything I try to plant now!
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Angela Stevenson
Original Author
4 years ago
I was worried I wouldn’t find a arbor tall enough to sit on the ground on either side of the steps and still be tall enough for the door. The light presents a challenge as well.
mindshift
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Well you could always change out the light fixture to a smaller one that hugs the wall. An arbor that sits on the stoop will give more head space than one that sits to either side of the stoop. Measure the width of your stoop and the height to the top of your current fixture, then look at the arbors available for size diagrams like the one below. Note that the inside width is 36" but the outside width is 39". This particular arbor would sit on your stoop, but at only 78.5" tall it might be too short for your light fixture.