How to give this house better curb appeal?

Question

So I have a house under contract and from the first time I've seen it, I've been pondering what to do to the front of it to make it stand out better. So I'm posting here to see what ideas any of you may have. Here is the pic... Open to anything, changing out the windows to a different style, different color siding, different shutters, different landscaping, etc.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Account Closed · Answer

Another option would be to do a matching planting on the left side of the walkway, and just put sod in front of it to the sidewalk.  Or just plant the whole front yard in plantings and bark.  Sod can be a bear to get in and looking good.

Account Closed · Answer

Okay, after reading everyone's ideas and doing some google imaging, these are my suggestions.  You'll know what you're willing to do or not.

Remove the shutters.  They make the size of the windows and the door & dormers look wrong.  The bottom windows are way too wide, with the shutters compared to the skinny door and skinny dormer windows.  If you remove the shutters, it will look better, more symmetrical.  I think the shape of the dormers are really great, but they just look skinny and weird (technical architectural terms) because of the overly wide bottom windows - plus, the bottom windows aren't symmetrical, either.  I think drawing attention to them is a mistake.

I love the gray/white paint idea.  I did this to an old house I bought in WA and it looked great then and now.  Those are classy, timeless colors.

But, I'd add a red door.  Red doors are all the rage, and it would focus the eye on the door.

But, the door is too skinny looking.  If you can add some wide trim around it, and some large light fixtures on either side of it, to make it a feature, it would look great, and then the size of the door wouldn't look so wimpy.

I'd rip out those bushes and that lamp post.  It's totally confusing to the eye to have that weird planting like that.

Also, rip out the paver stones around that weird planting.  They look cheap.

So, here are some images to show you what I mean.

Here is a light gray house with white trim, no shutters - and notice the black trim just around the inside of the windows.  I think it's a really nice detail:

http://img2-1.timeinc.net/toh/i/g/0806_housestyles...

Here are a couple examples of a gray house with white trim, no shutters and a red door:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e8/08/50...

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/600x315/14/07...

Here are a couple ideas of how to make the door a feature.  You could add some moulding around it and some light fixtures:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/16/09/44...

Or just put in a door with windows on the sides, if that's not too expensive or a hassle:

http://www.designingcity.com/wp-content/uploads/20...

That weird planting needs to also look like a feature, only low key.  I'd plant a tree in it, and add some other plants and maybe some bark like this:

http://www.dream-yard.com/images/mulch-bed-boulder...

I'd say even if you just rip out the lamp and the bushes, then just put down sod and plant a tree in the middle, it would make more sense.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c7/d4/e7...

Then, new sod to the left of the driveway, and some plantings under the windows.

For what it's worth.  I used to love fixing up places :-)  Have fun!

Valerie Hiscoe · Answer

@Nikolas Ferreira had some really helpful ideas.  I especially agree with taking away the shutters.  They unbalance the look of the house,  You might want to add more substantial frames around the windows but, if so, I'd add height before adding width.  Besides, I think there's some rule that you need at least three windows with shutters.  I don't know why.  If you're replacing the windows, you could inquire about those with a grid pattern in the top third or fourth for the front of the house.  Another option, although I'm not sure what the ROI would be, is adding a Victorian-type porch along the full width of the front of the house.  It would suit the style and shape, and play up the roof's varied pitches as a real feature.  It's the kind of house that you could throw a little whimsy in with the color of the front door too, instead of going with wood or white.  The front entrance is always the most important part of curb appeal.  Garden-wise, I'd take all of that hedging away in front because it distracts from, rather than highlights, the front entry you want to make inviting.  You're probably better to just have grass in that area.  If you could take the same size and shape type plant as that hedge though, and put it underneath the windows along the foundation, that would be ideal - any row of identical plants on both sides of the door would suffice.  The lightpost is also a bit distracting where it is, at least from the angle of the photo, and should probably either be moved or replaced - maybe a row of landscaping lights instead.  The sidewalk to the front door looks a bit rough and I think Nikolas was right to suggest softening and widening it - plants are one option - just a row of bricks along each side could be another.  Grey is a super popular color right now.  You could add a soft brown as an accent color and the fence would look like it fit right in instead of looking a bit faded.  You'd still want to use white for your trim though.  The gutters look a bit frail so white could make them pop.  Although you don't really paint gutters so, my bad.  It's better to use the soft brown (for example) or any other color other than white for the garage door.  It's not something you want to draw attention to I don't think.

It looks like a nice little house.  Best of luck with your work on it!

Nikolas Ferreira · Answer

I personally would do the following

new grass

power wash house and walkway

paint siding / remove shutter or install functional shutters. (make those pillars stand out - two tone paint maybe)

plant some seasonal plants along side of walk away and by bricks removing the left bush

and if you have the money change that front door as well.

Valerie Hiscoe · Answer

I didn't read Sue K.'s post before finishing a posting mine so I've just got to add that her ideas are awesome.  And black as an accent or trim color does look very sharp.

Shannon K. · Answer

Those bushes need to go! Although those bushes look trimmed & maintained, they look like a big chunk of greenery on one side and nothing at all on the other. Something needs to balance it out. I agree with adding some colorful small flowering plants to the scene.

Matthew Paul · Answer

Hit the lawn with a high nitrogen fertiizer , it will green it up , sealcoat the drive .  Get the house cleaned , throw down some new mulch , get the grass out of the cracks .

Jacob Anderson · Answer

There are some listed above. If you want to stay cheap but want an appearance of change, put a new front door, and paint the trim and post and shutters different color than the siding. You could do the reverse and leave the trim, windows, post and shutters white and redo the siding, but it will cost more. The bush may be hard to remove, I think it looks fine but the area around it not so. Add some bark or rock around the bush and to the crappy lawn, or bring in sod. The changes will do wonders to the curb appeal!

Dan Simpson · Answer

Thanks for the input! Exactly what I was looking for...

This is going to be a flip house, David.

Changing the front door is a great idea, as is the grey color idea. The house immediately across the street recently got an exterior remodel and they used grey siding.

David Chwaszczewski · Answer

@Dan Simpson What are you doing with it?  If i were flipping it i would look to give color.  I wouldn't change windows if they are good.  Go to your local paint store and talk to the pros.  Find out what colors they sell the most of in your area and then get some samples and do test spots.  Some flowers will work for the landscape.

How to give this house better curb appeal?

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