Help needed to add curb appeal

[jimingersoll]

We have renovated a number of bungalows/cottages, but this one is on 2 acres and needs more help than others we have worked on. The front porch was already enclosed when we bought it and I am looking for some ideas to add appeal. It has a very nice brick walk way, but I think it needs more help.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks
Jim

[chyna]

I don't say this often but shutters would be nice, maybe a couple of window boxes and absolutely some foundation plantings. There is alot there to do! But hey it is a blank slate so you can do whatever.:)

[Gigi]

I agree with window boxes- what a charming home!

[yarborough house]

Have you thought of reopening the front porch. Shame they did that as all aspects and looks of bungalow are gone.
I'd say if you don't open the porch back up - shutters and window boxes would be nice..
But man no signs of bungalow- why would anyone close up a nice front porch?

[CohenCottage]

I think shutters and window boxes would be great. Also, maybe a new front door in a bright color? A picket fence with a cottage garden would increase curb appeal too. If you didn't want to add a porch or open the enclosed one, maybe you could do some sort of pergola in the front?

[ChapterTwo]

Better Homes and Gardens offers free landscape design software:

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/nature-lovers/welcome-to-plan-a-garden/

[jimingersoll]

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it. I like the idea of boxes and shutters. Anywhere in particular that is good for finding the window boxes?

I also like using pergula's, but I am not certain where to place it in this case. Opening the front porch would be quite expensive, but I have also considered adding a small one to the front but not sure how to property integrate it to look just right.

Thanks
Jim

[vintage girl]

What a charming house. I absolutely love shutters. I have red ones on my house and they really look so bright and cheerful. I got my shutters from Lowes and painted them red. You can order them in colors, but they are way more expensive than the ones off the shelf. I have just the plain louvered shutters. Some of my windows are not stock size, so to avoid ordering custom shutters, I bought large metal stars and painted them the same red and put them up in place of shutters on some of the windows. You have a blank slate to work with, which leaves you a lot of room for creativity. Since you cannot open up the porch, I think adding one would be great. You could add one right to the front, or even a small one off the side of your house. Either way would look good. Also a nice bright color for your front door would look great, along with everyone's suggestion of window boxes.:)

[rubyslippers]

I agree with everyone about shutters, windowboxes, foundation plantings, etc.; however, as a full-fledged front-porch might be "over-the-top" and ripping out the enclosed porch would probably lose square footage, you could consider adding a wooden deck on the side, or the back. You could put in a pretty gate or something. Also, you could consider some sort of patio / courtyard in the front there. People like to see "outdoor" rooms these days. You could use a pergola to define the entry to the space and put some plushy patio furniture out there with some container plants and some perennial plantings. It could be very nice ... good luck!

Oh, I just had another idea ... you could put a patio out to the side, and put in a type of grapevine/trellis ceiling and get some climbing roses or grapes trained on to it ... you might want to check with a local nursery about what grows well in your area ... anyway, something like that would be very cool providing some shade if you wanted to get creative!

Good Luck!

[Gigi]

Since there has been a mention about window boxes- here's my question.

Do you HAVE to have a window box the whole length of a collection of windows? I ask because I would LOVE to add window boxes on the front of our home.

We have one window, then a set of three together, then two more along the front....

Any input?

[chyna]

Not sure what the answer is Gigi but for my porch I have windowboxes the entire length but they are three window boxes per side since there are 3 separate windows. Unfortunately they are an odd size and since those window boxes only expand to set sizes I had to improvise. :rolleyes:

I do intend on putting another box under the livingroom window just to complete the "look" but not really a have to situation.

Some people enclose porches because the weather is so cold for so many months of the year they figure it is more economical to enclose and use for something else. I know my porch couldn't have been always glassed in and I sure do wish it had screens and operational windows in the summer but in the winter that "room" is useless. Way too cold. Wish I could figure out a way to make it more usable for more time.:(

[CohenCottage]

We have two windows on our front, one is on the front porch and the other is not (its on the portion of the front of the house that sticks out). When we do window boxes, we are going to put one on the non-porch front window, and then one one on our side window and kitchen window. So, they will only be on the windows towards the front of the house that you can see from the street or the parking pad, and they won't be symmetrical.

[Gigi]

Thanks everyone for their advice on window boxes- I think they would look better when they expand the entire window set...

I'm now looking around for some at a reasonable price- they are expensive!!

[rubyslippers]

When your window boxes are planted, flowers can easily tumble out over the edges blurring the lines between window-boxes if you choose to use multiples. You could also do very simple boxes with brackets that you hang literally right next to each other so they give the appearance of one very long windowboxes. I did a lot of searching last year, and just like shutters, windowboxes come in a variety of price-ranges. You have your basic windowboxes and hayracks; then, there are some beautiful wroght-iron pieces that you can change the look of based upon the type of box or container you drop down in them. My reminder would be that your windowboxes will be mocking you in the winter when it is the "off-season" - - so, make sure you like the basic architecture of the boxes for the seasons in which they will be more exposed. Good luck!

[shabbychick]

I saw this article this morning on how to make your own window boxes and thought you might be interested. Here's a link.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20392192,00.html?partner=yes&xid=myyahoo-feed-061210-TOH-how-to-make-a-window-box-with-vintage-trim-maincontent-2

[Gigi]

Awesome! Thank you Shabbychick! Just printed it out....

[shabbychic52]

It needs some architecture elements added to the front since there is no porch.

[Bungalove]

Here's a site I like to read, and today's entry has an article about choosing shutters:

http://retrorenovation.com/

Our minimal Cape Cod style house is a dried grass color (beige-y with a hint of sage green -- prettier than it sounds!) with white trim and dark red shutters and a dark red door. A nice combo if I do say so myself. We don't have window boxes but our small back yard is full of flower beds, raised beds, herbs, etc.

Jim, on your house I agree that window boxes and shutters would make it look a lot cozier. Maybe a patio to the side of the front door with a pergola.

[vintage girl]

Bungalove,

The colors of your house sound wonderful. Red is my favorite color:)

[jimingersoll]

Thanks again for everyones suggestions. Here is where we are at now... thoughts?

Jim

[memmey]

Great job!!! Your home is very very nice. Looks like hard work is paying off. The window boxes are great. Are those Nandina shrubs you have planted in front? I also love the walkway. I can tell that this house is only gonna look better and better :)

[jimingersoll]

I want to thank you for your sharing your input to my question. I thought you may want to see the "before" photos as well. This is really a great community online.

Regards
Jim

[shabbychick]

Jim, even in the before photos the house has some charm, so I can't wait to see what you do with it to really make it shine. It looks like it has good bones.

[yarborough house]

Okay here is what I'd do.
First off - paint the front door a color so it makes a pop..and is more welcoming.
Secondly, build an arbor to go over the front door and get some wonderful climbing vines with flowers to go up and over to soften the front of the house and add cottage appeal.
Thirdly, maybe add a bit more plants in the beds out front to fill them out more.

I love the deck off the back- looks good - just get a couple of chairs out there so you can start enjoying it. :)

It looks good so far - just keep going. OH and I noticed you are from Richmond..cool I drive through there everytime I head up to Berryville for an auction. Richmond has some amazing older homes..

[Bungalove]

Very nice! Will look even better when the plants grow more. May I suggest roofing the small addition to the side with the same material as the rest of the house? That would make it look more integral. Just MHO.

[cycle1667]

Maybe build up some garden / flowerbeds with a complementary local stone like slate or limestone. You need to anchore it, maybe some long grass against the house.

[farmgal67357]

Painting your door the same color of you roof would look nice. Shutters and window boxes are indeed a good idea. We don't have a front porch on our house either, so we are thinking of putting an iron or wooden arch with some kind of flowers/vines on it over the sidewalk just in front of the entry. Good luck with your lovely new home!

[Rory Bremner]

Box hedging with add instant class and curb appeal to any home. :)

[memmey]

Rory you are from New Zealand????I have been watching some programs on PBS about the beauty of New Zealand..fabulous. Your country has been embracing the whole "green" thing for a while now from what I have read. Is it true that aerosols are banned?

[Queenofthecastle]

Jim, how's it going with that house?
great transformation pictures... i agree with another poster's suggestion of painting the front door the same color as the roof.
You done good!~

[brickjames]

Jim,
You can do a lot with this little Bungalow. A few accent trees 5-6' on either side of the front would work well. The landscape beds need some curves as the house does not have a lot of diminsion and the sidewalk comes in at a 90 degree angle. If you curve your landscape beds, this will take away from the straight lines, which will translate into more flow to the landscape.
A touch of brick thin veneer around the entry door would be a nice touch as well. The veneers are only 1/2 inch thick and can be installed with just a concrete backer board over the existing wood. The veneers come in at least 15 different colors which you can easily match up to your brick walkway which will tie in the whole project nicely.

[brickjames]

We have renovated a number of bungalows/cottages, but this one is on 2 acres and needs more help than others we have worked on. The front porch was already enclosed when we bought it and I am looking for some ideas to add appeal. It has a very nice brick walk way, but I think it needs more help.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks
Jim
Jim,
You can do a lot with this little Bungalow. A few accent trees 5-6' on either side of the front would work well. The landscape beds need some curves as the house does not have a lot of diminsion and the sidewalk comes in at a 90 degree angle. If you curve your landscape beds, this will take away from the straight lines, which will translate into more flow to the landscape.
A touch of brick thin veneer around the entry door would be a nice touch as well. The veneers are only 1/2 inch thick and can be installed with just a concrete backer board over the existing wood. The veneers come in at least 15 different colors which you can easily match up to your brick walkway which will tie in the whole project nicely.

[jabbrley]

Jim, your little cottage is looking great. I think shutters (same color as the door) would add a lot..and perhaps, as someone has said, a bright,welcoming door. Then, I'd add a pretty screen/storm door to the front door. We are gardeners, and feel that plants would 'soften' the hard lines. If it was my place, I'd put in some gentle curved front gardens, tall things in back, lower things in front....curving softly into the brick walk. Try not to plant things all in a row, like marching soldiers, and add different shapes and colors to your gardens. Also, if you choose flowers, instead of bushes, I've learned to put plants in in groups of odd numbers (5,7, 9, etc.) for more impact. Dark green makes a lovely backdrop for colored, flowering bushes, or red-leafed bushes. (check books for what will grow for you in your area) I love the idea of a trellis over the front door with the vines....and the picket fence too. All these things take time, and I'd be so happy to see your progress. Please keep posting pictures.

[brickjames]

We have renovated a number of bungalows/cottages, but this one is on 2 acres and needs more help than others we have worked on. The front porch was already enclosed when we bought it and I am looking for some ideas to add appeal. It has a very nice brick walk way, but I think it needs more help.

Please let me know what you think.

Thanks
Jim

Jim,
Great little house that you can do a lot with. For starters, you already have a nice, brick entry sidewalk. One of the products that's available today is thin brick veneer. You don't need a lot but your placement of it makes all the difference. If you installed brick veneer around the door (top of door and both sides) this will draw your eye to the front door and give the house the extra charm that it needs. These veneers are available in many colors so it won't be difficult to find one that picks up the colors of your existing sidewalk.
Depending on your level of skill, you could probably do the work yourself, and have fun doing it. The installation is relatively easy, and the material is already cut 1/2" thick and they are sold in flats and corner pieces.
The only other thing I would do is when designing your landscaping beds, make sure that your beds are curved, as this will add an incredible amount of curb appeal. Choosing the right plants too will make the house come alive!
Have fun with it!!!

James
Home Accent Solutions www.homeaccentsolutions.com