Looking for ideas...

[mac78]

:)You all know me by now, always looking for ideas to change things up.
I want to take this brick ranch and give it a coastal/cottage feel. I am sure you will all have some ideas to do that. :D

Paint....the wood siding needs repainted...what color?

The porch, what can I do to give it a coastal/cottage feel?

The sidewalk....I need some type of border along it to keep my daycare kids out of the landscape...since so many parents see nothing wrong with their little ones tramping thru it and smaching down the flowers. :(
I thought about a rope fence strung along it, but my neighbors did that last year and I pry shouldn't copy them.

The shovel/birdhouse...my uncle made it for me. I could paint it maybe? or hang it on the shed in back.

Porch furniture? Not very big porch, any suggestions?

I know you ladies will have ideas for me.

[vintage girl]

Marie your house is lovely:) How about a cute little white picket fence to keep the kids out of your flower bed? That would be cottagey and coastal at the same time. I think a really soft shade of grey blue for the siding would look fantastic. Would also go very well with the white picket fence. Shutters would also add some instant cottage/beach feel. You can get some cute inexpensive ones at Lowes and paint them white. Would look great against the brick. As far as furniture for the porch, I would either paint the bench you have white, than put some pretty striped cushions on it in colors of soft blue, tan and yellow, or you can look for some pretty outdoor wicker furniture. The shovel with the birdhouse is darling. I would leave it as is. :)

[shabbychick]

I am wondering what it would look like if you installed that plastic porch railing along the edge of your sidewalk so it would sort of create the look of a porch that extends from the house to the landscaping. In essence, the sidewalk would become part of the porch. That would give you more options for distributing furniture and it would still function as a fence. You might consider a really tiny iron bistro table with a mosaic top and a delicate little chair to go with it.

I agree with Vintage Girl about painting the bench and putting pretty striped cushions on it. I'm no expert on paint colors, especially to go with brick, so I don't have an opinion on that. I also like the birdhouse and shovel and think it should stay where it is and stay in its natural state. You could further "beachify" the porch by putting out a bucket full of sand with some seashells gathered in it and maybe a little shore bird carving (as long as none of your neighbors or friends use it as an ashtray!). I recently read an article talking about beach style decorating that cautioned against being too obvious about the theme, so I think keeping the birdhouse/shovel combo on the porch kind of helps keep the beach theme from taking over.

Shutters are a great idea. I love that look, and it's both cottagey and beachy.

[mac78]

I knew you ladies would have great ideas...easy, doable, and cheap. ;)

[Gigi]

Darling, darling, darling home!!! So many things could be incorporated to make it more coastal cottage. Here are some of my thoughts- just rambling :)

---Paint the siding/wood white
---Front door blue or red
---picket fence along the front garden
---Paint the bench white---add a BIG flower pot next to it with annual flowers
---Add house numbers in black- vertical

[jabbrley]

Cute house! I agree with the picket fence or porch railing along the walk...and at the end, I'd place a small chair, wicker maybe, on a slant, so it makes the walkway look as if it's curved to the door. Instead of the bench, how about two wicker chairs with a little table between? You'd have room for 3 to chat, that way. If you choose to keep the bench, maybe paint the door and the bench to match...maybe blue if you want a beachy look... shutters too.
If blue there, I think grey siding would look nice. Blue ticking cushions for furniture...or maybe blue/lavender floral? I love the shovel birdhouse! Bring in some pots of plants that coordinate with your colors, which ever one you choose. Lots of great ideas in this bunch!

[yarborough house]

I like the idea of painting the wood white and the white picket fence sounds very cool too- they make a small size one at Lowes. I also like the idea of shutters..I would make them though- so they are more cottagey than the plastic ones you buy. You can make them very easy using 1x4's.
It will look good I am sure.