What to do with this?

[birdkkk]

Just purchased a lake home. The front drive up area has no curb appeal nor does it have green space. Just black top drive with cinder blocks for front patio. We have removed the fence! Help! I was thinking about adding shutters to the windows and maybe some window boxes but I really don't want it sooo traditional. The homes next door are more transitional to contempary.

[RoseMary]

Welcome birdkkk! What a cute house:). I think shutters would look great on it. Maybe you could put in some raised beds along the house and plant them out if you decide against the window boxes.

I think you've come to the right place. You'll get lots of ideas from everyone here!

[birdkkk]

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I can get a better picture to represent my dilemna. I will need low maintance as it is a vacation home. color wise, I was wondering about black shutters or white?

[ChapterTwo]

Welcome!

I guess your roof is dark grey? If so, I'd think black shutter might be nice.

What about some very big potted plants, since it's all black top, I guess? Even potted hostas would be nice (and would die back in the pot and come back next year), along with alternating pots of impatiens...

[Breezy]

Hiya Birdkkk & welcome aboard! :)
What a cute place you have - I like the idea of darker shutters & think window boxes would be cute.
RoseMary & ChapterTwo had neat ideas for raised beds & big potted plants.

[birdkkk]

I was wondering about black for the shutters. We will eventually paint the red to a more taupeish. My concern is that in sticking with the rule of thumb of limiting to 3 color interests, I would now be introducing a 4th. One being the red, two the white and I must concider the lower river stone color of tan. Am I obsessing???

[yarborough house]

Hi, welcome. I saw in a magazine somewhere that used the large feeding troughs- the galvanized metal ones to plant shrubs in and at least one tree. It was very modern looking but then had the juxtoposition of it being in a farm implement. It was very cool. Maybe you could put some of those near the house. And I agree some shutters would look great. Maybe try to find some out there that are a bit different..instead of louvered maybe panels with something cut out of it.
Like the house - very cool. And a vacation home? Ahhh so lucky.

[Lynzee]

The house is really cute! I think the shutters would be great, too Like YH said, maybe some that are a little different.

Welcome, by the way! :)

[birdkkk]

Just curious, what do you mean by different. I assumed shutters were shutters with the exception of flat vs. slatted. I am even wondering about bring in tan shutters to highlight the river rock at the footing of the house.

[ChapterTwo]

. My concern is that in sticking with the rule of thumb of limiting to 3 color interests, I would now be introducing a 4th.

My "rule" is that rules are made to be broken! ;)
Whatever appeals to you is the way to go...

[Lynzee]

This site might give you some ideas, birdkkk. The shutters are a bit pricey, but it's free to look! :D

http://www.shutterstile.com/gallery.htm

[birdkkk]

The shutters are lovely. I am thinking even about removing the little porch overhang and adding an arbor. Do you think the shutters are too traditional?