Exteriors
7. Redo the driveway. The driveway is a piece of the exterior puzzle that you may not notice — if it’s in great shape. But if your driveway has taken a beating or simply does not match the style of your home, it could be dragging down your home’s curb appeal. Brick, masonry or stained concrete can all make for beautiful, durable driveways.
Kevin worked out the lighting scheme, which includes low landscape lights, seen here along the path, cafe lights on the privacy screen, uplights on the mature trees and LED lighting underneath the outdoor kitchen’s countertop. Previous photo About 90% of the backyard is shade-covered. When choosing ground covers and perennials, Algozzini chose shade-loving plants and featured the purple and white blooms Melanie had on her wishlist. He included variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’), dwarf astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var. pumila), ‘Bridal Veil’ astilbe (Astilbe ‘Bridal Veil’), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) and hosta, including ‘Big Daddy’ (Hosta ‘Big Daddy’), ‘Royal Standard’ (Hosta ‘Royal Standard’) and Guacamole (Hosta ‘Guacamole’).
About 90% of the backyard is shade-covered. When choosing ground covers and perennials, Algozzini chose shade-loving plants and featured the purple and white blooms Melanie had on her wishlist. He included variegated Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’), dwarf astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var. pumila), ‘Bridal Veil’ astilbe (Astilbe ‘Bridal Veil’), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) and hosta, including ‘Big Daddy’ (Hosta ‘Big Daddy’), ‘Royal Standard’ (Hosta ‘Royal Standard’) and Guacamole (Hosta ‘Guacamole’).
Driveway Repair, enhance or replace? Repairing an existing driveway or path costs far less, and takes less time, than replacing it. Cracked asphalt can be filled and a new layer of asphalt added over the old. For badly cracked concrete drives and walks, however, repairing is not an option. If your existing driveway and front walk are in good condition already, consider adding a decorative edging made from brick or pavers to boost curb appeal.
10. Check the condition of the garage and driveway. The garage and driveway often take up a lot of visual real estate in the front of a house, so problems here can seriously detract from curb appeal. Have any driveway cracks repaired and freshen up the garage with a coat of paint, sconce lighting and flower boxes.
8. Add depth with a fence. A low fence around a property not only adds a welcome boundary between a hectic street and a private space, but it also makes the front yard seem larger.
Driveway example
Nice colors on house. Needs flowers though. 5. Architectural eyeliner. Forgo over-the-top flower beds, pots and plants, and stick with classic and timeless shrubbery. This look will outline your architectural elements rather than camouflage them. Neat and orderly never looked so good.
1. Sugar coat. Apply decorative siding and detailed moldings that accentuate your home's period for immediate eye candy that will keep heads turning. But remember, less is always more.
Lighting In addition to being inviting and beautiful by day, the exterior of a home should be welcoming and attractive at night. And make sure that there's lighting in the needed places, as guests shouldn't have to strain to locate the house numbers at night or stumble around looking for the path to the front door. And extend the lighting to the edges of your property to create a place that could be a setting for A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Details Shutters, lanterns, home numbers and so on are all details that can enhance a home's appeal. We've already started a discussion about these elements (7 Details for the Well-Dressed House) and will explore them more in the future.
New Craftsman Exterior with Faux Wood Garage Door
New Craftsman Exterior with Faux Wood Garage Door
5. Timeless Traditional The best of yesteryear’s details and trim offer enduring charm in this style. “We use the carriage house option [seen here] a lot for these homes — I like the decorative strap hinges with the hardware,” Oursler says. Square-edge, raised-panel designs are also popular for traditional garage doors with window mullions that mirror those used on the house.
2. Farmhouse Fresh This look centers around an abundance of natural light, vintage charm and a crisp white palette accented with black details. Complement a farmhouse-style home with a garage door in a wood tone or painted gray, white or black. “Do crossbuck panels reminiscent of a barn door if you want something more rustic,” as seen on the farmhouse-style door seen here, McCurdy says.
1. Classic Craftsman Does your home feature tapered columns and a low-pitched roof, along with natural, neutral colors and mixed materials such as brick or stone? If so, try a garage door with clean vertical lines, rectangular windows and handcrafted-look details, as seen here. Mimic your home’s window grilles for an authentic touch. “Wood or faux wood is best,” says McCurdy, who owns her eponymous firm near Ottawa in Ontario, Canada. Natural wood offers a wide array of species, so look to your surroundings for inspiration; there’s also a wide variety of stains available. If you decide on a painted color instead, match it to your home’s exterior trim, says Oursler, who owns Marnie Custom Homes in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Tip: Consider budget, upkeep and your region’s climate when choosing a garage door. Insulated composite and steel can withstand extreme temperature changes, with moisture- and UV-resistant composite performing better than steel in coastal locales.
Lights are from Barn Light Electric
Overgrouted limestone lends a sense of age to the home’s exterior, while steel-and-glass doors add a modern touch and fill the entry with light.
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