Gate
A sculptural fence. Cor-Ten steel blades (300 of them) make up this sculptural fence that winds around a Philadelphia residence. They’re 8 feet tall, which keeps out local deer, so the fence “is sculptural as well as functional,” says Bridget O’Brien of Archer & Buchanan Architecture. A sculptural fence comes with a high price, but for the right home, it can be the perfect custom touch.
3. Dog fountains. Whether you have dogs or simply live in a neighborhood with a large canine population, dog fountains are a welcome respite on long, hot walks. I've spotted dog water bowls on sidewalks outside cafés on a recent trip to Chicago and thought about what a cool touch that would be in the front yard of a residence. You could make it as simple as a bowl of water or as fancy as an installed spigot with a basin underneath.
2. Address numbers. There are so many options for house numbers now that there really is no excuse not to have something interesting and classy. You could order some custom numbers by mail, but even home improvement stores offer a wide range of numbers in different finishes and styles to suit many styles. You could even spell out the numbers, like in the photo here; this option is best for houses with three or fewer numbers for easy reading.
1. Mailboxes. Why have the same-old same-old when you can do something special? A stone pillar with an inset box, an elegant black wrought iron box or even a standard mailbox painted a cheerful color are spruced-up versions of this necessity. And don't forget some simple landscaping around your mailbox — plant colorful flowers that greet your postal carrier and passersby, but forgo any plant that has thorns or spines, such as roses or agaves.
Japanese torii gate
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