Improving the curb appeal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very cute. Your husband may be in the grip of buyer's remorse. Been there, got over it.

Hehe, no he is actually excited, but he is a very straight laced, symetrical kind of guy and it bothers him that the front is "loopsided" as he calls it.

Thanks all for the feedback, appreciate it!

Symmetry is boring. Just make sure things are well balanced. You do need some substantial shrubs on the right side, but not those uniform blocks of sheared bushes. The current landscaping is terrible and outdated. The house is beautiful.

[Anonymous]

Lovely house!
Hang some big ferns in the front porch. Agree on painting shutters / accents a cheery color and much more interesting landscaping in front.
Instead of here on DCUM, you could post on Houzz under Design Dilemma and ask some serious hobbists / pros for some advice on shutter / accent colors and landscape help to get your creative juices flowing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have already pulled the trigger on this one. I actually like the front of the house, i think it's kind of charming. But my husbands thinks the front porch and the dormer that sits on top of it are just poor additions. What would you do to improve the curb appeal?

P.S.
This is a side entrance home and the porch is accesible only through french door in living room.

Loose the shutters. The second floor window doesn't show enough white space and is making the house look like a bite was taken out of the roof. And remember that "everybody's wife is a designer" so take everything you read here with a grain of salt before you go out and spend any real money.

[Anonymous]

Replace shrubs with something much smaller, or trim way back if possible. Hang some red flowering plants from the porch ceiling Some contrasting color on shutters. Maybe a flag? House just needs some color and contrast. Porch swing, maybe? Looks like a nice sitting porch.

[Anonymous]

Agree with losing the shutters on the dormer. They're too cramped.

[Anonymous]

I think the house looks good, I don't see anything bad with the "additions". Like others said; you could improve by adding colors, to the plants and the shutters (very good idea). And the bushes are really too stern, something needs to be trimmed. Also like the idea of hanging plants

[Anonymous]

PP here; agree with 17:21, lose those dormer shutters (if it doesn't force you to repaint the whole wall...). But I admit my bias: I like shutters but hate those that are obviously faux/decorative (i.e the ones that don't match the size of the window...)

[Anonymous]

The front bushes are too blah and heavy. Some softer landscaping (I think someone suggested hydrangeas) in the front would look nice. I also like the idea of hanging baskets and window boxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here; agree with 17:21, lose those dormer shutters (if it doesn't force you to repaint the whole wall...). But I admit my bias: I like shutters but hate those that are obviously faux/decorative (i.e the ones that don't match the size of the window...)

+1

What year was it built? Is it a Sears kit house? Looks familiar...

[Anonymous]

I think colors would be good, and I'd paint everything using coordinating colors - house, shutters, and windows. Use a Benjamin Moore color kit.

Not sure about dormer shutters. I don't think a metal roof would look right. Slate might look good.

Paint ceiling of porch sky blue, add fan, add flowers and chairs or a swing.

Line path with flowers.

Get rid of some bushes, not all, as it takes time to grow in a garden (I'm on second year of doing that).

It really is a cute house.

[Anonymous]

Very nice looking house! I love the porch. The landscaping is overgrown. Just rip it out and replant similar type plants- it will take years and years to get this big again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here; agree with 17:21, lose those dormer shutters (if it doesn't force you to repaint the whole wall...). But I admit my bias: I like shutters but hate those that are obviously faux/decorative (i.e the ones that don't match the size of the window...)

+1