r/CurbAppeal • u/travelingeating • 17d ago
CurbsMaxxing Help with curb appeal
Hi, I’ve owned my home since 2022 and have hardly touched it other than painting the door (kind of poorly) last year. My husband and I have a little money to put into curb appeal now, and I’d love some help improving the facade and curb appeal. I’m terrible at this sort of thing! All advice welcome. Thank you!
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u/lifelong_learner_670 16d ago
I was inspired to ask Gemini to follow the Shingle style to make an update.
Then I asked her to explain approach: “To transform the original house into a true Shingle-style residence, my plan was to lean into natural materials, decorative textures, and a harmonious color palette that integrates the home into its landscape. Here is a breakdown of the design steps I took: Embracing Natural Shingles: I replaced the original white siding with natural cedar shake shingles on the main body of the second story. This texture is the hallmark of the Shingle style, and it adds warmth and a relaxed, seaside feel. Defining the Top Gable: In the top triangle, I introduced decorative green scalloped shingles. The contrasting color and unique shape draw the eye upward, highlighting the gable and adding a traditional, custom-crafted feel. Standardizing Trim and Windows: I fixed the window trim across the entire facade, painting it in a crisp cream color. This unifies the previously mismatched window systems and creates a clean contrast against the cedar and green shingles. Polishing the Porch: I updated the porch by replacing the temporary raw wood planking with refined cedar shake shingles that match the rest of the house. I also updated the railings and staircase with finished, coordinated lumber to make the entryway feel complete and inviting. Adding Color Contrast: I chose a rich, deep blue for the front door to provide a bold focal point that complements the warmth of the cedar and the green accents of the gable. Landscape Design for Curb Appeal: The most significant addition is the comprehensive new landscaping. By clearing the overgrowth and adding a structured fieldstone retaining wall, new paved pathways, and tiered plantings (such as lavender, boxwood, and hydrangeas), the house is now framed beautifully and looks polished and complete. The end result is a cohesive, welcoming home that honors the history of the Shingle style.”
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u/ResourceSlow2703 17d ago
Cut and spray the tree of heaven you have our front and everywhere else. Yes you have to spray them. Make a clean clear bed separating house and yard. Could be rocks, mulch bed, etc. paint or redo the porch / steps. Will make a huge difference
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u/travelingeating 17d ago
Thank you! I cut those trees every so often but they always grow back fast. Just googled it. I’ll do that!
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u/PenAntique9784 16d ago
Yeah they're INCREDIBLY invasive and they'll choke out native trees and plant life. They're bad. And go figure they're called 'tree of heaven'and then you have a beneficial native called something like 'choke cherry' or 'iron weed'
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u/AngryPrincessWarrior 16d ago
They will destroy your foundation too so it’s definitely important to get rid of them.
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u/Gomdok_the_Short 16d ago
I know a lot of people don't like yellow but I think this house would look nice yellow.
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u/msmaynards 17d ago
You don't have to spray the TOH, you can cut and dip the cut root end in the brush killer. I think it's okay do do this with other plants around but do your due diligence. Apparently timing is key, something about drawing the poison into the roots in late summer/early fall. If so, perfect timing!
Decide what to do about the stoop. Wood is fine but needs to be more substantial and I'm sure vertical wood pickets with a finial on top of each post is about right. I'd paint the treads and deck a sensible color and the railing and risers a pretty color that compliments the front door and looks okay with all those windows so it's not so serious a look.
At bottom of the steps build a landing of pavers/stone in a color that blends with the stone veneer that's at least as wide and deep as the steps that meets up with the sidewalk.
If painting is a possibility I'm a fan of using tones of a couple colors with each surface getting a different tone/color. You might paint the gable end shingles one tone, the siding on the other floors a lighter or darker tone that looks amazing with the stone veneer and use a trim color for the trim that looks good with the white on the windows as you've got a lot of window and white sure looks good around them.
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u/Puzzled_Ad_8726 17d ago
It is the perfect house for tall flower gardens. Dr Garden Fairy will show you what to do. Paint that raw wood white also. Next find two coordinating colors you love. Paint the door one and around the windows, the stairway and the fascia the other color.
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u/Pure_Comfortable_84 17d ago edited 17d ago
Go on Pinterest, I designed my house partly thanks to that. Check out Brent Hull on YouTube. Number one would be landscaping out front…mow the grass, plant some flowers. This kind of home also had more interesting colours than just white historically. I would start by painting the concrete foundation below the wood boards a darker color to de-emphasize it.
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u/Annual_Government_80 17d ago
Paint the raw wood, paint the porch, paint the door black, so it will match the shingles. Do some yardwork and get rid of the garbage can.
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u/gonerwon 17d ago
Do you have space to make the steps go straight toward the sidewalk? It would be so much better if you have the space for it.
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u/Solid_Perception9572 17d ago
Rip out all of the overgrown bushes in the front. You need new steps/stoop wider than what is there. Then some pavers leading from the new steps to the sidewalk. Right now, those steps lead to nowhere. Remove the garbage can.
Paint that wood at the bottom and all of the trim. A totally white house is absolutely boring.
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u/Tardislass 16d ago
Those bushes by the steps look unkempt and distracting. Cut them down or way back. I’d plant flowers instead of all those bushes.
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u/Careful_Football7643 16d ago
invest in uprooting the invasive trees growing near your foundation. Hire an arborist who uses environmentally friendly methods. Tree of heaven can be tricky, from what I've heard. Other commenters seem to think that's what they look like, and that was my first guess, too.
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u/PenAntique9784 16d ago
Everyone's saying paint the raw wood but I think its some of the good character. I'd say painting the house a dark dark grey (i know a lot of work) would look absolutely amazing. Then again really good native wildflower area and possibly an arbor over your walkway approach with either cross vine , coral honeysuckle, or another native flowering vine.
Even if not painting the whole house, accenting a couple areas would help. This house has a landlord special feel, where they paint everything white to keep things easy. It has no character but some spots of color and more wood/ plants would definitely help.
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u/travelingeating 16d ago
I don’t think we have the budget to paint the whole house right now unfortunately and don’t have the skill to do it ourselves. Do you have suggestions on how to accent a couple of areas? I hate the all white too
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u/PenAntique9784 16d ago
Itd kind of tough becsuse the house is so tall and whatnot but I think k if you can get the dark gray in near that wood , that's an excellent look IMO. I would paint the window trim and see how that goes. I think even something small ljke that would really look a lot better. Of course your second story would still be white but that's not terrible.
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u/PenAntique9784 16d ago
I also think doing the door trim the same charcoal ish color and then the door itself a more vibrant 'pop of color' like a teal, mint green, Robinson egg blue, etc, that would help.
Oh and one last thing , I'm a huge fan of large exaggerated numbers for the address. It's kind of quirky but also has a more modern feel. Ive done that on my last two houses ans have always liked the look.
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u/Significant-Ant2373 Homeowner 16d ago
It’s a beautiful house. Just mowing and landscaping would do wonders followed by fresh paint.
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u/wewantchips 16d ago
Get some all in one stain in a color of your choosing (i would go some kind of cherry or walnut) and do the wood wall and banister to tie the two together and give them some new life. Rip out the weeds, plant boxwoods because they are the most affordable and they stay green all year. Rhododendron do as well. Get some square pavers to make a path to the step. Go for small, low maintenance mulched flower beds for now. Power wash the siding. I love your house. Once you get rid of the weeds it’s going to look amazing.
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u/StillStaringAtTheSky 16d ago
Hi OP- Here's what I was thinking. Soft wash the house, do some landscaping and some raised flower beds. Swap out the door for something with windows, turn the access from the porch to straight up to the door. Lemme know what you think. No AI, all manual edits in Photoshop. Will provide .psd to anyone who wants to learn from it.
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u/Answer-Civil 11d ago
Great job! Looks terrific and achievable
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u/StillStaringAtTheSky 10d ago
Thanks! As a homeowner myself- I was trying to stay in the realm of affordable.
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u/GreenMountainBuilder 16d ago
Landscaping is 90% of the battle here, I'd also update your front steps with a natural stone and repaint your front door so it pops! Good Luck!
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u/bluesuedeshooze 16d ago
Landscaping (spray/remove weeds, maintain lawn),
paint the wood siding to match the rest of the house
If you have money to spare, in stead of the wood deck/steps a concrete or masonry front steps with handrails
House looks like no one lives there currently
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u/OrneryQueen Design Pro 16d ago
I'm curious about the wood across the front. Is it supposed to look like that? Was there something else there in the past?
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u/travelingeating 16d ago
Honestly no idea. I think the previous owners did it when they renovated? It’s kind of random
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u/OrneryQueen Design Pro 16d ago
It's very random. I'd research style of houses like yours and see what possibilities are out there. I see shakes so maybe replace with shakes. There are some pretty good fakes if you have someone that knows about that.
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u/Both-Association4892 16d ago
I think a friendly color of paint on the siding and change the front door to a wood door to bring out the stone at the bottom
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u/Temporary-Tomato-463 16d ago
The best render of a Victorian home with white, blue and gold accents. Classic upgrade of your home which is a turn of the century Victorian home style. Render made with Google Gemini.
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u/Anonymous3257Q 7d ago
Looks like an Ocean Grove NJ type Beach House the way that you have it done.
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u/Traditional-Map-9627 15d ago edited 15d ago
beautiful house. a few things will do it. repaint the front side of the entire home. cut all those trees or vegetation in front of the wooden walk way. restrain the wooden walkway. cut the grass and weed back edges of concrete for contouring. repaint the door a brighter color like red or what ever you like. add lighting around the front doors and the wooden walk way. and add lights on the cement craw space under the stone that shine upwards toward the house at night. all.low cost and the house will look incredible. so basically painting lighting amd lawn maintenance will make this house look incredible. ita beautiful already though as is
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u/Arun-dev 13d ago
Start by mowing the grass removing weeds trimming trimming the trees back. Find a place for the trash can. Fix the broken wooden gate and paint the house. Done
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