CURB APPEAL
Dress your house as
you would dress yourself.

BY ANNE MOORE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT FRENCH

Would you go out in mismatched clothing, no makeup and your hair disheveled or undone? Well, then, why would you let your home’s exterior appear mismatched, disheveled or uninviting?

First impressions are important to you as well as yourfriends, neighbors, and visitors — even those passing by. Many times, just a small, inexpensive project can drastically improve a home’s appearance and value. This is especially important if you’re thinking of selling or renting your home. So, where do you begin?

First, you clean. It’s amazing what a difference just a little cleaning of the front door, shutters, doorknobs, mailbox and house numbers can make. Please remember the windows and gutters. Of course, adding shutters, a mailbox or more interesting (or larger) house numbers can be accomplished with a small budget, too.

Paint something! Sometimes painting only the front door or trim or shutters will produce very nice overall results. It’ll make the house “pop.” If your home’s exterior needs it, attend to these as soon as possible for a clean, well-cared-for appearance.

Painting the entire house is more expensive; however, if it needs it, it’s well worth the expense if your budget allows. By all means, use good quality paint. Here’s a really fun thing … at BHG.com, there is a “color-a-home” tool where you can try different color combinations on their online house to see which paint colors you like before you select your paint for your home.

Remember: Small architectural changes can make a big impact. Adding or changing a porch covering will sharpen, or in many cases, actually change the design of your home. Or, maybe make a big change by just extending the porch by widening or it. Adding trellises, big pots with shrubs or plants can also renew your home. You might want to add trim or other interesting patterns to the porch, steps or sidewalk. A few strategically placed bricks, tiles or pavers can enrich these areas considerably.

Consider a new front door. A new front door could be a very wise investment that will make you happy every time you enter your home. Here in San Antonio it is easy to find fabulous wrought-iron and wood doors; some have fancy iron patterns all over or combinations of iron and glass. Consider beveled glass, clear glass, engraved glass or some of each. Want a single door, a double door, or maybe an oversized door? It’s yours! Want an arched or rounded top? No problem. How about a solid wood door stained to look like higher-ticket woods like mahogany or walnut? Sure. Is your house Mission, ranch or Spanish stucco style? Choose your own look, including appropriate hardware and/or stained or etched glass. You can have a lot or a little of your chosen type of glass, like tall, slender panels or halfpanels, or just a small smattering of glass at the top.

Loving the lawn. A well-manicured lawn is a classy accessory. After all, you wouldn’t want to walk through kneehigh weeds to approach someone’s front door, no matter how attractive the house might be. Mowing and trimming are a basic, but essential, part of the appearance of a clean and inviting place. You’ll also need to trim out-of-control hedges and any possibly dangerous, low-hanging tree limbs. You should also de-clutter your yard: pick up miscellaneous items, like bikes, soccer balls, wheelbarrows or trash — anything that falls into the category of an eyesore.

Although lots of shrubs, flower beds and trees may sound lush to you, that’s not the look you’ll get if they’re just scattered without regard for color scheme, landscape design or any real thought to how these can enhance your house.You’ve seen this: lawns with hedges or plants popping up like a minefield. This magnitude of activity can actually make your house “disappear.”

Ask some questions, like how you’ll use your yard. Do you need or want a path or bench or fountain? Is it just for show, or are kids going to be running and playing there? Maybe you need to repair cement or enhance your sidewalk or driveway with stamped or stained cement or add bricks or pavers. Do you need to widen the driveway for extra cars or so the kids can play basketball? This may add some expense; however, if done correctly, this can create a visually appealing and yet useable space.

Have a plan. Oh, yes, you really should make a plan, even for small improvements. This way you can price things like paint, plants, hardware and more so you can set a realistic budget.Drive around your neighborhood and look at the colors others use on their home’s trim, the types of front doors that new homes have and the kind of landscaping that you see these days. Also take note of what types of fencing you see as well as the other exterior elements you see in the prettiest homes. Don’t see any purple houses in your neighborhood? Well, then perhaps you’d like to avoid having one, too.Yours really won’t look good if it sticks out like a sore thumb. Look at door colors and styles and at entrance treatments. What features do you like? Topiaries by the door? Wreaths, trellises? Special lighting for porch and planted areas? Another tip: If you’re thinking of adding more outdoor lighting, put it in before adding the plants or shrubs if you can. Otherwise, install lighting which doesn’t disrupt plant roots. There is one important “unwritten rule” though: Don’t copy the exact look of your nextdoor neighbors’ home. Oh, and if your house is a very specific type, like California ranch-style, Victorian, Spanish and the like, you really should retain the original architectural theme and work with that, even in the landscaping, for maximum impact and beauty.

By all means, look at magazines for ideas. You’ll most likely find entrances and yard treatments you’d really like to use as inspiration. And, you’ll notice things, such as how houses in wooded areas sometimes use earth-tone paint colors to blend into the environment, and in sunnier areas whites and pastel paint palettes usually prevail.

Don’t forget to consider your roof color, particularly if you’ll be painting the entire exterior of your house.

Friends and family offer a fresh perspective. Gather friends or family members you trust and have them stop or park across the street from your house. Ask them to answer these questions: What is the first impression of your house and yard? What are the best and worst exterior features and how can you enhance or improve them? You might even want to take pictures to peruse. Some say black and white pictures are the best because your can notice the details better without the colors to distract you.

Stick with your plan. You are the one who must make the decisions, based upon the usage, your budget, your likes and dislikes to accommodate your whole family. So, even if it means simply de-cluttering your yard and polishing the hardware or cleaning your windows, you can do it.

Then drive by and enjoy the fabulous new curb appeal your house has acquired.