Curb appeal

Julia, over at Hooked on Houses, offered a creative challenge that I couldn't pass up. One of her readers asked for help with the curb appeal of this house. Rev up the photoshop boys I'm goin in.

Before

After

• Changed the garage door. White was just to dominate. The bronze color links the garage with the rest of the house.
• Larger light fixtures. The mass of the brick pillars by the door screamed for a bulkier fixture.
• Front walk. The shrubbery between the door and the street feels like a barrier, and not very welcoming. Post or plantings down the walk helps too.
• Gable vents should be the same bronze color as the windows. Before, you barely notice them. now they tie in with the arch of the door. Repeting shapes...Goood!
• Precast stone crown on the columns. Cuts the tall verticals into managable portions.
• Landscaping. You could go wild here. It's odviously fall in the before shot. The trees and grasses have been trimmed for the winter. Cluttering up the front with pots and trellises is going to far. Somtimes more is just more. There is a fine line when the landscaping begins to out shine the house. Some deeper and taller planting at the foundation would do alot to soften this house. The tree by the door is going to out grow that spot soon. It really need trees out in the yard closer to the street. More room to spread. Flowers in soft colors work best with this color of home.