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I wish I had paid closer attention to the show Curb Appeal the other day. That looks alot like the house they were doing, and it looked so great when they were done with it.
I agree, I would start with the bushes.
@BoiledPNut:Agreed, I think they add to the 'boxiness' that OP mentioned.
I agree that the swampy green needs to go, maybe replace it with some deep burgandy or brown *disclaimer, I totally do not have a house, so I've got no idea if that's 'good', but it sounds pretty and rich :-)*
@BoiledPNut: That is what I original thought oo, and arch would look awesome.
OP: I think painting the door and green trim would make a huge difference, painting our shutters made our house look 100% better. I agree to get rid of the greens in the front and add in some nice landscaping in the front and along the walkway.
Agree with the PPs on the bushes.
I would stick with ligher, more neutral colors for the exterior paint but do a bright pop of color on the door (maybe red or burgandy). It would also probably look nice to make the window panes a slightly different shade so they don't fade into the house so much.
Planting some flowers on either side of the walkway right before you reach the porch (where there are bushes now) would also look really inviting.
Well,landscaping is expensive, so since you already have so many shrubs and bushes there, the first thing I'd do is start trimming back all of them so you can actually see the house. That may be all you'll need to do for awhile and it will brighten things up immediately. Then you can take your time and drive around taking pictures of color combos you like on other houses before you jump right in to painting it.
Even adding some colorful flowers will make a big difference and that's an inexpensive fix.
The boxy entry will not be a cheap proposition to change, and without some major reconstruction, the only thing I can think of to do would be to add some climbing vines you could train up from either side that would soften the angles.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/curb-appeal
This is a fun way to get some ideas too.
i would remove the tall hedges/cut them down and plant softer shrubs with some colour
i actually love how your house looks as is! :)
but maybe paint it to cream background and then a bright color (of your choice) trim and door would make it stand out... or like a red door and dark brown shutters. if you really want to go all the way, some darker shingles on the roof.
i even like the tall plants, lol.
Flowerbeds on either side of the walkway for sure. That will make a huge difference on its own.
I'd also do a mix of shorter, flowering or ornamental shrubs for beside the house (azaleas, small rhododendrons, daphnes, or japanese maple...maybe some boxwood on the corners and the sides of the house) and keep them trimmed in more globular or natural shapes so they don't look boxy.
For me personally, I just cannot have a yard without trees, so I'd probably put in a couple of weeping birches or plum trees in the corners of the property. Or mulberry bushes, they have a really cool soft, cascading look. Pampas grass could work well too.
I would start with the big cylindrical hedges, cut those down to the same height as the other hedges for now. I would add a colorful hanging basket (maybe red petunias or impatiens clustered with a sweet potato vine) to the right of the entryway. Extend the planting bed by about 12" and put in some low maintenance flowering perennials.
If you can afford it, I would plant 4 flowering trees like crepe myrtles or something similar, on the curb side of the lawn. Put edging at their bases in a circle, and fill with brown mulch.
Agree with pp's, cut down the tall shrubs, at least to be lower until you can do a more permanent fix. But I think flowers along the front would look great. I also have a weird boxy entry way much like this one and haven't really figured out how to make it more inviting..... but congrats on your house and I'm sure it will look fabulous when your done!
Decide what color you want your door and go from there. I wanted a red door (cherry bark was the name of the color - a darker red), so we went with a light creamish color - like a manilla folder with bright whie accents. We have a little bit of brick, so it goes nicely. I'd love some shutters too. Not sure about landscaping. I love easy care - rosebushes, bouganvilla, evergreens.
OMG ladies, thank you, thank you, thank you. I love all these suggestions. So helpull!
@BackyardLoveBird: very good advice regarding the door.
Both DH and I have always wanted a red door so I think that's what's going to happen. The more I look at it the more I think I'll leave the bulk of the house cream but change the trim from green to a very light and crisp blue, (and add trim around the windows.). I think the red and blue would really pop from the contrast.
Sort of the inverse of this house
Maybe plant a red blooming plant to pick up the color of the door. What do you think ladies?
@Meowkers: I love your idea for a paint job! I agree with the PP about trimming back the plants (or putting something else there that is more along your taste), and maybe adding some plants along the walkway to make it a little more welcoming.
Congrats on going into escorw! Crossing my fingers it all goes smoothly, I'd love to see how you'll renovate it!
I love the color ideas you have!
And I'm with PPs get rid of those tall awkward hedges! I think they are a major factor in amking the entryway look boxier.
Bye, bye, bushes!
Maybe replace the door?
Add some colorful flowers out front, maybe a prett window treatment for the front windows and it will make a world of difference!
Can you take a picture when you start working on it?
I love your paint ideas - but i agree with a previous poster to replace the door (it's kind of ugly). I like doors like this which have nice windows to let light in and can be painted.
@Meowkers: I would get rid of the bushes closest to the door to start and replace them with a flowering tree to add some color (crepe myrtle-maybe?). To soften the boxy entrance, you could try adding some wrought iron coner brackets to give the illusion of an arch. Something along the lines of these. Or go more custom and have some sort of arch added. I also agree with pps that an updated door will help.
I can't see the roof in the photos, but is it tiled? It looks like it might be. You could replace the tiles with new, more colorful ones. I think that would do a lot for the house. It would update it, but also keep it inline stylistically with its architecture type.
I think a new set of doors like irin997 posted would look great!
What I would do about the doorway is put up some trellising on either side and the top and grow a climbing flower. It will take a little bit of time but the organic shape the plants will take will soften those angles right out front, and make it more inviting. You'd definitely have to cut back the greenery right by the door first and overall reduce the amount/size of shubbery so that the trellis doesn't become overwhelming. There are lots of trellising flowers, but clematis is very pretty and there are red varieties, which would pick up your door nicely. Being in CA also you have a lot more choices with your longer and milder season!
@Meowkers: I think you have some really good ideas - be careful with red and blue, they are nice together, but you don't want to be the "patriotic" house...know what I mean? I agree with the others about changing the doors (unless you like them - they are pretty cool and kitchy). If you keep the doors, make them a statement - like the red you want, but outline the windows in different colors. I also reiterate about adding shutters. I thing red and pink look good next to each other (like red/pink roses or bouganvilla). I'd take out or cut back all the bushes dramatically. Ground cover is nice looking and easy to take care of. What do you like? What are you willing to maintain? Do you want fruit trees? What about an avocado or orange tree? I live in the desert southwest, so I don't like the idea of trellises or palm trees (because of scorpions...YUCK!), but you could do one in LA - with grape vines? It all comes down to maintenance...
Ladies all this advice is amazing and has given me so many ideas! I love your suggestions of a curvy flower bed around the walkway and bright blooming trees. I mentioned to my mom last night that those tall bushes will have to be cut down and she screamed NO so loud, you'd think I was telling her the President died. haha She doesn't always have vision of how things can look though, (as the wedding proved), so I'm so grateful for all of your input and ideas!!!
@Au Jardin: Thank you! I'll definitely keep you posted with all the renovations.
@ThePrincessMaggie: Thanks. I don't think it's bad looking and it definitly has a specific architectural POV. It's just not our style. But we couldn't be picky about it because we got such a great deal in an amazing area.
@soyjoy222: @irin997: @Mrs. Fireworks: @BackyardLoveBird: Yes we will be replacing the door first thing. I do think the door is kind of fun and kitchy with the diamond cutouts, (and it has yellow glass in it). However, it's made out of plywood or particle board and just looks cheap. So yeah, bye bye door.
farmergirl: I've considered a trellis. My parents have that over their entry way and it looks really nice. That's definitely on the top of my list of potentials for that door way.
@BackyardLoveBird: all excellent advice. Thank you! I would love to add shutters but I really don't think there is enough room on the wall to add shutters that are size proportionate to the windows.
Congrats on your house!
I agree with everyone that the first place to start is the bushes. Either cut them back or rip everything out and start from scratch. To add more dimension you can build an arch (like in your picture) to make the front porch more distinct and less boxy and of course beautiful doors. Also like your picture you can add some bay windows to add good light inside and more dimension. A pretty color can make things really brighten up. I'm also always a fan of pretty pavers for a walkway too :) Have fun!
I wouldn't decide on colors until I replaced the front doors and removed those stupid bushes. (I hate those things) I think once you do that you will be able to truely "see" the house for the first time.
My aunt has a similar looking house, she painted it a dark grey with an off-white trim. The door is a bright yellow, I love it. It looks great!
I love the the house exactly as it is. The landscaping needs to cut down and/or replaced but please don't do anything to change the original lines. Your house is a classic piece of Southern California architecture and it would be a shame to ruin it with an arched doorway.
I would replace the front door but keep the exact look and research the time period (late 60s maybe?) for exterior paint colors. I am somewhat of a conservationist of California architecture, especially the Ranch and the post-modern post and beam. And it makes me sad when people buy a house from a particular time period and try to transform it into something it's never going to be.
Your house is in perfect original condition (from the outside anyway). Think about restoring it instead of changing it. That's just my suggestion because I think it will look better and preserve a little piece of LA history (what little there is:) at the same time.
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We are currently in escrow on our very first house. SUPER EXCITING!!! So obviously I'm already daydreaming about what we can do to improve it. While the inside doesn't really need much work, (recently renovated), the outside is another story. The house seriously lacks curb apeal.
We want to paint it so it pops more and has more curb appeal but I'm stumped as to colors. See pictures below for current colors. I think the cream and moss green is so sad and swampy looking. The roof is a dark brown so my idea of doing gray with white trim is out. Any suggestions on paint colors?
My second issue is how boxy it look, (especially around the door alcove). We want to soften up the overall look. Any suggestions on how to soften up this sharp and boxy design?