s on How to Achieve Curb Appeal
A house with great curb appeal is one that, when you’re driving past, you think “Ooh, I want to see inside!”. It’s very psychological: You want your home to be more than just “pretty.” You want it ENTICING (*insert growl and clawing hand motions).
For all you with the Honey-Do lists taped to your fridge: Your home is NOT a project to be conquered. Where’s the soul in that? Personally, I need more than a task. When you go deeper than attractiveness – that’s when true transformation happens.
1. A Peeling Back of Layers
The outside of a home needs to have a layered effect – part of the enticing quality I was talking about. There’s nothing worse than a house where the walls and the trim are the same color!
Recently a residence on my street was re-painted. First the siding became a gentle white. Then the windows were painted white. Then the contractor came back to do the trim and I was praying, “Please, Lord Jesus, give me dark gutters, dark trim, something!” But Jesus was busy elsewhere.
If you’re going to have a light-colored house, then you’ve GOT to have dark accents. No options. It’s like putting on eyeliner – it gives depth and definition to the face of your property. Do you want your home to look like it just woke up or like it’s ready to host a fabulous party?
2. An Appeal for Simplicity
Don’t make your house look schizophrenic. You have to know how to edit. You cannot get all your dream homes into one property! If you ask me to combine stone, wood, oil-rubbed bronze and glass into the same entry way, I will put you in time-out till you know better.
3. Appealing Shutters
Shutters can be a great look on some houses, but don’t just nail them to the wall. Make sure they have the shutter dogs and hardware to make them look traditional and functional, and please, for the love, they match the size of the windows.
4. Front Door Appeal
The front door of your home is key. This is your greeting! You have to put your best foot forward.
If your home is south facing then the door will get a beating from the sun and will most likely need re-staining or painting every 3 years. After you eat, you put your lipstick back on, right? Then spend $50 on a can of paint already and smile.
It is a GREAT annoyance to me when people don’t maintain their front doors! As I’ve told clients of mine before, if you live in a million dollar home then for goodness sake pay someone to re-stain your front door! I’m not going to notice what’s inside your home when I’m taking the time to recover from the trauma of your front entrance!
These lofty thoughts are brought to you courtesy of moi, and a little thing I like to call #RedemptiveDesign.