Better homes and gardens: quick & easy curb appeal

162 Pages·2011·101.793 MB·English

by  Curb Appeal

Better Homes and Gardens
®
QUICK & EASY
curb appeal

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Welcome
What makes great curb appeal? Interestingly enough, you
know it when you see it. That two-story house down the block
with the pretty arbor and beautiful stone walkway; or the
pretty little cottage your drive past on the way to work with all
the amazing flowers. These are houses that seem to shine with
personality and character—nice landscaping, compelling
colors, perhaps an outstanding detail or two. Above all, they’re
well-cared-for properties that glow with pride of ownership.
Having wonderful curb appeal isn’t magic; it’s simply a
continual process of refinement, updating, and regular
maintenance. It’s many smaller elements, added as time and
budget allow, working together to create a harmonious whole.
Most important, curb appeal is much more than good looks—
it’s about preserving the value of your home investment.
Better Homes and Gardens Quick & Easy Curb Appeal is
®
designed to help you make your home the best it can be.
Each chapter offers helpful hints, easy-to-accomplish projects,
and beautiful images that show you dozens of simple ways to
add curb appeal. Whether it’s sprucing up your front door,
choosing trim colors, or simply patching the lawn, you’ll find
plenty of information and inspiration on the pages that follow.
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
Curb Appeal at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Great curb appeal is the sum of many smaller, individual
elements working together to create a harmonious whole.
CHAPTER TWO
Beautiful Lawns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
A healthy, well-maintained lawn sets the stage for great curb appeal.
Knowing Your Grasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Proper Mowing and Watering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Rejuvenating a Tired Lawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
CHAPTER THREE
Plantings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Attractive, colorful, and ever-changing, the plantings around your house
get top billing when it comes to creating a good-looking property.
Front Yard Essentials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Designing Beds and Borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Create Layers with Plantings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 An Easy Stone Planter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
The Magic of Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Color in Your Front Yard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Cool Containers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Make an Island Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Curb Appeal in a Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
CHAPTER FOUR
Walkways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
The path leading from a curb or driveway to your front entry is like the signature
of your house—it should be a unique reflection of your personality.
Planning Your Walkway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Build a Walkway with Paving Stones . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Mixed-Material Walkways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Lighting Your Walkway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Paving Your Walkway with Brick and Stone . . . . . . .46 Installing Low-Voltage Walkway Lighting . . . . . . . . .54
CHAPTER FIVE
Entryways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
An entryway is a collection of details and elements that compose the approach to your house.
Elements of Great Front Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Making an Entryway Arbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Creating an Entryway Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
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AP CHAPTER SIX
B Porches & Porticos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
R
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Y A few simple touches will make your porch an easygoing, inviting haven.
S
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E A Portfolio of Porches and Porticos . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 Hanging Basket Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
&
K Dressing Up—Ideas for Pretty Porches . . . . . . . . . . .70 Railings & Architectural Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
C Seasonal Porch Decorating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
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CHAPTER SEVEN C
O
N
Front Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
T
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No other element has such an important role in your home’s curb appeal as your front door. N
T
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Shopping for Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 $242 Front Entry Makeover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87
Value at the Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 More Appealing Makeovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Get a Grip on Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 Trim Up That Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
CHAPTER EIGHT
Garages & Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
A little imagination can turn your garage and driveway into visual delights.
Gallery of Great Garages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94 One Day: Pick-Me-Up Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Before & After Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Dressy Driveways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102
CHAPTER NINE
Color & Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
The color of your siding and trimwork is critical to your home’s appearance.
Finding Colors That Last . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 Exterior Paint Ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
CHAPTER TEN
Siding & Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Balance the types of siding and window materials you choose with other design elements.
Gallery of Siding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122 Making a Statement with Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Adding Architectural Detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 Shutter Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Fences & Gates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
A fence creates a visual border and helps frame and define the look of your property.
Installing or Replacing a Fence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136 Making a Decorative Wreath for a Fence . . . . . . . .140
How to Build a Picket Fence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lighting & Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Curb appeal doesn’t go away when the sun goes down. Here are bright ideas for creating
evening appeal.
Five Lighting Ideas for Curb Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . .144 Finishing Touches That Make a Difference . . . . . . .148
Exterior Lighting Possibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Spring Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
The most effective technique for creating compelling curb appeal may be the simplest of
all—having a clean and tidy exterior.
Stains and Other Tough Jobs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .154 Cleaning Gutters and More . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Cleaning Specific Concrete Stains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155
CHAPTER ONE
Curb Appeal
at a Glance
1
WE OFTEN SAY A HOUSE HAS CURB APPEAL when we think that it’s
especially good-looking. The truth is that good curb appeal is much more
than an eye-catching color scheme or a pretty flowering tree. It’s usually
the result of thoughtful planning and diligent maintenance on the part of
the homeowners.
This care and attention to detail has its rewards. Pride of ownership is
certainly an important benefit, but there’s more. A house with curb appeal
is likely to retain its value and protect your investment. In fact,
professional appraisers are apt to reduce the assigned value of a poorly
maintained house and property by as much as 10 percent. When it comes
time to sell, a house with strong curb appeal is much more likely to 3
receive serious offers in comparison to other houses of similar price.
Fortunately, great curb appeal doesn’t necessarily come from sweeping
changes and major renovations. Small changes—a brick planter and a
dash of colorful flowers—go a long way toward establishing powerful curb
appeal. See for yourself. On the next few pages, we’ve pointed out some
of the special touches and interesting details that add up to wonderful
curb appeal. The rest of this book is devoted to showing you simple curb
appeal ideas that can help you make your house and property as
appealing as it can be.
1. An ornamental tree helps frame the
entryway to the house.
L
A 2. A hanging flower basket brings
E
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P a splash of color.
A
B 3. A seating area is an invitation to
R visit.
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C 4. Movable container planters put
Y
S color where you want it.
A
E 5. Brick steps add visual interest.
&
K 6. A curving walkway draws the eye.
C
UI 7. Planting beds with brick edgings
Q provide the yard with texture.
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The best curb appeal happens
when the many elements of a
house and yard work together.
Such thoughtful planning doesn’t
mean expensive details or
ambitious landscaping projects.
For this single-story, shingle-sided
home, a strong white accent color
ties everything together—window
trim, railing along the outdoor
porch, rafter tails and fascia,
garage doors, and even the front
gate have been given a bright
white coat of paint. All the other
elements, such as the curving
stone path, the many plantings,
and the grey body color of the
house, are gathered together by
the bold white accents. As a final
touch, ornamental shrubs feature
an assortment of fine white
flowers.
1
1. Custom hardware gives the garage
doors the appearance of double-
swinging entry doors.
2. Custom grilles bring a touch of style
to the windows.
3. The grey body color with white trim
is strong but not overpowering.
4. Curbside flower beds contrast with
the well-trimmed lawn and overall
neat appearance.
5. Stone pavers are matched by a
stone planter and stone-clad lamp
posts flanking the gate.
6. A classic white gate announces the
entry to the property.
7. Entryway lighting is good-looking
and adds safety at night.
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