Rock Creek, OH on Jun 20, 2012

What would you add?

We will be tearing out and re-doing the front beds in a few months when we replace our basement windows. I have never been happy with the overall look of the front but especially the R. side (pic#1.) The driveway is on that side and we have an additional spot for parking in front of the house (you can see the edge of a truck in the pic.) I feel like there needs to be vertical interest but am at a loss. This area is on the South side and gets the late day sun (starting at around 4 'til sunset). How would you continue or incorporate your idea into the left..I'm anal about symmetry. By the way, Hubs does not like bushes and any tree ideas need to be less than 6ft.

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70 Comments Displaying 25 of 70 comments | See Previous

Dee W Rock Creek, OH

Oh, how I wish a wrap-around was possible. The meter at the side of the house is a ginder system and has pipes running into the house and out to the street. It also doubles as an emergency flasher for sheriff/fire/EMS to spot house quickly and that would be a huge expense to re-route lines. A front porch though will fill my dreams.

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 0
Barbara B Kingsland, TX

What about an arbor (arch) over the pathway, and some type of vines or trellis on the house. The porch idea sounds great, but this may be a start.

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 0
Sandy F Charleston, WV

I would so add a covered porch to bring it all together.. paint the house all the same color also...

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 1
Ananda S Mount Prospect, IL

How about tying the porch color to the rest of the house by adding shutters to match the porch?
Another thing you could do to unify the porch with the rest of the house is change the curtains on the inside of the porch to match the curtains in the first-floor room on that side of the house.
Maybe paint the window *frames* on each part of the house so they match the other part of the house, or use a darker shade of the green on the porch and a darker shade of the beige on the rest. ...»

I would also try for some dark green foliage and very pale green foliage in a few of the planted areas; right now everything is more or less medium green. I think some "silver mounds" could work well.

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 1
Yvonne E

shutters on all windows, monochromatic colour scheme, rocket pines on boths sides of the large wall, cambrian elm between the windows, a porch with railing and solar lighting along both sides of the walkway -

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 0
J M Adolphus, KY

Having just added a porch to the front of our very plain home, I can attest that it is a great addition for you to try. It will give the home more "drive-up appeal"

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 2
DeAnna B Bridgeview, IL

Help the environment & plant some host & nectar plants for the butterflies in your area! Google which ones live in your area, & plant accordingly. Then sit & relax the show as they come to feed. Don't forget Milkweed for the Monarchs!

on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I know you said no trees over 6', but a small tree near the walkway and some tall, thin, vertical evergreens. I also added some shutters and railings in black. The home as it sits is a bit bland and I think a couple of dark accents would help. Excuse the rudimentary drawing.
on Jun 20, 2012 · Like 4
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

What to do depends on your budget. For a start I would paint the entire house the same color and put up shutters in a darker shade. And paint the foundation a darker color to ground it. If the budget allows, it would not cost a lot to add a small porch under the eves. Like trees or not, until you decide to landscape upward a little, you will not change the look. There are lots of junipers that keep their shape and do not require a lot of pruning and work as well as several varieties ...»
of minature trees. Between those windows on the right is just screaming for a minture tree. You can also purchase sculptured trees that will make your place sparkle. There is no reason to have a Plain Jane house and keeping it pretty and timmed will not be an overwhelming job if you put in a couple of things.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 2
Kate M North Port, FL

Maybe adding some window boxes on that side would add some vertical interest, just under those three windows. And I like the railing idea for the porch to add some interest on that side but I would do a wood railing.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
Donna C Manchester, NH

I would add one maybe two Japanese Maple trees. Paint the house all one color and add a porch to the front door with shutters on the rest of the house. But I would concentrate more on the porch area, whether black wrought iron or wood just be sure that it will either complement or contrast the rest of the house.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 2
Liz B Cass Lake, MN

I think you could replant some of the plants you have but you would need something taller then the ones you have on the front, but not so tall it would cover the windows. Shutters would spruce it up and buildings all one color. Depends on how much you can spend on the whole thing.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 1
Dee W Rock Creek, OH

Thank-you everyone....you've all said what we've thought as far as adding a small porch. If hubs agrees and is willing we could do some painting of the porch and I will do some shopping around for shutters-have no idea what they run (or how they are put up) Porch addition may need to wait a year or two as there is some inside work that must come first.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
Linda T Stewartstown, PA

Before my post above, I had written a long one, including many flower ideas, especially climbers that attract humming birds etc. It has disappeared. Was I censored for some reason? If so. Why?

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
Dee W Rock Creek, OH

No idea what happened

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
Carroll A Coos Bay, OR

My favorite tree is the Japanese Weeping Cherry Tree. If you are taking the lillie beds out anyway it would look great there. I would also try to save as many plants as I could and replant them, for the most part the beds look really nice!

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 1
Carroll A Coos Bay, OR

I like what Leslie D designed also... I would not have thought to add shutters.... that really does change the look and the tall evergreens might be just what you need.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
Leslie D Las Vegas, NV

I looked at this again and one other thing bothered me. The scalloped screen door trim ages the house...somehow the house looks newer than that style of door. I like the two tone paint, but maybe change the peachy beige color to a darker gray? I think that would modernize the look a bit.
on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
Brenda B Nicholasville, KY

you need some sort of a tree or tall evergreen. something with some hight..

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
Diana N Covington, GA

I think maybe just a pergola type structure that goes above the 2 windows and is held up by large brackets would really dress up the right side. You could add legs all the way to the ground instead of brackets and have a climbing vine go up and across - something like Jasmine that's evergreen, blooms and has a heavenly scent. I don't like shutters, never have, so instead you could add wide moldings to give the windows some interest.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
JJ J New Lebanon, NY

Definitely shutters and crammed-full flowerboxes on the house. Mabe some gingerbread trim, and a sitting porch. For the beds along the sidewalk, picket fence with climbing roses.

on Jun 21, 2012 · Like 0
G B Ripley, TN

Shutters would be a great addition to the right side. Perhaps a porch to the left. Color in the beds leading to the front door. Paint the left side to match the rest of the siding.

on Jun 22, 2012 · Like 0
Lori J Broken Bow, NE

I would get rid of that walk and curve it to soften the entry. You might consider a full view storm door with a brightly colored front door (and perhaps shutters to catch the color somewhere else). What about a nice cedar trellis between the two windows on the main section of the house, with a climbing rose? It would meet DH's height requirements and you would have lot of color choices with roses.

on Jun 22, 2012 · Like 1
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

I had another thought....if hubby does not want trees, perhaps a beautiful, decorative metal trellis on which you can attach brackets and hang all sorts of pots! A trellis as simple as one with a grid pattern would lend itself for all sorts of use. Or place a copper decorative medallion between the windows...make sure what you get is large enough to be to scale (a 6" little ole thing won't work!). Or a grouping of medallions...a smiling sun, a crescent moon and a smaller star placed at ...»
angles would be very nice! all sorts of things are available at your garden center. For better selection, try one in your area that is not one of the big box stores.

on Jun 22, 2012 · Like 0
Linda T Stewartstown, PA

What I had written before, was basically growing a mix of wisteria, trumpet vine, climbing roses, jasmine and such, and adding morning glory, moon flowers and nasturtium seeds each year, to climb up the others. A riot of colour and shapes which will attract humming birds and others, butterflies and most importantly, honey bees. That way, you'll have covered that awful plain siding without tall trees (which I don't understand the height limit! Tall trees shade the house in summer and ...»
even when they have no leaves in winter, help protect from the wind)
Then brackets over the downstairs windows to hold hummingbird feeders and normal bird seed holders where you can see them from indoors.

on Jun 22, 2012 · Like 0

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