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Four Simple Steps to Amp Up Your Home’s Curb Appeal

It is time for our latest Project Design. Mary Ann, Annie and I are joining our friends Rene from Cottage and Vine, and Brooke from Nesting with Grace.

Adding charm to your home’s front entrance is an easy low-cost way to amp up your home’s curb appeal. It can be accomplished in a weekend with a little elbow grease and paint . See how this young East Bay couple amped up their curb appeal using these four steps.

This was what my daughter’s “million dollar fixer-upper”  looked like when they bought it a few years ago. Pretty wasn’t it?

Home prices are ridiculously high in this area.  My daughter and son in law bought this house after selling their condo in San Francisco.  They are not afraid to work and have accomplished a lot on a budget.  They diy’ed their own landscaping a couple of years ago.  Jenna designed the front garden (she helped me garden from the time she was a tot) and she and Darius did all of the planting themselves. Now their front yard is beautiful.

The front facade of the house has zero character.  When I let them know we were doing this post, (even though they have a six-week-old baby) they jumped on board. They decided to paint the front door yellow to add a little pizazz to the entry. Darius has a great resource where he finds discounted patio pots.  He found these black ones and they filled them with little ollies and yellow lantana. They added a Coir Door Mat from the Magnolia Collection at Target for $12.99. They want to add two larger light fixtures down the road.

Deuce enjoys the mat as well.

Once they painted the door we all agreed some budget-friendly Adirondack chairs in yellow would add a punch of color to the character lacking front porch.

The small garden stool is from Amazon. The Threshold Lantern ( is no longer available online). The Outdoor Solar lantern  (very similar) is also from Target as is the Outdoor Throw Pillow.

They added groupings of potted plants on either side of the chairs in colors that would highlight the door to fill out the charmless front porch.

Finally, we added black vinyl shutters from Amazon on the two windows that flank the porch for some much-needed character.

At some point, they will add some architectural elements that will make the house look more interesting.  In the meantime, they have accomplished a lot with a little.

Here is the front of the house now (It is hard to get a long view of the house because they now have a privacy fence at the entrance) but you get the idea.

Much improved over this don’t you think?

If you want to amp up your curb appeal try painting your door a pretty hue that coordinates with your home’s color, layer in some potted plants for interest, add shutters to nondescript windows, and purchase some inexpensive patio furniture.

Now click on the links below to visit the other talented bloggers who are joining us this month.

                                                                                                          https://classiccasualhome.com/

                                                                                                           http://nestingwithgrace.com/

                                                                                                           http://www.cottageandvine.net/

                                                                                                           https://mostlovelythings.com/

If you would like to see more of my daughter’s house. you can check out the post I did back in 2014, Creating a Home with Meaning on a Budget-My Daughters House

Or the post I did on Summer’s nursery How to Design a Stylish Nursery that will Grow with your Child.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      The yellow was their idea. I cannot take credit for it! It was brilliant I think!

  1. Jennie Kirkcaldie says

    An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment.
    I believe that you need to write more on this subject, it may not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t discuss these subjects.
    To the next! Kind regards!!

  2. Shelli Elmslie says

    I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and
    was curious what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like
    yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web smart so
    I’m not 100% positive. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Many thanks

  3. Carla Aston says

    This is so charming! Love the yellow, the front door, the landscaping, and those large planters. All of it makes for an amazing transformation!

  4. Jenna Hattersley says

    AW Pottery. There is one in Berkeley and Oakland. You have to sift through them but they have really great prices.

  5. Jane says

    Wow—this house went through a fantastic change with the talent of the young couple, some good paint , and healthy lush plants. Who says you need a ton of money to make a big project come to life? I never thought I would like yellow as an accent or third color on a home, but this is so, so perfect!

    I’m feeling brave as I prepare to paint my front door!

    Jane

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Go for it Jane! I think painting the door yellow was genius on their part!

  6. Donna skeen says

    I’m impressed! It all fits perfectly. I’ve put off buying mats and front porch pots but now I’m inspired.

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      I always need a little prodding as well Donna! That Target mat is great!

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Thank you they have worked hard to make a very bland facade into something interesting!

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Rachel

      It is in Berkeley. I will let Jenna respond. I have yet to get there but hope to soon!

  7. judith says

    Cindy,
    They have done such a nice job to make this house cute. The front door is screaming for an awning, maybe with stripes. Thanks for sharing this. Judith

  8. Kathysue says

    Absolutely love it! The epidemy of CHARM. THE BRIGHT YELLOW MAKES THE WHOLE HOUSE SMILE. Yes indeed home prices are crazy here. So happy for them that they found such a cutie to fix up.

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Hi Kathysue! It wasn’t much of a cutie but they are doing their best!

  9. home before dark says

    A wonderful improvement and so full of promise. Nice to see young house love in action. The yellow is such an optimistic note and the planters by the front door are elegant and handsome—and a bargain to boot. I always appreciate gardens that look like where they are, and this is very much a California garden. It very much an ode to Summer.

    ps By next summer, I think a baby yellow chair needs to be on the porch! And don’t get me started about the lab’s eyes. How would one ever say no to those?

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Yes to that baby yellow chair!! I completely agree about gardens being appropriate to their surroundings and what will grow without an over amount of effort! Deuce is one of the best dogs on Earth! He guards little Summer.

    • Jenna Hattersley says

      We cant resist those eyes. He is a great dog and big brother to his new sister but very spoiled!

  10. LA CONTESSA says

    LOVE THE YELLOW DOOR!!!!!!!!
    Those pots are PERFECT!!!!!!!
    I see a wall fountain where the yellow chairs are one day…..
    GARDEN is GORGEOUS………
    SIX WEEKS ALREADY?!!!!!!!!!!!!
    XX

  11. annie diamond says

    Cindy,
    This looks amazing! From boring to fabulous! I absolutely love the color of the door and chairs. The flowers are perfect too and adds symmetry! The lavender and grasses add so much color and texture!

    • Cindy Hattersley says

      Elizabeth I will let Jenna respond. The front garden is about three years old I think.

    • Jenna Hattersley says

      Thank you! The front yard is primarily Guara Lindheimeri, Teucrium, orchid rockroses, rosemary, mexican feather grass, and a handful of olive trees which are still getting established. I would highly recommend the Teucrium, mexican feather grass, and Guara. They took about two years to get well established but they look great year round and are very low maintenance and drought tolerant.

  12. classic casual home says

    YaY!!! This looks like the darling home of the happy family that they are!! Love the yellow and the fresh vibe. Home prices are really crazy here…that is for sure! You have increased the value even more! Great job!
    Mary Ann

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