Improve Curb Appeal – Sample Consulting Projects

The following projects show various services performed for homeowners to improve curb appeal.

The after image represents the homeowner’s decision on color and modifications. There may be other colors or modifications that I would better recommend to improve curb appeal. Although the homeowner is aware of these options, the image shows the work performed as they requested for their particular need.

Please contact me to see how I can show you how you can improve curb appeal for your home.

1903 Victorian in Texas

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Scope of Work:

• Exterior paint colors.
• New porch railing to match period and style.
• New porch steps and newel post.
• New porch skirt.
• Three new windows to match historic windows.
• Spandrels and brackets appropriate for this house.

Choosing colors can be a difficult process. A more authentic paint scheme would be to have a darker trim color. Here are some samples to compare.

1875 Victorian in Kentucky

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Scope of Work:

• Exterior paint colors.
• New porch railing to match period and style.
• New porch steps and newel post.
• New porch skirt.
• Window shades and Irish lace curtains.

Suggestions for future improvement:

• Replace windows with 2-over-2 true divided lights as in original photo.
• Landscaping at corners only.

The historic photo to the right shows a paint color scheme with a light body and dark trim which was very popular during that time.

Notice the windows are 2-over-2.

Window trim, Entrance, Cornice, and Paint Colors

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A previous homeowner removed all the original wood trim on the windows and entrance and replaced it with a simple casing. The cornice is plain and has two modern brackets that are small in proportion to the house. Original historic brackets were found in the basement and duplicated. Image was used to obtain Historic Preservation Commission certificate of appropriateness.

Scope of Work:

• New window surrounds.
• New front entrance to match period of house.
• Replace modern brackets with historic size.
• Add dental molding on cornice.
• New period paint color scheme.

Arts & Crafts gets New Balustrade, Stairs, Porch Skirt

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Arts & Crafts house before new railing, steps, and porch skirt.

Completed Arts & Crafts porch.

Scope of Work:

• Porch balustrade to specs.
• Porch piers.
• Porch skirt .
• Porch steps and railing.

While there were some issues with the construction and the design, the scope of work was to see how the balustrade would look at a certain height using design specifications from a railing manufacturer. An arts & crafts styled porch skirt was added and faux piers since the contractor was unaware that piers should be located below the columns as a support. Click here to better understand porch railings.

McMansion Changes Improve Curb Appeal

Front of house

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McMansion before shutters

Shutters and landscaping improve curb appeal.

McMansions have numerous unnecessary architectural features such as different clashing roof lines and window styles. Your eyes are attracted to these large confusing elements. By distracting you, the builder is able to keep costs down by skimping on important features such as window frames etc. This homeowner wanted to balance out the house better with a more traditional look and improve curb appeal.

Scope of work:

• Window crowns added to casing
• Louvered shutters were added which softened the look. They could not be added on the top floor due to the confusing layout.
• Window boxes
• Correct and add Landscape to soften the harshness.

Suggestions to further improve curb appeal:

Curb appeal can be greatly improved by planting some large trees on each side of the house to frame the house – especially on the left in front of the garage. The left garage section is large and very heavy for the rest of the house. A large tree will improve the overall feeling. The 2nd floor area on the main house including the roof should be redesigned.

Rear of house

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A badly designed rear of McMansion.

 

McMansion with new Garage doors and overhang adds some improvement.

A bland house needs life. The house was designed from the inside with no regard for the exterior. Windows are haphazardly spaced with no room for shutters.

Scope of work:

• Window crowns added to casing.
• Overhang and brackets added to garage.
• New wood garage doors.

Click here to better understand aesthetics in architecture.

New Windows and Paint Colors

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1890’s Victorian before painting and new windows.

New house colors selected by homeowner.

Scope of Work:

• Exterior paint colors chosen by client.
• New window and casings .
• New cove molding.

See this house in an alternative Victorian color scheme

Alternative Victorian paint colors and period windows improve curb appeal.

Suggestions to further improve curb appeal:

• Landscaping.

Victorian Brackets and New Paint Color Scheme

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Victorian house before new paint colors.

New brackets added at porch and roof and new paint colors chosen by homeowner.

Scope of Work:

• Exterior paint colors chosen by homeowner.
• Porch frieze board added below porch deck.
• Brackets added to roof and porch.

See this house in an alternative Victorian color scheme to the right.

An alternative Victorian paint color scheme.

Suggestions for future curb appeal improvement:

• Owner plans to install real working shutters properly mounted.
• Replace all 1st floor windows with architecturally correct window to match 2nd floor and add shutters.
• Replace contemporary railing with one to match style.
• Landscaping.

Cape Cod gets Curb Appeal with New Garage Door, Shutters, & Paint

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Cape Cod before minor changes improve curb appeal.

Paint colors, shutters, carriage house garage door and removal of storm door greatly improve curb appeal.

Scope of Work:

• Paint colors – vinyl windows not painted.
• Remove storm door.
• Louvered shutters .
• New carriage house garage door.

Suggestions to further improve curb appeal:

• Dormer is not designed properly. Redesign and replace square window in dormer with a rectangular window.
• Add two additional dormers to balance out house.
• Add landscaping and walkway to driveway.

Historic Porch Design for HPC Approval

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New balustrade, steps, newel post, and porch apron are needed.

This is an image of proposed construction. It is to be used for Historic Preservation Commission review and approval. They see the finished result before work begins. The homeowner and commission know what to expect.

Homeowner wanted to redo the porch steps and add a balustrade to an 1856 house. Although we know there was a full front porch in 1897, we have doubts a porch existed in 1856. Because of this the current porch size was retained.

Scope of work:

• New balustrade to match style of house.
• New steps and resized to specifications.
• New porch skirt.
• Add brackets above porch.
• AutoCAD diagram of brick walkway.

Images and AutoCAD diagrams were prepared for the local Historic Preservation Commission to review and approve. The contractor was able to use this information to construct a historically appropriate porch balustrade etc.

CAD drawing to guide contractor.

Landscaping Can Really Improve Curb Appeal

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House before landscaping.

Improve curb appeal with landscaping.

Scope of work:

• Landscaping to highlight house.

This contemporary Colonial house is situated on a large property with the driveway entrance approaching the house on the right side. Guests are guided to the front door on a walkway with shrubs helping direct them to the entrance.

The photo to the right shows the difference a ground cover can make to improve curb appeal. The ground cover softens the transition from grass to the building and allows the house to extend out and draw you to it as it welcomes you.

The addition of a ground cover and improve curb appeal more by drawing you into the house.

City Town House Gets Restored

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Typical urban house that has been badly remodeled many times over the last 120 years.

This house gets a new life as artificial siding is removed, cornice restored, paint colors, etc. greatly improve curb appeal.

Here we have an actual photo of the completed work.

Scope of Work:

• Removal of awning.
• New hardy board siding.
• Wood window casings .
• Replace cornice.
• Install transom window above door.
• New iron railing.

This town house was built around 1890 and the photo to the side is from the 1930’s.

Notice that the building to the left is now a parking lot and the building to the right is now brick faced.

The house we are working on in the center originally had wood clapboard siding. In this photo it is covered with faux brick asphalt siding. Johns Manville first offered this product in 1931 which quickly became popular.

Sadly the beautiful Victorian porch with its wide welcoming stairs was later removed and replaced with a concrete slab and aluminum awning. The asphalt brick was covered over with aluminum siding as was the cornice and the transom window over the door.

Historic photo from the 1930’s shows original porch and house to the left.

Thankfully the current homeowner was interested in restoring some of the character back to the building that was lost over the years. The owner was able to improve curb appeal with period colors, a new cornice and bringing back the transom window. These alterations work together to provide a warm pleasing appearance once again.

Suggestions to further improve curb appeal:

• Move light fixture closer to door.
• Rebuilding the porch to match the original was not feasible at this time but would really make the house pop more than it does now.
• Move the electric connection and conduit away from the center. Apparently this was attempted and could not be done but I forgot the reason why.

The homeowner wanted to add shutters which is a good idea. However the problem is how the windows casings are designed – completely wrong. Instead of having a sill for the rain water to avoid running on the house, there is a large flat board. When the shutters are installed that window board is so large it looks like a flower box!

The homeowner plans to have a carpenter fix this problem. Also the plastic windows will need replacing very soon and black window sashes would look best.

Historic Register Home gets Shutters and Paint

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Historic Greek Revival home before paint and shutters.

New paint and shutters improve curb appeal of this 1829 historic home.

This is a historically significant house listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Scope of Work:

• Louvered shutters on 1st floor for privacy.
• Solid panel shutters on 2nd floor for ventilation.
• Replace all white paint to blend with mortar.
• Paint downspouts to match brick.

Not sure you need to improve curb appeal for your house?

Send us a photo and we will let you know if we can help.