# Improve Curb Appeal – Sample Consulting Projects - Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/improve-curb-appeal/ - Published: 2013-09-18T18:58:30-04:00 - Author: Daniel Lane ## 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 _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊victorian porch⌉⌊victorian porch⌉[ Before [⌊gingerbread trim⌉⌊gingerbread trim⌉[ After **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. [⌊spandrels and fretwork on porch⌉⌊spandrels and fretwork on porch⌉[ Light trim option. [⌊dark fretwork⌉⌊dark fretwork⌉[ Dark trim option ## 1875 Victorian in Kentucky _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊1875 Victorian Kentucky before painting⌉⌊1875 Victorian Kentucky before painting⌉[ Before painting. [⌊Victorian porch paint⌉⌊Victorian porch paint⌉[ The correct color scheme with a correct porch balustrade and porch skirt. **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 i****mprovement:** * Replace [windows ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/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. [⌊1875 historic Vctorian photo⌉⌊1875 historic Vctorian photo⌉[ 19th century photo shows light body colors with dark trim and 2-over-2 windows. ## Window trim, Entrance, Cornice, and Paint Colors _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊Italianate makeover⌉⌊Italianate makeover⌉[ Before [⌊italianate makeover⌉⌊italianate makeover⌉[ New period window and entrance surrounds. New brackets and dental’s on cornice. 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. [⌊italianate paint colors⌉⌊italianate paint colors⌉[ Paint scheme [⌊italianate paint scheme⌉⌊italianate paint scheme⌉[ Alternate color scheme **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 _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊Arts & Crafts house before new railing, steps, and porch skirt.⌉⌊Arts & Crafts house before new railing, steps, and porch skirt.⌉[ Arts & Crafts house before new railing, steps, and porch skirt. [⌊Completed Arts & Crafts porch.⌉⌊Completed Arts & Crafts porch.⌉[ Completed Arts & Crafts porch. This heroic homeowner in Canada saved this house from being demolished. The house was moved to a new location, meticulously restored, and a new porch was added. **Scope of Work:** * Porch balustrade to specs. * Porch piers. * [Porch skirt ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/porches#lattice). * 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. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/porches) --- ## McMansion Changes Improve Curb Appeal ### Front of house _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊McMansion before shutters⌉⌊McMansion before shutters⌉[ McMansion before shutters [⌊Shutters and landscaping improve curb appeal.⌉⌊Shutters and landscaping improve curb appeal.⌉[ Shutters and landscaping improve curb appeal. [McMansions ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/aesthetics#mcmansion) 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 ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-designs/#windowcasing) crowns added to casing * [Louvered shutters ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/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 _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊A badly designed rear of McMansion.⌉⌊A badly designed rear of McMansion.⌉[ A badly designed rear of McMansion.   [⌊McMansion with new Garage doors.⌉⌊McMansion with new Garage doors.⌉[ 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 ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-designs/#windowcasing) crowns added to casing. * Overhang and brackets added to garage. * New wood garage doors. [Click here to better understand aesthetics in architecture. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/aesthetics) --- ## New Windows and Paint Colors _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊1890's Victorian before painting and new windows.⌉⌊1890's Victorian before painting and new windows.⌉[ 1890’s Victorian before painting and new windows. [⌊New house colors ⌉⌊New house colors ⌉[ New house colors selected by homeowner. **Scope of Work:** * Exterior paint colors chosen by client. * New [window and casings ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-designs/#windowcasing). * New cove molding. See this house in an alternative Victorian color scheme [⌊Alternative Victorian paint colors and period windows improve curb appeal.⌉⌊Alternative Victorian paint colors and period windows improve curb appeal.⌉[ Alternative Victorian paint colors and period windows improve curb appeal. Since there are three types of siding three base colors were used accented by an eggplant color. Color selection is from OHJ Color Scheme #84. **Suggestions to further improve curb appeal: ** * Landscaping. --- ## Victorian Brackets and New Paint Color Scheme _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊Victorian house before new paint colors.⌉⌊Victorian house before new paint colors .⌉[ Victorian house before new paint colors. [⌊New brackets added at porch and roof and new paint colors chosen by homeowner.⌉⌊ New brackets added at porch and roof and new paint colors chosen by homeowner.⌉[ 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.⌉⌊An alternative Victorian paint color scheme.⌉[ An alternative Victorian paint color scheme. **Suggestions for future curb appeal improvement:** * Owner plans to install real [working shutters ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/shutters) properly mounted. * Replace all 1st floor windows with architecturally correct [window ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-designs/#windowcasing) 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 _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊Cape Cod before minor changes improve curb appeal.⌉⌊Cape Cod before minor changes improve curb appeal.⌉[ Cape Cod before minor changes improve curb appeal. [⌊Paint colors, shutters, carriage house garage door and removal of storm door greatly improve curb appeal.⌉⌊Paint colors, shutters, carriage house garage door and removal of storm door greatly 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 ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/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 _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊New balustrade, steps, newel post, and porch apron are needed.⌉⌊New balustrade, steps, newel post, and porch apron are needed.⌉[ New balustrade, steps, newel post, and porch apron are needed. [⌊This image is used for Historic Preservation Commission review and approval.⌉⌊ This image is used for Historic Preservation Commission review and approval.⌉[ 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.⌉⌊CAD drawing to guide contractor.⌉[ CAD drawing to guide contractor.   --- ## Landscaping Can Really Improve Curb Appeal _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊House before landscaping.⌉⌊House before landscaping.⌉[ House before landscaping. [⌊Improve curb appeal with landscaping.⌉⌊Improve curb appeal with 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.⌉⌊The addition of a ground cover and improve curb appeal more.⌉[ The addition of a ground cover and improve curb appeal more by drawing you into the house. --- ## City Town House Gets Restored _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊Urban house badly remodeled.⌉⌊Urban house badly remodeled.⌉[ Typical urban house that has been badly remodeled many times over the last 120 years. [⌊Artificial siding is removed, cornice restored, paint colors, etc. greatly improve curb appeal.⌉⌊Artificial siding is removed, cornice restored, paint colors, etc. greatly improve curb appeal.⌉[ 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 ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/window-designs/#windowcasing). * 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.⌉⌊Historic photo from the 1930's shows original porch and house to the left.⌉[ 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. --- ## 1900 Wisconsin Home – Open Up Porch and Paint _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊before house painting⌉⌊before house painting⌉[ Before [⌊historic paint color scheme⌉⌊historic paint color scheme⌉[ Porch opened up and new historic paint colors. This house is on a corner and what you see is the side of the house. Both the front porch and the side porch which you see are enclosed. The homeowner will also open up the front porch copying the style of the side porch. New historic paint colors make this house look special. **Scope of Work:** * Open up porch. * Install balustrade with sawn balusters, porch posts, and spandrels. * New steps, newel post, porch skirt. * New historic paint color scheme. See an alternate color: [⌊green Victorian paint color⌉⌊green Victorian paint color⌉[ See this house in a different color scheme. ## 1984 House with Bad Design Corrected _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊1984 vernacular house⌉⌊1984 vernacular house⌉[ Before [⌊vernacular house painted red⌉⌊vernacular house painted red⌉[ After corrections and painting. This poor homeowner got a bad deal from an architect and didn’t even know it.  Notice the weird steep dormer on the garage that does not fit in. Fish scale shingles on the gables are good but why in the world would anyone put them under the eaves? Under the eaves you have frieze board trim which is in proportion to the house. Adding two courses of shingles i just plain insane. I see this being done a lot. Where do these designers come from? Removing them is the best option but here we just painted them to match the body color. Notice the house appears heavy on the right side. This is because the garage lacks windows.  The bay window should also not have siding but panels at its base. **Scope of Work:** * Paint out fish scale shingle valance to make it disappear. * Add panels below bay window. * Add two windows in garage to balance out the house * Remove storm door * Add shutters * New paint color scheme. 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. [⌊vernacular with shutters added⌉⌊vernacular with shutters added⌉[ Shutters added to bad windows. --- ## Historic Register Home gets Shutters and Paint _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊Historic Greek Revival home before paint and shutters.⌉⌊Historic Greek Revival home before paint and shutters.⌉[ Historic Greek Revival home before paint and shutters. [⌊New paint and shutters improve curb appeal of this historic home.⌉⌊New paint and shutters improve curb appeal of this historic home.⌉[ 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 ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/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. --- ## 1889 Shingle-Style House gets Shutters and Paint _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊shingle style Victorian⌉⌊shingle style Victorian⌉[ Before [⌊shingle style gray paint⌉⌊shingle style gray paint⌉[ New paint colors and shutters. This 1889 Shingle-Style Victorian was originally natural cedar shingles with painted trim and shutters. Shingles had a smaller reveal. Since then the shingles were replaced with larger shingles and painted. The colors however were unflattering for this stately house. **Scope of Work:** * Correct color placement. * New period paint colors. * Add shutters [⌊shingle style green shingles⌉⌊shingle style green shingles⌉[ Alternative paint color scheme. ## 1880’s Victorian Needs HPC Approval _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊saratoga springs victorian⌉⌊saratoga springs victorian⌉[ Before [⌊saratoga springs victorian paint colors⌉⌊saratoga springs victorian paint colors⌉[ After: New balustrade and paint colors. This house is located in a historic district and approval is required for a new porch railing, steps, newel posts and painting. Aside from a new railing, all that was needed was paint color correction in the gables. This is what the homeowner said: > The Review Board meeting was on July 6th.  There were 6 board members plus someone > from the Historical Preservation Society.  First they had a presentation regarding > the awards that had been given in May.  I was the second application on the schedule. > The first guy (who lives about 2 blocks away) had a very detailed presentation > but after they completely tore him apart I thought I was toast.  Luckily they > loved the new stairs, railing and color choices.  Then they asked how I had gotten > such a good rendering of the colors and new staircase and I told them about you > and your website.  They pulled up the website and put it on the big screen and > everyone was totally impressed.  I was surprised they had not heard of it, but > in any case the application was unanimously approved and kudos given to your website. > The Preservation lady said to contact them when the job is finished and they will > give consideration to giving the house an award next year.  I e-mailed her your > contact details, so hopefully it will result in more business for you. They were > all so interested in the website they hardly looked at my proposal at all 🙂 **Scope of Work:** * Correct color placement. * New period paint colors. * New railing, newel posts, and steps. [⌊navajo white paint⌉⌊navajo white paint⌉[ Alternative color scheme. ## 1900 Dutch Colonial Restoration _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊dutch colonial⌉⌊dutch colonial⌉[ Before [⌊dutch colonial red shingles new roof⌉⌊dutch colonial red shingles new roof⌉[ After: New roof, siding, windows, and casing. A gambrel roof is a character defining feature of a Dutch Colonial house. This gambrel roof however was covered up partially with red aluminum siding making the roof look like something strange. I guess the aluminum siding installer got carried away and didn’t know when to stop. In this rendition, the aluminum siding was removed and replaced with cedar shingles and new roofing shingles were applied on the roof. The fake diamond pane windows were replaced with traditional 6 over one windows and the window casings were put back where they were removed on the 2nd floor. **Scope of Work:** * New roof shingles. * New shingle siding. * New 6/1 windows and curtains. * New window casing. * Remove front gate. [⌊brown dutch colonial⌉⌊brown dutch colonial⌉[ Alternative color scheme. ## 1887 Workers Cottage Makeover _click on photos to enlarge_ [⌊workers cottage makeover⌉⌊workers cottage makeover⌉[ Before [⌊portico shutters makeover⌉⌊portico shutters makeover⌉[ New shutters, windows, and portico.. This is an old workers cottage. This simple small house had its character destroyed over the years by homeowners bad updating. Here the large picture window was removed and replaced with two double-hung windows to match the window above. The unsightly aluminum awning was removed and replaced with a portico. The brick was painted. **Scope of Work:** * Picture window removed and replaced with smaller windows. * New portico. * New period paint colors. ## Not sure you need to improve curb appeal for your house? ### 󠀁[Send us a photo ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/contact.php)󠁿 and we will let you know if we can help.