Have you gotten bit by the summer bug yet? This one is so much better then the winter bug, which is what we call cold and flue season here. The Summer bug is when the sun is out, the windows are open and you cannot help yourself but be outside. I have a case of this bug bad! I want to spend all of my time outside, and need to be forced to come in when the streetlights come on, just like when I was a kid. Today I am introducing you to Curb Appeal Challenge, the before to the front yard.
This new challenge will be going on for the next few weeks, all about adding curb appeal to my home. Not just mine, but a big group of talented bloggers are all redoing their front yard. From massive overhauls, so simple updates. Each lady is sharing their before pictures today. You will be able to see their blogs and go to their links at the bottom of this post.
I shared my backyard patio reveal just yesterday on the blog. It is fresh, bright, bold and sooo relaxing. The space just oozes comfort and we have proclaimed this our new living room all season long. I have not shared any of the project and DIY steps featured in that post yet. First, I have to get this curb appeal ball rolling. Let you all see the hot mess that is the front of my house. I want it to match my backyard in appeal.
As you can see, I have a long way to go in regards to my front yard. Which is really bad, because I live in a nice neighborhood, with very nice neighbors that spend hours perfecting their yards. I am that house. The one bringing the rest of them down.
OK, I am being a little dramatic. I think that my home is like a Monet, to quote Cher from the movie Clueless “full-on Monet. It’s like a painting, see? From far away, it’s OK, but up close, it’s a big old mess.” My house is OK-ish from far away. The architecture of the home is cute, the columns on the front porch are beautiful. I have great green grass, but up close the flower beds are over-run by weeds, the columns are peeling the paint off and the front door is in a sad state. See, it is a Monet. You get extra credit if you know the movie and quote I gave about it. 🙂
The front door is going to be painted to match the interior. I painted it a dark gray a few weeks ago. It has been a slow process because I had to wait for it to stop snowing before I could paint the exterior of the door.
The dark green color of the door matches the shutters on the house. Neither has ever been updated. I am not a fan of this color, nothing wrong with it but I want to give the front door a dark gray makeover. Get rid of this faded color.
I also want to either replace the shutters or paint them a different color. I am either going to go with the same gray as the front door or paint them white. Our house is a light brown color or beige. I am not sure if I want to keep the shutters dark or go super light. Let me know what you think I should do!
These columns are going to be repainted white, they are beautiful and I love how the look with my arched front porch. But they are in need of a little revamp.
To the right of my front porch are three Hydrangea bushes that were given to me for Mothers day a few years ago. It was such a sweet gift because they are my favorite flower. I am impatiently waiting for them to bloom this year!
This is another sad feature to my front area. We have had this bench forever, it was given to us secondhand from family. I cannot believe with my decorating obsessed self, and with this being in the front of my home (where everyone can see it) that I have let it get this bad. I plan to either repair and paint this, or replace it with something else. It needs some repairs and I am not sure if it is salvageable as of right now.
I like to have a seating area in the front of our house, my kids like to play in the driveway or on the street. But I am a Mommy that cannot let her kids be alone, ever so I Helicopter parent from a distance. All view able and I am able to step in when needed.
The biggest overhaul will be these two planters. The one by my mailbox and the center one. We have tried small fixes, new plants, but never done it the right way. I am currently doing research on the best plants to use, with varying heights and all that can last in -30 temperatures. Yes, it gets that cold here in Winter, it amazes me any plants (or people) survive that frigid cold. What are some of your favorite plants or bushes to put in large flower beds?
I believe I have covered all of what I am going to do to add some much needed curb appeal to my home. Let’s see what the other blogging friends of mine are going to do!
The other blog’s linking up for this Curb Appeal Blog Hop Challenge
I don’t have a huge to-do list for this Curb Appeal Challenge, the before to the front yard. But to recap for you all my plans are-
Paint the columns
Paint the front door
Possible new screen door
Paint or get new window shutters
New light fixtures in porch and on either side of the garage
Fix or replace the front bench
Redo two flower beds
Nothing too much, I am eager to get moving on it. I am not a patient person, and once I decide on something I want to start on it right away. I was ready to go with this and get to working on it last night, but my kids had their normal activities, homework, had to make dinner, blah, blah, blah…. why must responsibilities get in the way of my home decorating, redoing and DIYing?!!!
Let me know what color you think my shutters should be. Also any tips or recommendations for plants in my two flower beds would be amazing!
My whole yard is in need of a makeover. I keep asking my husband to do something about it, but I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and go out there myself.
Do it! Doing little things might inspire your husband to help out!
Looks forward to seeing the finish to this project! Haha, love you said you are that house that lets all the others down 😛 I think shutters wise I love white but I’m boring and love everything white. Working of that cause all white is a bit too boring though it is my absolute Fav! 🙂
I love painting with white too, it is such a fresh and crisp look to things. Thanks for your input!
Wow I can’t wait to see it when it’s all done. I admit our yard looks awful we really need to start working on it soon.
I have been working on it for us to not be “that” house 🙂
It sounds like you have a lot of projects plans! Can’t wait to see how your project turns out! This blog hop together is going to be fun!
Thanks so much! I am happy you are enjoying this curb appeal challenge!
Wow, thats a ton of work, I am like you, I want to get it all done now! Its going to look beautiful, I love your back yard! I am inspired by your time management how you get everything in with kids and all. My kids are in college now and when they were little there is no way I could blog. Maria
Ha ha, thanks so much for the compliment on time management. I like to stay busy and my kids enjoy playing together. So when they are off playing I sneak off to work on things.
I need some serious curb appeal. Love your patio! I’m sure you will rock the front yard.
Thanks!
Funny that you mentioned having to wait for the snow to stop so you could paint. We have had so much rain we can’t do anything outside!
I can’t wait to paint our door…time for a refresh!
I did get the planters done though and they are beautiful!
Ugh, rain is so hard to deal with this time of year. You just want nice weather! I hope things have improved and you can enjoy the warmer temperatures now!
I need some curb appeal upgrade. My landscaping needs to be redone, my deck needs a new table and more plants! Love your patio!
Thanks! I hope you found some inspiration with this curb appeal challenge.
Wow! Can you come do my house next?! Your curb appeal is spot on.
Thanks!
I can’t wait to see the finished results. I’ve always loved seeing shutters on windows but you’re right, that color doesn’t do anything for it.
Thank you! I am so happy you are enjoying this curb appeal challenge! I agree, that dark green needs to go!
wow sounds like you are gonna be busy this simmer but good thing you have a plan and know what needs done – it will be worth it when you get it all done
Thanks, it will be sooo worth it!
OOOH a nice tawny color would be lovely. I don’t know much about plants for the front but you nailed this.
Thanks so much for the idea!
Weather is so hard on outside furniture. I like the gray door. Good luck w/your shutter color. 🙂
I love the idea of putting gray for outdoor furniture!
I love your plans! I can’t wait to see it all come together. I used to have that “house” in my neighborhood. When we actually did a hire a crew for landscaping, they thought our house was abandoned, so I can relate. All your updates will be amazing. Good luck!
Oh no! They thought it was an abandoned house, that is funny and horrible at the same time :/ I would love to hire a landscape team, but it is DIY for us for now.
I love that hanging planter box you have! I have a set of chairs that look very similar to your rocker – I’m excited to see whether or not you salvage yours! Can’t wait to see the finished space! PS. I’d vote for a fairly deep but vibrant blue on your shutters and I’d mix it with the yellow you’re already using!
Thanks for the input on the shutters! That is a great color that I had not considered.
It’s looking great so far! Can’t wait to see it all done. We just painted our shutters last year black and boy, did it make a huge difference to the look of our house!
I am so happy to hear you like your black shutters!
Now this is a challenge I totally need to get on. I have zero curb appeal. It’s a decent house, but blah out there.
My house is the same way! It is nice to see it coming together.
This is going to look great once you give it a lot of love. I know what you mean by something looking great far away and then up close you can see all the chips of paint, overgrown plants, etc. I am excited to see how this looks all spruced up! Your backyard looks GREAT, perfect for entertaining!!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Thanks so much Carrie! I am loving this challenge and seeing how everyone’s projects are coming together!
I agree with Tonya C. Black is a great color for your shutters. Those two colors compliment each other beautifully and the gray door will really finish it off.
Thanks so much! I love getting others opinions on this!
Your home is lovely and the outdoor project, by the looks of your beautiful inside wil be a snap. My yard was beautiful and our puppy destroyed the grass. that is my spring project… I can’t wait to see your finished work
Oh wow, thank you so much about complimenting my house! I hope you are able to fix your grass issue.
I was just looking at my yard earlier this week thinking we needed to spruce it up. It makes such a different, and gives it a uplift and curb appeal. Thanks for sharing your ideas.
It does make such a difference!
I think black shutters would look really classy! Good luck with your choice!
Thanks so much for your opinion, I am loving the black shutter idea too!