Driveway Makeover

Curb Appeal : Episode CRB-611 -- More Projects »
Homeowners Cindy and Gary Traverso bought their traditional suburban home because they felt it would be the perfect place to raise their family. However, the front of the home contains a nondescript yard and cold colors. They want to give their home a warmer welcome to visitors. They've asked landscape designer Cynthia Egger to bring inviting qualities to their home's facade.

The Makeover

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Before the makeover.
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After the makeover.

Egger begins her transformation of the Traverso's home at its facade. Here's how she does it:

  • Applies a warmer color palate with paint, changing the cool gray to an inviting tan and white trim.
  • Adds shutters painted dark green, providing a contrasting color.
  • Installs a new garage door in crisp almond, warming the facade.
  • Plants drought tolerant flowers and bushes around flagstone paths that lead to the front door and through the garden.
  • Repairs the cracked, gray concrete driveway and brightens its appearance with a rough stone stamping and warm, earthen color stain.
  • Installs new nickel finished fixtures and bold topiaries at the front entry--inviting the visitor up to the front door.

The Virtual Makeover

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Virtual makeover

Egger uses a computer software program to take this makeover to the next level, a virtual design for the house that the owner might want to incorporate at a later date. Here's what she envisions:

  • Installing a pergola over the front entry to tie the discordant areas together at the roofline.
  • Installing an overhanging trellis with bougainvilla over the new garage.
  • Replacing the flagstone pateh with the same concrete finish as the driveway.
  • Placing a circular bench around the olive tree and a mosaic birdbath to make the front yard a place to sit or play for the final dose of curb appeal.
Resources
shutters - Rafael Lumber
Rafael Lumber
930 Andersen Dr.
San Rafael, CA 94901
Phone: 415-453-3043

light fixtures, door knocker - Home Depot
The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc.
Website: www.homedepot.com

mailbox, doorbell - Restoration Hardware
Restoration Hardware
Website: www.restorationhardware.com
Guests
Fernando Ballarena
Landscape Installer
Phone: 415-472-6476

Cynthia Egger
Landscape Designer
Cynthia Egger Landscape Design
San Rafael, CA
Phone: 415-460-0858
E-mail: cynthia@eggerlandscape.com
Website: www.eggerlandscape.com

Marc DiZinno
Contractor, Super-Krete
1300 N. Johnson #105
El Cajon, CA 92020
Phone: 619-401-8282

Kyle Rasmusen
Painter, Kyle Rasmusen Painting
1123 Morningside Dr.
Napa, CA 94558
Phone: 707-258-1911
Email: RazPaints@aol.com

Tim Rice
Contractor
Rice Construction
Novato, CA
Phone: 415-892-4884

Allan Berger
Garage door installer, Martin Garage Doors
PO Box 27437
Salt Lake City, UT 84127-0437
Toll Free Phone: 800-388-9310
Fax: 800-688-8182
URL: www.martindoor.com
Also in this Episode