Curb Appeal: The Best of the Northeast

“I was immediately drawn to this home’s elegant look, even though it was covered in overgrown vines," says homeowner Kate Wendt. "The wide entry, the symmetrical windows and the columns make it seem so stately.” Spanish-style roof tiles combined with stucco walls and a boxy Colonial floor plan make this home unique for the area. To play up the roof, Kate painted the door and its trim — which are original to the house — a similar rusty shade.

If Kate didn’t trim the Virginia creeper that spreads across the exterior every year, it would cover the whole house! The pots on the steps contain eye-catching combos of yellow and fuchsia mums, spider plants, coleuses and jasmine.

Location: Newton, MA

Built in: 1913

Size: 2,877 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Georgian Green, (trim) White Opulence, (shutters and porch floor) Wethersfield Moss and (front door) Sedona Clay, Benjamin Moore

“This home was just what we wanted: a beautiful Victorian with lots of potential. Your classic money pit!," joke homeowners Laura Riley and Scott Henderson. "Restoring it has taken us 23 years and counting.”  Painted latticework below the porch stands out against the blue siding. A darker blue paint calls attention to the bands of shingles that “stripe” the house. The slim pair of doors, original to the house, are painted the same shade.

A shadblow serviceberry tree grows in the middle of the yard, and white marguerite daisies bloom to the left.

Location: Newton, MA

Built in: 1871

Size: 3,400 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Hamilton Blue, (trim) Navajo White, (front doors and stripes) Van Deusen Blue and (latticework) Georgian Brick, Benjamin Moore

“Since we built our home in a charming, architecturally diverse town, we didn’t want it to look brand-new," say homeowners Amy Cody and John Furst. "Design choices like the sloped roofline and the stone facade and chimney give it a sense of history.” Lattice-pattern grilles also add historic charm to the bumped-out windows on the right. Stained a purplish hue, the front door stands out behind the white storm door.

Pink, lavender and white mums and purple ornamental cabbage complement the eggplant-color front door. The yard includes Endless Summer hydrangea, alpine Japanese spirea and dwarf Hinoki cypress shrubs.

Location: Newton, MA

Built in: 2011

Size: 3,000 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Medici Grey and (trim) White on White, Glidden; (front door stain) Plum Island, Cabot

“We tore down the moldy 1950s ranch house that stood here to build our own contemporary Craftsman," say homeowners Risa and Steve Aronson. "There’s nothing more welcoming than its open front porch.”  Mahogany columns set on stone-veneer bases help define the open porch. The couple splurged on a copper roof above the porch that will develop a beautiful patina over time. Pre-stained shingles in two different colors and profiles raise the charm quotient, but neighbors know the house by its yellow rockers, which the Aronsons bought to add color to the front porch.

The front yard features hardy plants, including Emerald Green arborvitae trees and ornamental grasses, Knockout roses and hostas. In early fall, the Aronsons fill planters on the front steps with orange and yellow mums.

Location: Newton, MA

Built in: 2013

Size: 3,900 sq. ft

Paint color: (trim) Palais White, Behr