Copy the Curb Appeal: Bergen County, N.J.
HGTV Magazine editors took a spin through this northern New Jersey area and found charming houses worth a closer look.
By:
Jaimie Dalessio Clayton
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Suburban Living
Linda and Bill Bradley purchased their 1920s home in 2000. "We can't take credit for the red door, but it's one of the things we love most about the house, along with all of the flowers in front."
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Front Door
The 15 windowpanes on this door let in plenty of natural light. Exterior French 1515 door, from $350, simpsondoor.com, painted Awning Red by Behr
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Laurel Hedge
Tall and dense, skip laurel hedges are often planted for privacy (they grow about 10 to 12 feet tall). Here they screen the front windows and make a backdrop for the flower beds.
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Lamppost
A built-in crossbar comes in handy for hanging flowerpots. 3-light lantern-style outdoor pendant light, post light and lamppost, $350, plowandhearth.com
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House Numbers
Painted ceramic tiles make any style home look more charming. Mission Talavera house numbers, $8 each, finecraftsimports.com
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Leafy Plants
Hosta plants mark either side of the steps. The popular garden plant, which sometimes has heart-shaped leaves, is easy to grow, especially in shady spots. Plant hostas alone, or with ferns for a lusher look.
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Paint Colors
Siding: Pewter Mug by Behr; Trim: Swan Wing by Behr; Shutters: Beluga by Behr; Front door: Awning Red by Behr
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Flower Beds
The Bradleys planted several flowers in their yard, including pink New Guinea impatiens (plant after the last spring frost), and blue hydrangeas and pink astilbe (plant both in spring or fall). The resulting landscape looks colorful and coordinated but not too predictable.
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Pop of Color
Jennifer and Brian Burchell say, "We love our English Tudor's storybook charm. Moving here from a larger home made us discover less really is more." The home was built in 1929 and bought in 2011.
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Japanese Maple
With its reddish-purple leaves, this Bloodgood Japanese maple tree, on the far right, is a standout in an all-green yard.
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Shutters
These vinyl shutters are easier to clean and less prone to warping than wood ones. You can paint them any color. Builders Edge 14" x 39" Board-N-Batten hinge shutters, $59 for a pair, homedepot.com, painted Crimson by Benjamin Moore.
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Shutter Dogs
The Burchells love the look of wood shutters with iron shutter dogs to keep them open. (Left to right:) Hand-forged iron S shutter dog, $22 for a set of 2, signaturehardware.com; Small shutter dogs, $17 for a set of 2, hardwaresource.com
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Roof Shingles
Get the look of cedar shingles without the expense. This asphalt option is about a third the cost of real cedar. Landmark Pro in max def resawn shake, from about $100 per square foot, certainteed.com for buying info
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Paint Colors
Stucco: Standish White by Benjamin Moore; Trim: Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore; Shutters: Crimson by Benjamin Moore
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Stacked Stone and Hanging Planter
The dry-stack stone wall made up of Pennsylvania fieldstones matches the stone arch over the gate. In the hanging basket above: purple petunias and pink million bells. Plant them in spring and they'll bloom through the fall.
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American Flag
Showing patriotic spirit never goes out of style. Hang an American flag by the front door with a wall-mounted bracket.
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Unique Details
Maryann and Jim McNamara bought their 1935 home in 1986. "The little details of our home delight us the most: the Juliet balcony, the front door with side windows and the stone walkway."
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Front Door
Raised molding and a window add character to a single-panel door. Belleville oak textured 1-panel door half lite with clear glass, $646, homedepot.com, painted Rodeo by Benjamin Moore
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Potted Plants
A good combo to perk up your front steps all year: terra-cotta pots filled with tuberous begonia, variegated ivy and spike plants.
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Flower-Wrapped Lamppost
This post is solar-powered, and it has a square planter at its base. Grow a clematis vine to wrap up and around the post. Pretty! PSW solar lamppost with 15 1/2" x 15 1/2" planter in white, $155.50, sears.com
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House Numbers
These simple house numbers have a clean, classic style that looks great against a white home. Atlas Homewares traditionalist house numbers, $19 each, thehardwarehut.com
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Paint Colors
Siding and trim: Spanish White by Benjamin Moore; Shutters: Rodeo by Benjamin Moore; Front door: Northern Cliffs by Benjamin Moore
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Porch Light
A black lantern with clear glass panels is centered above the front porch. It complements other traditional details on the house, including the vintage-inspired hardware on the door. Olde Bronze 20" outdoor wall light, $60, destinationlighting.com
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Green Landscaping
The McNamaras went easy on flowers and instead chose several varieties of plants, shrubs and groundcover, including Sedum ‘Autumn Joy,' Montgomery blue spruce and ornamental grasses. The result is a spectrum of greens and lots of texture.
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Classic Style With Personal Touches
Emily and Nick Spahr moved into their 1920-built house in 2008 and say, "Our home has all of its original casement windows, which adds a lot of character. The blue shutters are another favorite touch."
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Hinoki Cypress
The spiral-growing tree to the left of the front door is an evergreen native to Japan (where hinoki means fire tree). Compact breeds are popular as hedges in gardens.
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Lantern
The hand-forged iron lantern hanging above the front door has a shapely pagoda top. Newton Collection 19 1/2"-tall outdoor wall light, $377, lampsplus.com
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Paint Colors
Siding: Mega Greige by Sherwin-Williams; Trim: Warm Stone by Sherwin-Williams; Shutters: Take Five by Sherwin-Williams; Front door: Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams
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Planted Urn and Flowerbeds
Pink New Guinea impatiens fill the flower beds on both sides and at the end of the walkway, packing the yard with color. The black urn on the front steps is filled with purple geraniums, trailing sweet potato vine and pink begonias.
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Address Plaque
Instead of screwing house numbers onto the brick, the Spahrs planted an arched address plaque in one of their flower beds. Two-sided arch lawn address plaque in black and gold finish, $119, organizeit.com
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Decorative Bunny
A bunny was a Christmas gift from Emily's mom, but you can find lawn ornaments of almost any animal. Pick your favorite! Rabbit statue, $61.50, lawnornamentsandfountains.com
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