Curb Appeal: The Best of California

"This was a wealthy town in Victorian times; a lot of houses, like ours, were built around that period," say homeowners Susan and Bill Arbios. Many homes’ shutters are just for show, but these are fully functional. They’re made of colored resin. In the ’30s, the stucco and the Dutch-inspired roof were added to make the exterior look less old-fashioned. "We love how unique it is!"

The homeowners planted wedding bells, a type of rose, along the walkway for their 20th anniversary a few years ago. Other roses in the yard include Ebb Tide (known for their smoky purple color and strong fragrance of cloves) and New Year (which don’t have thorns, so they’re great for picking and arranging). "We usually have four or five bouquets of flowers from our own garden in the house," they say.

Location: Healdsburg, CA

Built in: 1867

Size: 1,800 sq. ft.

Paint color: Antique White by Benjamin Moore

When we bought the house, it was yellow with a white door and looked so ’80s. We had to change it, but we didn’t want a white house like everyone else," say homeowners Rob and Erin Morris. "Now we get notes in our mailbox asking what our colors are. We’re happy to share!" The house had board-and-batten siding long before it was trendy, but the roof used to be totally different. Rob and his dad, a general contractor, extended the eaves to give it more of a Craftsman feel.

The metal planters behind the Aidrondack chairs are water troughs from Tractor Supply Co. They are filled with a mix of pink ice plants, bushveld kalanchoe and jade. The next project on their list: replacing the grass with something more drought-resistant, like reed grass or orange New Zealand sedge.

Location: Healdsburg, CA

Built in: 1986

Size: 1,618 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Hale Navy and (door) Damask Gold, Benjamin Moore

We bought this house because it’s close to our business, but we love the history: It’s one of the few Colonial-style homes in this area and was built by a blacksmith," say homeowners Richard and Alison Crowell. "We didn’t change the façade at all." The lanterns on the front of the house still use gas and have real flickering flames. Keeping with its historic look, gray composite tiles give the roof old-fashioned charm, and they’re fireproof — important in California.

"The roses were here when we moved in, but in bad shape," say Richard and Alison. They hired a rosarian (rose specialist), who nursed them back to health. These iceburg roses look dainty, but they’re disease- and mildew-resistant. The two crape myrtle trees thrive in the heat.

Location: Healdsburg, CA

Built in: 1870s

Size: 5,000 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Moonmist, (trim) White Snow and (door) Tanager, Sherwin-Williams

“We love the colors of our home’s exterior. The soft blue looks pretty against the black shutters and front door,” say homeowners Stephanie and Jamie Neilson. A portico with four round, fluted columns makes this stucco Dutch Colonial even more elegant. Black awnings with white trim and open sides echo the house’s shutters and shade the west-facing front windows from late afternoon sun.

Four ficus trees evenly spaced across the front of the house thrive in partial sunlight. The flower bed blooms with gerbera daisies, sweet alyssum, tulips and pansies. In Pasadena’s warm climate, they blossom from late February through November.

Location: Pasadena, CA

Built in: 1927

Paint colors: (house) Celtic Gray and (shutters and front door) Black Suede, Behr

“Our place used to be off-white, like practically every other house on the block," say homeowners Brooke and Bob Nickman. "Once we painted it vibrant colors and planted a lush garden, it stood out." And check out the clay tile roof. Characteristic of Spanish architecture, it's made with barrel tiles that fit together to create a rippled effect. “The multicolor terra-cotta adds a lot of depth to the house — and there’s almost no maintenance,” says Brooke. "Now neighbors tell us it’s a destination point on their walks!”

When the couple bought the house in 1997, they completely transformed the yard from a plain lawn with a few small trees to a beautiful hodgepodge of plants, aka “quilted gardening.” Says Brooke: “Seeing them change every season is one of my favorite things about living here.”

Location: Los Angeles

Built in: 1930

Size: 1,550 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Byrd Beige, (trim) Ming Jade and (shutters) Mayan Green, Benjamin Moore

“My neighborhood is a mix of styles that were popular in LA in the 1920s. I love the juxtaposition of California Craftsman and Tudor Revival," says homeowner Laura Vender. "Repainting the house taupe — it used to be yellow — brought out its uniqueness.” The pediment’s decorative trim is a charming Tudor twist. “I made it a different color than the siding to highlight it,” says Laura. She pulled the gorgeous purple door color from the patterned tiles on the walkway. “Everybody knows my house as ‘the one with the lavender door!’ ”

When Laura bought the house, her yard was mostly grass which meant a lot of watering. She put in a variety of SoCal-friendly plants: French lavender, ivy leaf geranium, iceberg rose, Italian cypress, star jasmine and mystic spires blue salvia.

Location: Los Angeles

Built in: 1920

Size: 2,100 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Briarwood, (woodwork) Stone Brown, (trim) Moonlight White and (front door) Violet Stone, Benjamin Moore

“When we got it, it was a plain box that had grid windows — along with a giant hole in the roof and tons of water damage," say Sam and Navine Karim. "We tore it down to the studs and built a contemporary home. Details like aluminum trim and a diagonal concrete path make it cool.”

The home’s neutral stucco lets the garden shine. Sam and Navine included feathery California native plants to soften the shape of the house, all drought-tolerant. Mystic spires blue salvia and lavender near the porch plus clevelandii salvia in front of the cedar gate bring in touches of purple. Kangaroo paw and yellow lantana next to the sidewalk add peppy pops. “It’s a magical spot,” says Sam. They even planted a lemon tree. “Navine and I are from colder places, so being able to grow our own fruit never gets old,” says Sam. “I use ours to make limoncello.”

Location: Los Angeles

Built in: 1926

Size: 1,850 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Silver Marlin, Behr; (front door) Heritage Red, Benjamin Moore

“The architect who designed many of the homes in the historic Hollywoodland neighborhood did our house, too, so that old Hollywood feel really comes through," say homeowners Elizabeth and Scott Rosenbaum. "Arched doors, tile steps and window grilles on the second floor amp up the Mediterranean flair.”

When the couple bought the house in 2014, out went high trees and a fence that hid the home; in came plants that show it off. Boxwood and salvia line the path to the front door, while bright bougainvillea give a punch of pink. Towering Italian cypress along the front of the house highlight the 8-foot-6-inch-tall arched doors. The front door is oak and original to the house. The metal grille, intricate carvings and curved shapes are classic Mediterranean style. A potted kumquat tree to the right is a traditional Chinese sign of good luck and prosperity.

Location: Los Angeles

Built in: 1926

Size: 3,704 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Whisper White, Behr; (trim) Mink, Benjamin Moore

When homeowner Sheila Sijtsema inherited the cottage from her father, friends told her to sell it to developers because it was so dilapidated. “But I was up for the challenge,” she says. She spent three years renovating. The composite siding is nearly 40 years old, but it gets a fresh coat of paint every few years. A new door was essential. Sheila had the redwood floor painted to match the siding and added railings (there were none before). The teal door is a recent upgrade. It used to be dark green, but Sheila wanted to give the house some coastal flair: It’s five blocks from the beach.

Lush landscaping doesn’t have to include grass. Sheila participated in a turf-removal rebate program that gave her money to replace her lawn with drought-tolerant plants. Caribbean fantasy dahlia, mystic spires blue salvia and sonora black-eyed Susan attract birds, bees and butterflies. Petunias on the porch pop next to the cool teal door.

Location: Huntington Beach, CA

Built in: 1934

Size: 1,100 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house and porch floor) Svelte Sage and (front door) Lagoon, Sherwin-Williams

Striped gables add a fun twist to this Craftsman bungalow, a popular house style in Huntington Beach, California. Homeowners Blake and Lauren Orgill had white slats of wood laid over a black background to give the illusion of more detailed trim. The gray paint color took the Orgills months to find. It turned out the perfect shade was on a nearby house: “We wanted a subtle, beachy gray. One day Blake called and said, ‘I found it!’ ” says Lauren. She knocked on the door and asked the homeowner the paint name. “She was so flattered.” A Dutch door built by a local woodworker is the cats’ favorite perch when the top is open. These split doors originated in the 17th century on farmhouses in the Netherlands as a way to let air and sunlight in but keep animals and dust out. Dutch settlers brought the doors to America, and now they’re beloved for their quirky charm.

Gerbera daisies, creeping Jenny and impatiens are a fun mix in the planters by the door: They all have different growing habits. The staggered path was a happy accident: The concrete slabs didn’t fit as planned, so the owners turned them in a different direction!

Location: Huntington Beach, CA

Built in: 1950

Size: 1,756 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Industrial Age and (front door) Gothic Revival Green, Dunn-Edwards

The house style is one of a kind. “We call it a postmodern industrial beach house,” says homeowner Mike Jennett. He and his wife, Kim, recently renovated and had new siding installed, which features horizontal planks on the bottom and board and batten on the top. “We didn’t want it to look like anything else in the area,” he says. The roof is black metal, which gives the house a modern touch and stands up to the elements. “The salty ocean air around here wreaks havoc on roofing, so we chose a material we knew would last,” says Mike. Sliding doors on the front of the house disappear into the wall when they’re open. This cool feature makes the patio and living room feel like one big space, says Mike. “It’s great when we have guests over.” Mike and Kim call the balcony off the main bedroom on the second floor their personal oasis.

French lavender, which smells great year-round, and inch plant are in the bed out front. Spurge grows in the rectangular planter on the wall. Because of Southern California’s dry climate, many homeowners have embraced xeriscaping (landscaping that needs little-to-no water). It often features succulents, native grasses and other drought-tolerant plants.

Location: Huntington Beach, CA

Built in: 1986

Size: 2,250 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Dragonfly, Behr; (front door) try Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams for a similar look

“Everyone thinks our house has been here for 100 years — exactly what we were going for when we built it," say homeowners Emily and Micah Baginski. "The standing seam metal roof and cedar-stained Douglas fir beams remind us of old California farmhouses, while the smooth stucco column bases give a modern touch.” Emily and Micah designed the extra-wide (40 inches, to be exact) Douglas fir door to fit with the rest of the home’s architecture. The triple-pane window and dentil molding emphasize the Craftsman style. Adirondack chairs are especially inviting with funky striped pillows. “It’s where we sit and watch the kids on the swing,” says Micah.

“Most of our yard is under the cover of a Japanese zelkova tree,” says Micah, “so I spent a lot of time scrolling through Pinterest for shade-tolerant plants.” He landed on patches of shaggy Japanese forest grass and spiky foxtail fern. Fortnight lilies border the concrete path and bloom ivory flowers from spring through fall.

Location: Sacramento, CA

Built in: 2016

Size: 2,956 sq. ft.

Paint color: Ultra Pure White, Behr

“Our Georgian Colonial looked kind of plain at first, though we loved the symmetry," say homeowners Janet and Jim Cassie. "We leaned into its traditional style by adding a portico, painting it yellow and replacing the louvered shutters with paneled ones.” Tall planters filled with yellow dahlias give the entrance even more presence. “We often clip off blooms to use in bouquets,” says Janet.

“We wanted our yard to play up the house’s formal look,” says Janet. The camellia trees were already there when she and Jim bought the home in 1998. They planted a neat row of boxwood with impatiens in front and hydrangeas in back, and put in an elegant brick path. A gable roof portico makes the home stately. Says Janet, “Our neighbors across the street told us that one reason they bought their house is because they love looking at it!”

Location: Sacramento, CA

Built in: 1931

Size: 3,200 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Banana Cream and (trim) Pure White, Sherwin-Williams; (front door) Forbidden Red, Behr

“We were on the fence about buying a home until we found this one. With its cheerful rustic colors, charming brick path and lively landscaping, it has endless character,” say homeowners Jamie Bolden and Ashish Shantaram. They also adored the existing orange hue and dragonfly knocker on the front door. “Every single time we walk in the door, it feels exciting,” says Ashish.

As for the landscaping, “We barely had to change a thing!” says Ashish. “There are quite a few green thumbs in our neighborhood, and this mix of plants makes our house cool and eclectic. They bloom at different times of the year — there’s always something interesting to look at.”

Location: Sacramento, CA

Built in: 1938

Size: 1,323 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Majolica Green and (front door) Armagnac, Sherwin-Williams; (trim) Ultra White, Valspar

Debbi and Randy Hoffman's home has all of its original features. They bought it in 1999, and say "other than the arbor and picket fences we added, it looks just as it did in the '20s." The Hoffmans love the warm, weathered wood-shingle siding, even though it requires more upkeep than brick or stucco, since it's prone to mold and chipping paint. A steeply pitched gable has the grand feel of Tudor-style architecture. The roofline allows for two shed dormers, which bump out from the roof, on the left. Their multipane design mimics the windows on the rest of the house.

Dark red brick ties in with the house's chimney and gives the front yard a tidy, classic look. A lush flower bed bordering just one side of the walkway makes it feel less formal. Mounted in front of the door, a simple arbor draped with 'Cecile Brunner' climbing roses provides a cottagey touch. Trimmed into a round shape, the tree adds an element of grandeur to the entry. In cooler regions, ficus trees are often kept indoors as houseplants, but they thrive outdoors in the warm California climate.

Location: Pasadena, CA

Built in: 1922

Paint colors: (house) Agate Green, (trim) Swiss Coffee and (shutters and front door) Black, Dunn-Edwards

Carrie and Eric Ancker bought their home a century after it was originally built, but you'd never know from its maintained exterior. "One of our first projects was swapping the front door," they say. A door with divided-lite windows (this one has nine) is quintessential Craftsman. "It captures the home's Craftsman style, but the color is a surprising twist."

The deep front porch means there's plenty of room for a two-seater Adirondack bench cushioned with all-weather pillows. Less is more for this railing. It's painted crisp white to match the trim, and the simple wood style echoes the front door's geometric multipane window.

In the flower beds, an all-white scheme always looks fresh. The porch is bordered by beds filled with 'Crown White' pansies (left) and baby 'Iceberg' rose shrubs, both of which bloom from spring to fall. The bright red planter is even poppier with white cyclamen, a perennial that grows in many climates.

Location: Pasadena, CA

Built in: 1911

Paint colors: (house) Gray Pearl and (trim) Warm White, Dunn-Edwards; (front door) try Adriatic Sea by Sherwin-Williams for a similar look

Michele and Michael Downing purchased their home in 1999, but painted their front door a cool shade of cranberry just a few years ago. "It looks classic, just like the house's Colonial style," they say. Another classic detail, the decorative pediments over the windows are made from high-density urethane (aka foam), so they won't warp or crack. The painted wood columns, which are original to the house, make it look stately and dramatic. But they’re functional, too: They support the portico.

Understated concrete planters hold juniper topiaries, which stay green year round, and red cyclamen edge the flower beds. They're offset by white cyclamen and 'Iceberg' roses, which give off a light, sweet scent. The pretty shrub, in the far right of the flower bed, blooms vivid fuchsia flowers from early fall to late spring.

Location: Pasadena, CA

Built in: 1923

Paint colors: (house) Bunglehouse Gray, Sherwin-Williams; (trim) Swiss Coffee, Dunn-Edwards; (shutters) Black and (front door) Rembrandt Red, Fine Paints of Europe