Copy the Curb Appeal: Boise, Idaho

“This Colonial wasn’t even for sale, but we loved its high portico and giant yard so much that we wrote letters to the owners until they let us do a walk-through. Eventually our enthusiasm won them over,” say homeowners Paula and John Kluksdal.

Original to the home, the curved portico gives it a stately look. “I like that it softens up the straight lines on the exterior,” says Paula.

Built: 1919

Bought: 2015

Size: 8,473 sq. ft.

“We live in a historic preservation district, so the palettes in our neighborhood are traditional,” says Paula. On their house, the black door and shutters—all original—create a striking contrast to the white wood siding. (Jeld-Wen 6-Panel wood door)

Carbon by Behr

Ultra Pure White by Behr

Ladybugs coir doormat

Traditional 6"-tall brass house numbers in oil-rubbed-bronze finish

Minka-Lavery Hanford Pointe 9"-wide polymer and glass pendant in oil-rubbed-bronze finish

Lion 9 3/4" x 5" powder-coated-iron door knocker

Two matching black resin urns flanking the front door are brimming with a blend of sweet alyssum and salvia in white, and calibrachoa and geraniums in red. They all need four hours of sunlight a day, so they thrive in this bright spot. (Lucas 23"-tall resin urn)

"The previous owner had painted the house taupe with cream trim, and the three types of siding—clapboard, board-and-batten, and cedar shakes—blended together. Our new two-shades-of-gray-plus-white-trim paint scheme makes these special details pop," say homeowners Catie and Will Wardwell.

To make the porch more polished, the couple used sandstone blocks to build raised garden beds on both sides of the steps.

Built: 1947

Bought: 2014

Size: 3,180 sq. ft.

“When we bought the house, the door was stained wood and it totally faded into the background,” says Catie. She painted it red orange—“like a sunset, so it’s not
too pumpkin-y.” (36863 Craftsman 3-Panel wood door with dentil shelf)

Hearty Orange by Sherwin-Williams

Classic French Gray by Sherwin-Williams

Gauntlet Gray by Sherwin-Williams

Extra White by Sherwin-Williams

First Impression Tufted Check coir doormat

BUY IT: Hayneedle, $56

Modern Avalon 4 1/2"-tall zinc alloy house numbers in aged bronze finish

For contemporary charm, Catie and Will chose metal-framed gray woven chairs, apired with polka-dot pillows. (Huron aluminum cord chair with cushion)

Polka Dot 18 1/2" x 18 1/2" polyester pillows in black

Modway Flow 23"H x 23 1/2"-diameter fiberglass table in red

The yellow pot on the side table is filled with Kong coleus and Mexican mint. (Craftware 9 3/4"-tall terra-cotta planter in yellow)

Tapered fiberglass planters by the front door include a “Hello there!” mix of green sweet potato vines, fuzzy-leaf Silver Crest plectranthus, and bright Arizona Sun gaillardias. (Root and Stock Windsor 14"-tall fiberglass planter in black)

“We were drawn to our home’s classic, timeless look, with its symmetrical shape, simple portico, and shutter-clad windows. The pretty blue color made it even more irresistible," say homeowners Susanne and McKay Cunningham.

The path has bricks set with mortar so they won’t shift over time. The same brick borders the beds, making the entrance seem forever put-together.

Built: 1935

Bought: 2014

Size: 2,270 sq. ft.

For a fresh kick still in step with traditional Colonial style, the couple repainted the black door rich kelly green. “We used a similar color in our dining room, and it looked so good we brought it out here,” Susanne says. (EverMark Fanlite 4-Panel wood door)

Jade Green by Benjamin Moore

Soft Jazz by Benjamin Moore

Cloud White by Benjamin Moore

Threshold Welcome coir doormat in blue stripe (Available at Target, currently sold out)

Ecco Floating Mount 4"-tall brass house numbers in black pewter finish

Livex Mansfield 11 1/2" x 7 1/2" brass pendant in black

Blue planters at the base of the steps play off the color of the siding. Susanne filled them with a blend of easy annuals, including purple and yellow petunias and yellow pansies. (Zingz & Thingz ceramic planters in navy)

BUY IT: Zingz & Thingz, $56

Americas Finest Lighting Raymond 9 1/2"W x 5 1/2"D x 12 1/4"H mailbox in textured black

BUY IT: Jet, $245

“The mix of gray siding and natural cedar shingles makes our house unique, but our favorite things are the stone piers. We’ve never seen another Craftsman-style house with ones like these," say homeowners Elizabeth Bisgard and Gabriel Hamilton.

Sandstone piers beneath tapered crisp white columns, a new take on a traditional Craftsman element, make a great first impression. The stacked stones play off the rough-hewn style of the natural cedar shakes surrounding the front door.

Built: 2001

Bought: 2014

Size: 2,400 sq. ft.

A can’t-miss-it hue pops against the dark gray composite siding. “It’s been this color since we got the house,” says Elizabeth. “Our entry always feels so cheerful.” (Masonite Craftsman steel door)

BUY IT: Lowes, $237

Decisive Yellow by Sherwin-Williams

Flip Flop rubber doormat

Elizabeth bought the swing unfinished and stained it gray-blue (Mussel Shell by Cabot) for a wash of color—a nice complement to the gray siding. (International Concepts 4'-wide wood porch swing)

Ummi 11 1/2" x 18 1/2" polyester pillow

Lattice 11 1/2" x 18 1/2" cotton pillow in damask leaf

BUT IT: Pillow Perfect, $21

Elizabeth and Gabriel got their Adirondack chair from a local furniture maker. (Shine Company Westport cedar Adirondack chair in tan)