83 of the Most Charming Homes From Across the US

Your cross-country curb appeal tour starts now. HGTV Magazine is taking you from state to state to see some of the most inviting homes in the US. No matter what house style you love — from ranches and quaint Cape Cods to colorful Victorians and classic Colonials — we've got it in spades. Read on for all the inspiring curb appeal ideas.

“We almost didn’t look at this house — it was blah beige, and the front was covered in ivy. But we did, and since we added siding painted modern gray, box columns and railings, we love coming home to it!” say Birmingham, Alabama, homeowners Jamie Thomas and Ivan Skripnik.

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“We added a second story in 2015, and we wanted it to really blend in. False jasmine that crawls up the columns and old-school seating make it seem like the house has always looked this way,” say Birmingham, Alabama, homeowners Raegan and Alan Bellenger.

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“The sweeping lawn and serpentine sidewalk going up to the front caught our eye immediately, and that yellow door jumped out, too. Together, they pull you right in!” say Birmingham, Alabama, homeowners Kathy and David Shows.

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“When we met this charming house, it was love at first sight. A storm damaged the front and roof in 2008, but we’ve brought them back to their former selves," say Phoenix homeowners Robert Betnar and Thomas Vigil.

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"It was our dream to restore an old home," say homeowners Shelley and Kevin Kraning about their 1904 Folk Victorian home in Bentonville, Arkansas. They love the original details like the diamond-patterned shingles on the awning over the window and the lamppost.

Debbi and Randy Hoffman's 1922 Pasadena, California, 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."

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“Our place used to be off-white, like practically every other house on the block," say Los Angeles homeowners Brooke and Bob Nickman. "Once we painted it vibrant colors and planted a lush garden, it stood out."

Homeowners Roma and Terry Kiser bought their 1923 Pasadena, California, home in 1972. They say, "the tumbled stone path, which we added about three years ago, gives our stucco house so much more character."

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“From the second we laid eyes on this place, with its giant wraparound porch, big windows and slabs of Colorado red bluffstone leading up to the entry, it felt welcoming," say Boulder, Colorado, homeowners Amy and Andrew Larson.

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“We’re within sight of beautiful mountains, so when we decided to redo our exterior, we went with natural materials — we just didn’t want it to be too woodsy," say homeowners Courtney and Craig Lewis of their Boulder, Colorado, home. "Two different tones of wood plus white limestone make our house look sophisticated."

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“This cottage was light yellow when we bought it, but its most charming details — the white fence, the window boxes, and the brackets — stand out so much more against the gray paint we chose,” say Fairfield, Connecticut, homeowners Stephanie and Richard Baumer.

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“Of all the homes we looked at, we never thought we’d fall in love with the oldest one. Its fairy-tale qualities instantly won us over, despite the overgrown landscaping we had to replace,” say Fairfield, Connecticut, homeowners Carmina and Anthony Morro.

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Jeannie and Robert McLean bought their 1927 Tampa, Florida, home in 1995. They say, "We love all the windows and awnings on our pink Mediterranean revival. It's a true Tampa house."

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Meg Russell and Thad Bereday bought their 1912 Tampa, Florida, home in 2003. They say. "We call the house a 'Craftsman Tudor bungalow.' We've never seen another one like it!"

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Laurie and Duncan Elliott bought their 1917 Tampa, Florida, house in 1998. They say, "We adore the large trees that shade our lot and the pretty brick steps leading to the front porch."

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“This house used to be mustard yellow, but it’s Mediterranean in style, so I wanted to paint it white like houses you’d find in Greece or coastal Spain," says Orlando, Florida, homeowner Briana Lang. "It’s one of the first changes I made.”

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“Since repainting, we love our exterior more than ever," say Orlando, Florida, homeowners Christine and Joe Persaud. "We felt a little nervous about the colors at first because they’re bold, but they make the house look so happy.”

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Atlanta homeowner Kathlee Kohl says, "I painted the front door blue to brighten up the entrance. And I like the rockers because they make the house feel so welcoming."

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Atlanta homeowners Tim and Lindsey say, "We fell in love with the Cape Cod style and the paint colors. We added the retaining wall — the granite matches the house's original basement-level walls."

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“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 Boise, Idaho, homeowners Susanne and McKay Cunningham.

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"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 Boise, Idaho, homeowners Catie and Will Wardwell.

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“The contrast between the swooping roofline and curved door, and between the red brick and light stone, immediately drew us in," say Ashley and Mike Shafer of their home in Des Moines, Iowa. "Updating the landscaping enhanced all the charm."

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“This home has been in my family since I was a toddler," says Louisville, Kentucky, homeowner Rosalind Heinz. "It’s known for the ginkgo tree in the yard, which I tried to pay homage to with the exterior colors.” Every fall, the leaves on the ginkgo tree turn yellow and drop to the ground.

“We fell in love at first sight with this 1920s home and its traditional Southern style, though it needed some TLC. We redid the porch and yard — and kept the same inviting green color on the siding,” say homeowners Jeannie and Randall Martin about their Shreveport, Louisiana, home.

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“I first toured the house mid-construction and I wasn’t sure about the dark green siding, since my previous homes were all lighter," says Mary Ann Bargmann of her Shreveport, Louisiana, home. "Once I saw it complete, with a blue door and X-railings, I adored how cozy it looked!”

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“Many houses in our neighborhood are white. We wanted ours to stand out, except we couldn’t go too wild — it’s a Colonial, after all!" say Chevy Chase, Maryland, homeowners Michael and Emily Kimberly. "Dusty blue siding makes it special but still classic."

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“I was immediately drawn to this home’s elegant look, even though it was covered in overgrown vines," says Newton, Massachusetts, homeowner Kate Wendt. "The wide entry, the symmetrical windows and the columns make it seem so stately.”

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“Since we built our home in a charming, architecturally diverse town, we didn’t want it to look brand-new," say Newton, Massachusetts, homeowners Amy Cody and John Furst. "Design choices like the sloped roofline and the stone façade and chimney give it a sense of history.”

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“We tore down the moldy 1950s ranch house that stood here to build our own contemporary Craftsman," say Newton, Massachusetts, homeowners Risa and Steve Aronson. "There’s nothing more welcoming than its open front porch.”

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“This was the old, ugly house on the block when we bought it," say Detroit homeowners Karen and Kevin O’Keefe. "The brick was painted bright orange! We did a total reno and changed the colors to match a cute home we spotted while visiting Mackinac Island up north."

“Our favorite thing about our home is the color — it shakes up the neutral neighborhood," say Detroit homeowners Katie and Jason Blazek. Jason painted the house’s HardiePlank siding over five weekends using a 2-inch brush. “Although we updated the house’s architecture, we wanted it to look like it was painted by hand in the 1940s,” Katie says.

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“It took nearly a year of house-hunting to find this Queen Anne beaut," say Detroit homeowners Wendy and Dennis Richardville. "The porch, which has a cool stone foundation, is our go-to place when we want to relax.”

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“We were practically sold on this house before even stepping inside," say Detroit homeowners Kelley and Scott Foess. Charming touches like the brackets, the shake siding and the glass front door make it feel incredibly homey.”  The Foesses overhauled the yard, reseeding the lawn and trimming the overgrown boxwoods along the walkway into small mounds.

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Kathy Spraitz and Mike Swanson bought their 1899 Minneapolis home in 1999, but there was the one element that really caught their eye. “We bought this porch, and the house came with it. It’s still our favorite feature,” they say.

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Homeowners Britt and Christopher Dougall bought their 1902 Minneapolis home in 1993, and since then they’ve repainted the exterior and rebuilt the porch. “Now they’re two of our favorite things about it,” they say.

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Jennifer Post and Murray Snyder bought their 1903 Minneapolis home in 2007 and say “the circular window on the second floor is one of our favorite details, along with the swing.”

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“This blue beauty has seen a lot! We love its historic Colonial style and the copper portico roof with its blue green patina,” say St. Louis homeowners Kristen and Chris Hite. “We tried to play up the home’s simple yet dignified look in the landscaping.”

“Our handsome house isn’t the biggest on the block, but it makes a statement thanks to its unique-for-the-neighborhood combo of stucco and cedar shakes,” say St. Louis homeowners Pam and Peter Leritz. “We think it feels inviting and cozy.”

“We’ve barely changed anything since moving in last spring,” say St. Louis homeowners Lindsey and Justin Graves. “We adore how Southern the porch looks, as well as the green front door, which is just the hit of color the house needs.”

Maryann and Jim McNamara bought their 1935 Bergen County, New Jersey, 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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“We didn’t like the outside of this house at first," say Essex County, New Jersey, homeowners Sally and Joe Monaghan. "The porch was screened in, the paint colors drab and the shrubs overgrown. But as we’ve painted it and added new plants, the exterior has become our favorite part.”

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“Our home’s stacked shape drew us in from the curb," say Essex County, New Jersey, homeowners Danielle and Tom Foley. "It’s interesting yet simple. Since we changed the color from boring beige to mossy green, it looks even better."

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“Over the nearly three decades we’ve lived here, our home has gone from the ugly duckling on the block — with pink awnings and rusty posts — to a swan,” say proud Essex County, New Jersey, homeowners Dinah and Andrew Lyktey.

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“This was the first place we looked at, and it wasn’t even finished when we peeked in. But we loved how welcoming the bungalow style felt — so much so that we called the builder immediately and bought it that day!” say Saratoga Springs, New York, homeowners Mylea and Buzz Aldrich.

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“We wanted our new build to look at home in our neighborhood, where houses have lots of character. Details like the barn roof in front, the decorative window by the door and two kinds of siding make it special,” say Saratoga Springs, New York, homeowners Stacey and Andrew Barrick.

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“The house was white when we bought it. Everyone said, ‘It’s always been white!’ Once we added the red and gold, we got so many compliments, even from people who’ve lived in the neighborhood for decades,” say Saratoga Springs, New York, homeowners  Suzanne and Max Birdsall.

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“We love that our stucco house is brighter than traditional Tudors, which often have thick wood beams on the front. We fell for its quaint storybook details, like the stone wall and the brick path,” say Saratoga Springs, New York, homeowners Barbara Frank and Rick Guior.

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“This house has so much character that you almost can’t tell it’s new construction,” say Charlotte, North Carolina, homeowners Brit and Zack Drozda. “It makes our day when people walking by compliment the porch and front door. We honestly wouldn’t change a thing.”

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“With its multi-gable roof, two styles of siding and pergola-topped porch, our house is interesting to look at from every angle,” say Charlotte, North Carolina, homeowners Michelle and Kelly Frenzel. “We’ve loved all its quirks from the start.” To keep the cedar pergola over the porch low fuss, the Frenzels left it plant-free. It still offers just a bit of shade.

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“We’re only the second owners of this corner-lot charmer, which we painted yellow shortly after moving in,” say Charlotte, North Carolina, homeowners Susie and Jerry Jernigan. “We especially love our non-gardener’s yard of easy-care plants.” Wrought iron embellishments decorate the chimneys. Susie believes they are S’s for the original owners’ last name.

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“The outside of this center hall Colonial looked totally different when we bought it. We changed the colors from gray and black to blue, rebuilt the porch and the front steps and overhauled the landscaping,” say Cleveland homeowners Nancy Dobras and Anne Geary.

“The houses on our street are all different. The color and shape of this one — with its sharp angles and bay window — sold us. We couldn’t say no to the large front lawn or the sandstone path either,” say Cleveland homeowners Patricia and Isaac Barley.

“We’ve always liked this neighborhood’s history. Our small cul-de-sac was built on former castle grounds. We were thrilled to score this American Colonial charmer and painted it yellow and red to make it even more inviting,” say Cleveland homeowners Meg and Pat Duffy.

“When we meet new people in the neighborhood, they tell us they love ‘the pink house',” say Tulsa homeowners Ann and Britt Radford.

“Our house used to have pale yellow siding that didn’t do it justice. Replacing it with gray-painted composite and white trim brought out the pretty original features like the arched door, the curved roofline and our centerpiece chimney," say Portland, Oregon, homeowners Kimberly and Jim Bauman.

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“Our home was all white when we moved in, and it seemed so cold and uninviting," say Lesley and Scott Clausen of their Portland, Oregon, home. "Once we painted it taupe with a bright yellow door, it turned into a totally welcoming place."

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“I’ve always liked the traditional look of Tudor homes. After buying this one, I uprooted all of the landscaping except for three trees, one of which is the kousa dogwood on the left side of the yard,”  says Providence homeowner Drew Osler.

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"Our bungalow’s big front porch is one of our favorite things about it. We love how the front door is set off to the side — not in the middle — which maximizes seating space,” say Providence homeowners Mark Kershaw and Michael Sutila.

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“Although this home needed work, we couldn’t resist the 1920s architecture and walkable location. We painted it sage green first, then this gray with faint violet undertones.”  say Providence homeowners Christine Lamar and Thomas J. Skouras.

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“We love that our house is unlike any other on the street. It looks like it came from a different era! The peaks and gables give it so much character, as do original details like the glass and ironwork,” say Providence homeowners Merrilyn and Bill Parry.

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“When you see my house, it’s hard to believe that it’s a new build — the look is classic Craftsman, and it blends right in with our neighborhood’s older homes," says homeowner JJ Cantrell of this Greenville, South Carolina, house.

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“Even though we built our house, it’s in a historic neighborhood, so we wanted it to fit in. We love all its cottage-y touches, like the window boxes, the brick path and the cutouts on the shutters,” say Knoxville, Tennessee, homeowners Chris and Colleen Austin.

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“We dreaded the idea of buying a house that needed a full renovation, and this one was in bad shape. But we were smitten by its old-fashioned slate roof and the oversize window box, and we could see the home’s potential, even if it would take lots of work,” say Knoxville, Tennessee, homeowners Chris and Bethann Williams.

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“When I bought this house, the whole thing was painted white. Choosing a few different shades of beige for the siding added dimension and highlighted the home’s charming Craftsman style,” says Knoxville, Tennessee, homeowner Tim Helton.

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“Many houses on our street are registered as historic places. It’s so picturesque, like living in a Norman Rockwell painting. We love the way the buttery yellow of our house looks against all the greenery around it,” say Knoxville, Tennessee, homeowners Kim and Shannon McCullock.

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"This house had been a college rental for 30 years! Needless to say, the landscaping and the paint needed some TLC," say Austin, Texas, homeowners Lynne Hohlfeld and Michael Crockett.

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“We expanded the back of the house but kept the façade and chimney the same, since the cottage charm is what drew us here in the first place," say San Antonio homeowners Jamie and John Bloodsworth.

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“We used to live down the street, and we always admired this house’s symmetrical Craftsman architecture and earthy paint colors," say San Antonio homeowners Rachel and Greg Chaney.

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“We used to live three doors down and were lucky enough to get this home before it hit the market," say Dallas homeowners Amber and Kevin Edwards. "The sweet yellow exterior made it our favorite house on the block.”

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“We were originally drawn to this home’s fieldstone front, which stands out among the many brick ones in the area," say Dallas homeowners Erin and Kevin Galyean. "Then when we stepped on the porch, we were sold.”

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“We needed to freshen up the tired looking red brick of our Tudor cottage, so we painted it all bright white." say Salt Lake City homeowners Jen and Lance Pendleton. “I wanted a fun shade that didn’t seem too out there,” says Jen of the leafy green front door. It pops against the white yet matches the plants in the yard.

“This was an ordinary brick cottage when we moved in — good bones, but not a lot of charm," say homeowners Melissa and Troy Hardy of their Salt Lake City home. "Wrapping it in white composite siding and adding a portico breathed new life into it.”

“We’re both from Southern California, and this house, with its stone details, painted brick and red front door, felt quintessentially East Coast, which is such a nice change for us,” say Alexandria, Virginia, homeowners Katie and Chris Smith.

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“After years as a rental, this house was a disaster. Luckily it still had some great features — a hilltop location, beautiful stonework on the façade and a stone retaining wall — that helped us see its potential,” say Alexandria, Virginia, homeowners Joan and Robert Gotwald.

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“We love our home’s cedar siding. We’re thankful nature makes a wood that doesn’t rot! Since Paige is a professional landscape designer, we keep the front yard tidy. But in the backyard, anything goes,” say Alexandria, Virginia, homeowners Paige and Scott McIntosh.

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“The sharp pitch of the roof makes our house look like a quaint English cottage, so we kept the landscaping informal. Painted pale yellow, our house is warm and welcoming, like our neighborhood,” say Alexandria, Virginia, homeowners Cynthia Westlund and Christopher May.

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“This Cape Cod-style home is one of a kind in the neighborhood — and it couldn’t be more charming. It feels like you’re being welcomed right in when you walk by,” say Seattle homeowners Alexis and Donald Gill.

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“This house was built almost a hundred years ago to mimic the Cotswold cottages of England. The biggest change we made was redoing the roof with cedar shingles bent to look like the originals," say Seattle homeowners Nick Agoff and Jean-François Godbout.

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“We’re both from the East Coast, so we like that this home feels more Colonial than most in this area. The listing actually called the house ‘East Coast meets Seattle,’ which felt like a sign,” say Seattle homeowners Hillary Liss and Bill Brewster.

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“With cedar shake siding and a Craftsman-style door, this home felt like the cozy beach cottage we left on nearby Bainbridge Island to move back to the city,” say Seattle homeowners Octavia Chambliss and Jon Zulauf.

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“This is the only house we’ve ever owned — we were attracted to its historic Tudor details (circa 1929)," say Milwaukee homeowners Carlie and Tom Jaeckels. "The cedar shake siding and unexpected molding around the door are cool twists.”

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