Boost Your Curb Appeal With a Bungalow Look

1. Their all-American good looks have been going strong since the late 19th century, when the first ones popped up. History buffs: Their heyday was in the 1920s.
2. Hello, wide porches! It's like having a whole extra room. Most can fit an outdoor sofa, two chairs, a rug, even a coffee table.
3. They're small but they live large. Rooms are spacious, and the ceilings are high. It's a great starter home or family home.
4. They look cute in any color, from bright white to sage green. And there are so many details to paint — the columns, the trim work and the porch floor.
5. The charm factor is through the (gabled) roof!

Homeowner: David Funderburg
House built in: 1928
When he bought it: 2009
"The fact that the 83-year-old floors creak and sing a little bit when I walk on them is so cool!" — David Funderburg
Copy the Curb Appeal!
The Paint Colors: House: Colonial Revival Green Stone; Trim: Classical White; Railing and accent trim: Chestnut Bronze (All by Sherwin-Williams)
The Flowerpots: Skip the terra-cotta! Try bright white. Great source: simplyplanters.com.
The Front Door: A true Craftsman-style door has six panes of glass. Find one in mahogany (like David's) at internationaldoor.com.
The Yard: Knock Out roses and hawthorn shrubs fill the front beds. The tree is a Bradford Pear, which blooms white in the spring.

Homeowners: Carol and Gordon Yeatts
House built in: 1903
When they bought it: 2009
"This was our first house together as newlyweds. We still spend almost every morning and evening on our big porch." — Carol Yeatts
Copy the Curb Appeal!
The Paint Colors: House: White Dove; Trim: Black; Porch floor: Pilgrim Haze (All by Benjamin Moore)
The Siding: The Yeattses clad the whole house in HardiePlank siding (available at Lowe's). It has a 30-year guarantee.
The Walkway: Reclaimed bricks start at about 40 cents each and, boy, do they add character! Great source: bricksalvage.com.
The Yard: Fragrant white jasmine climbs the iron arbor. Palms and pretty grasses made us stop and do a double take!

Homeowners: Nick Eronko and Gilbert Joseph Perez
House built in: 1914
When they bought it: 2008
"This house was about to be torn down, but we saved it from the wrecking ball. It has a great soul and energy."
— Gilbert Joseph Perez
Copy the Curb Appeal!
The Paint Colors: House: Townsend Harbor Brown; Trim: Lancaster Whitewash; Porch floor: Mink (All by Benjamin Moore)
The Shingles: Check out cedarshinglesdirect.com for prestained cedar shingle options in more than 100 colors.
The Railings: They look like they came off a gingerbread house — very storybook! Find a skilled carpenter with a good imagination to pull off this look.
The Yard: Hardy plants like Russian sage set in moss rocks mean no mowing.