Copy the Curb Appeal: Essex County, New Jersey

HGTV Magazine discovered eye-catching house loaded with inspiring ideas.

By: Jaimie Dalessio Clayton, Jennifer Berno DeCleene, and Leslie Corona

From: HGTV Magazine

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Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturers

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Chair: Courtesy of the manufacturer, Pillow: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturers

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Ball & Albanese

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturer

Photo By: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Photo By: Marko Metzinger/Studio D

Photo By: Courtesy of the manufacturers

About the House

Built in: 1928. Bought in: 1990. Size: 1,850 sq. ft. “We didn’t like the outside of this house at first," say 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.” Wave petunias overflow from pots suspended from the porch ceiling. Their light purple color complements the darker petunias on the steps.

From: HGTV Magazine

Paint Colors

House: Deep Reservoir by Dunn-Edwards; Trim: Whisper by Dunn-Edwards; Doors, shutters, and decorative trim: Crossroads by Dunn-Edwards

From: HGTV Magazine

Front Door

This house has two doors. The one on the right is the main entry, and the one on the left opens to the dining room. 1515 primed poplar door, from $289, roguevalleydoor.com for stores; Paint: Crossroads by Dunn-Edwards

From: HGTV Magazine

Flower Pots and Rounded Porch Steps

Terra-cotta pots filled with dark purple wave petunias and black-eyed Susan bring color to the front steps. The Monaghans didn’t even realize these steps were curved until they ripped out some old shrubs after moving in. They love the semicircle shape.

From: HGTV Magazine

House Numbers

Brass digits gleam against the navy siding and pick up the warm tones of the tan doors and shutters. 9067 4 3/4"-tall house numbers in lifetime polished brass, from $23 each, baldwinhardware.com for stores

From: HGTV Magazine

Shutters

Only a few homes in the neighborhood still have their original moon-cutout shutters. This style would add charm to a newer home too. Atlantic Premium 36" x 14" fiberglass shutters with moon cutouts, from $550 for 2, atlanticpremiumshutters.com for stores; Paint: Crossroads by Dunn-Edwards

From: HGTV Magazine

Chairs and Pillows

Big wicker seats with cushions and striped outdoor pillows make the porch extra comfy. Summerlin lounge chair with cushion in rose Sunbrella, $814, crateandbarrel.com; OC Fun Saks Cabana 20" x 20" polyester outdoor pillow in yellow, $48, wayfair.com

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

Built in: 1929. Bought in: 1997. Size: 2,060 sq. ft. “Our home’s stacked shape drew us in from the curb," say 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."

From: HGTV Magazine

Mailbox

The spacious black mailbox mounted to the left of the door doubles as an address plaque—clever! Capitol personalized wall mailbox in black/gold, from $226, whitehallproducts.com for stores

From: HGTV Magazine

Light Fixture

A small arts-and-crafts–style sconce mimics the clean lines of the house. Thomas Lighting Mission 5 1/2"W x 7 1/2"D x 10 1/2"H wall sconce in matte black, $76, lumens.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Siding and Three-Story Architecture

Two types of siding, clapboard on the lower level and cedar shakes on the upper floors, emphasize the home’s height. The third floor, which contains a master bedroom with an attached office, is a major plus inside and out enhancing the home's stature from the street.

From: HGTV Magazine

Door Handle

Its polished brass finish matches the shiny kickplate. Schlage Plymouth double-cylinder handleset in polished brass, $128.50, build.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Front Door

After 13 years with an off-white door, the Foleys bought a new fiberglass one and painted it red orange to make it stand out against the siding. Encompass by Pella 6-panel steel door, from $306, pella.com for stores; Paint: Woodlawn Salsa by Valspar

From: HGTV Magazine

Flower Bed and Flowerpots

The yard gets its cheerful, cottage-like look from a mix of flower types and colors, including red geraniums, white impatiens, and orange marigolds along the border, and black-eyed Susan and purple coneflowers closer to the foundation. Attractive celosia in a mix of bright colors—hot pink, red, and yellow—burst from the glazed planters that flank the top step.

From: HGTV Magazine

Paint Colors

House: Irish Paddock by Valspar; Trim and Shutters: Pale Bloom by Valspar; Front door: Woodlawn Salsa by Valspar

From: HGTV Magazine

Door Knocker

The lion’s head knocker adds an old-school touch. “Our bell was always breaking, so I got this as a fun alternative,” says Danielle. Lion door knocker in burnished antique, $139, rejuvenation.com

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

Built in: 1930. Bought in: 1986. Size: 1,928 sq. ft. “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 homeowners Dinah and Andrew Lyktey. Combined with the gambrel roof, the centered brick chimney gives the house storybook charm. It’s painted white to match the siding.

From: HGTV Magazine

Mailbox

The tarnished silver finish of the mailbox fits in with the house’s calming colors. Special Lite SHH-1006 horizontal cast-aluminum mailbox in Swedish silver, $52.50, atgstores.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Paint Colors

House: Crisp Linen White by Glidden; Trim: Deep Blue Shadow by Glidden

From: HGTV Magazine

Landscaping

Dinah turned the yard into a vibrant, thriving garden that features red New Guinea impatiens, blue salvia, red verbena, and Limelight hydrangea. A weeping cherry tree—the focal point of the colorful yard—blooms pink flowers every spring.

From: HGTV Magazine

Front Door

The Lykteys have painted their door, which features three small windows, everything from pink to teal. Recently they stripped it and stained it mahogany for a natural look. 4400 door in Douglas fir with clear glass, from $986, roguevalleydoor.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Light Fixture

A swirly hook makes this sconce look like it was made for the house. Maxim Lighting Dover DC 19 1/2"-tall outdoor wall light in bronze, $116, lampsplus.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Pavers

Their light terra-cotta color blends well with the lush green yard. Relic 6"W x 1 3/4"D x 9"H clay paver in saltillo, $615 per pallet, homedepot.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Brackets

Scrolling iron posts and brackets frame the entry, lending a more delicate look than columns would. They’re painted blue to match the trim. Decorative Vine 10 1/4" x 11 3/4" cast-iron shelf bracket in antique iron, $15.50, houseofantiquehardware.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Chairs and Pillows

A pair of wood chairs in the shade of the cherry tree makes a great spot for morning coffee. Blue-and-green-striped pillows add an extra splash of color. Vifah outdoor wood armchair in brown, $124, target.com; Loftonaire 17" x 17" polyester pillow in stripe, $25, pier1.com

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

Built in: 1926. Bought in: 1999. Size: 1,100 sq. ft. “Our porch was practically falling apart for the first several years we lived here," say homeowners Dona and Chris Wagner. "When we finally gave it a facelift with new lattice, railings, and balusters, it transformed the entire house.” Red million bells and delicate white gaura fill the big blue pot outside the front door.

From: HGTV Magazine

Light Fixture

Caged metal sconces look rustic and classic. This version also has a seeded-glass shade. Cape Cod 7 1/4"W x 8"D x 13 1/2"H metal and glass outdoor wall lantern in sienna bronze, $149, lampsusa.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Hanging Plants and Landscaping

Three Boston ferns are suspended from the porch ceiling for a triple dose of greenery. Dona brings the plants inside during winter. Simple shrubs—a dwarf Japanese red maple, a holly bush, and mounds of English boxwoods—balance out all the potted flowers.

From: HGTV Magazine

Mailbox

Its streamlined shape lets it sit perfectly in the narrow spot between the door and the shutter. Qualarc Provincial vertical mailbox in polished brass, $215, allmodern.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Front Door

Dona painted the door cherry red. The wide glass panes on top let in light without compromising privacy. Contours craftsman clear 6-lite external grid steel door, from $335, jeld-wen.com for stores; Paint: Heartthrob by Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

Welcome-Sign Planter

If the house didn’t feel welcoming enough already, this cute planter, filled with gloriosa daisies, spells it out. Rainbow Garden Products 17"-tall metal blacksmith welcome planter, $40, homedepot.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Doormat

The house has a subtly patriotic color scheme, so a blue-and-natural-coir doormat makes perfect sense outside the red door. Two-toned 18" x 30" coir doormat in blue, $28, bambeco.com

From: HGTV Magazine

Paint Colors

House: Krypton by Sherwin-Williams; Trim: Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams; Shutters: Tempe Star by Sherwin-Williams; Front door: Heartthrob by Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

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