Copy the Curb Appeal: Orlando, Florida
HGTV Magazine found eye-catching houses loaded with inspiring ideas.
By:
Jaimie Dalessio Clayton,
Jennifer Berno DeCleene,
and
Leslie Corona
From:
HGTV Magazine
About the House
Built in: 1925. Bought in: 2013. Size: 1,147 sq. ft. “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 homeowner Briana Lang. "It’s one of the first changes I made.”
From:
HGTV Magazine
Terra-Cotta Tiles and Potted Plants
Glazed terra-cotta tiles on the front porch and steps fit the home’s architectural style and the Spanish theme Lang had in mind for the exterior. Bowl-style stone planters along the walkway are filled with succulents, including aloe, firestick plants, and flapjacks.
From:
HGTV Magazine
Landscaping
Lang reserved the front half of her lawn for a mix of spiky mondo grass and dwarf boxwoods. By her home’s foundation are bright pink Hawaiian ti plants.
From:
HGTV Magazine
House Numbers
Hand-painted ceramic tiles deliver a touch of charm to the white stucco. Talavera ceramic numbers, $8 per number, and wrought iron colonial frame, $24, both finecraftsimports.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Front Door
Lang painted her eight-panel door a shade of blue inspired by the ultramarine doors and trim she saw on a trip to Cadaqués, Spain. Traditional door #2010 in Douglas fir, from $500, simpsondoor.com for stores; paint: French Valley Blue by Do It Best Quality Paints
From:
HGTV Magazine
Awnings
Striped awnings were popular for Mediterranean homes in the 1920s. These black-and-white versions are a nod to the house’s history. Awntech open slope window retractable manual 5'W x 2'D x 2'7"H awning in black/white stripe, $289.50, lowes.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Chairs
Powder-coated-metal bistro seats in turquoise are cheerful spots for watching sunsets. Cadiz metal chairs in peacock blue, $120 for a set of 2, worldmarket.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Door Handle
The matte black finish matches the trim perfectly. Schlage F92CAM622 Camelot Dummy handleset in matte black, $96.50, build.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Paint Colors
House: Greek Villa by Sherwin-Williams; Trim: Caviar by Sherwin-Williams; Front door: French Valley Blue by Do It Best Quality Paints
From:
HGTV Magazine
About the House
Built in: 1920. Bought in: 2007. Size: 1,333 sq. ft. “Since repainting, we love our exterior more than ever," says 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.”
From:
HGTV Magazine
Wood Siding and Stacked Gable Roof
The house’s drop-channel wood siding requires regular maintenance—several rotted boards had to be replaced last year—but has an authenticity that’s hard to re-create. Latticework on both gables gives the bungalow a touch of gingerbread-house appeal. It’s functional, too: The lattices allow air ventilation to the attic.
From:
HGTV Magazine
Flowerpots
The navy pots by the front steps burst with red begonias and pink SunPatiens. During the summer, the begonias are relocated to a shadier part of the porch.
From:
HGTV Magazine
Bird Feeder
Cardinals and blue jays regularly visit the porch thanks to the feeder that hangs in the right-hand corner. Perky-Pet 8"H x 6 1/2"-diameter carriage bird feeder in green, $9, birdfeeders.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
House Numbers
Slim digits mounted to the white wood trim mirror the high shine of the front door’s brass kickplate. Floating numbers in polished brass, from $8 per number, architecturalmailboxes.com for stores
From:
HGTV Magazine
Front Door
Flanked by matching French doors, the seafoam green 15-lite entry door is the focal point of the house. Smooth-Pro unfinished door with 15 lite grids, from $425, jeld-wen.com for stores; paint: Ionian by Sherwin-Williams
From:
HGTV Magazine
Chairs
Slatted armchairs built from lightweight metal are durable, portable seating around a coffee table on the porch. San Mateo Deluxe aluminum chair, $280, pier1.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Paint Colors
House: Blue Plate by Sherwin-Williams; Trim: Pure White by Sherwin-Williams; Front door: Ionian by Sherwin-Williams
From:
HGTV Magazine
Picket Fence
The Persauds built a white picket fence to lend the exterior a quaint, cottage-inspired look. French Gothic pressure-treated pine fence panels, $27 for a 3 1/2' x 8' panel, homedepot.com; Paint: Pure White by Sherwin Williams
From:
HGTV Magazine
About the House
Built in: 2011. Bought in: 2012. Size: 3,020 sq. ft. “We love the way our home merges modern and farmhouse styles," say homeowners Ashley and Sean Dishman. "The biggest changes we’ve made have been out front. We added the brick path and new grass and plants.”
From:
HGTV Magazine
Potted Plants and Landscaping
Two sleek planters filled with spiky African irises and yellow, purple, and white pansies flank the front steps. Cone-shaped eugenia topiaries surrounded by beds of yellow pansies flank the walkway.
From:
HGTV Magazine
Railings
The Dishmans love the utilitarian look of the wire and metal upper railings so much, they picked the same style for their interior railings.
From:
HGTV Magazine
Light Fixtures
Barn lights emphasize a farmhouse feel and shine more light than an average porch light would. The Old Dixie Gooseneck 8 1/4"H x 17"-diameter light in barn red, $276, barnlightelectric.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Paint Colors
House: Polar Bear by Behr; Shutters: Classic Cherry by Behr; Trim: Dolphin Fin by Behr; Porch Ceilings: Granite Boulder by Behr
From:
HGTV Magazine
Front Door
Beadboard-style paneling on the wood door contributes to this newly built home’s sense of history. 4631-VA door in Douglas fir, from $915, roguevalleydoor.com for stores
From:
HGTV Magazine
Ceilings Fans
Galvanized-metal fans, which fit the look of the house, keep the porches cool on warm Florida days. Minka Aire Rainman galvanized ceiling fan, $460, lampsplus.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Door Handle
Its linear design fits right in with the house’s straight-and-narrow columns. Schlage Century front entry set in satin chrome (lower half shown), $119, myknobs.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Tricycle
The hand-me-down from a family friend has become a permanent fixture on the Dishmans’ front porch, even though their 5-year-old twins are too big to use it. “I secretly hope it stays there forever,” says Ashley. Radio Flyer classic tricycle, $90,kohls.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Chair
This modern take on a traditional rocker—in fire-engine red—fits the home’s old-meets-new vibe. Go Club rocker in red, $570, dwr.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
About the House
Built in: 1999. Size: 2,572 sq. ft. “My late wife, Joan, and I designed this house using our past homes and other homes in the area as inspiration," says homeowner Pat Dougherty. "My favorite thing about it is the big covered porch. I can sit outside even when it’s raining.”
From:
HGTV Magazine
Stucco Siding and Dormer
Durable, rust- and rot-resistant stucco is low maintenance and long-lasting. It holds up well in Florida’s humid climate. The dormer adds a hit of color to the roof—plus, its window floods the second floor with sun. “I never have to turn a light on during the day,” says Pat.
From:
HGTV Magazine
Landscaping and Potted Plants
The mostly green plantings that line the walkway include boxwoods, liriope, and variegated schefflera, all surrounded by pine bark mulch. Croton Petra, known for its bright-colored, leathery foliage, sprouts from large and small pots outside the door.
From:
HGTV Magazine
Front Door
This etched-glass front door looks just as pretty from the foyer as it does from the porch. Classic-Craft stained fiberglass door in mahogany with bella bronze glass, from $2,804.50, thermatru.com for stores
From:
HGTV Magazine
Light Fixtures
White sconces match the columns and trim and pop against the green stucco. Cornerstone 1-light wall lantern with clear seed in white, $29, overstock.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
House Numbers
The black-and-gold plaque hangs like a piece of art above the front door. Whitehall Rochelle Grande 1-line wall plaque in black/gold, $119, menards.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Rocking Chairs
A pair of white rockers on both sides of the porch makes the house look welcoming from the street. Jefferson Polywood rocking chair in white, $360, plowhearth.com
From:
HGTV Magazine
Paint Colors
House: Pale Jade by Glidden; Trim: Swan White by Glidden; Front door: Candy Apple by Glidden
From:
HGTV Magazine
