Curb Appeal: The Best of California

"This was a wealthy town in Victorian times; a lot of houses, like ours, were built around that period," say homeowners Susan and Bill Arbios. Many homes’ shutters are just for show, but these are fully functional. They’re made of colored resin. In the ’30s, the stucco and the Dutch-inspired roof were added to make the exterior look less old-fashioned. "We love how unique it is!"

The homeowners planted wedding bells, a type of rose, along the walkway for their 20th anniversary a few years ago. Other roses in the yard include Ebb Tide (known for their smoky purple color and strong fragrance of cloves) and New Year (which don’t have thorns, so they’re great for picking and arranging). "We usually have four or five bouquets of flowers from our own garden in the house," they say.

Location: Healdsburg, CA

Built in: 1867

Size: 1,800 sq. ft.

Paint color: Antique White by Benjamin Moore

When we bought the house, it was yellow with a white door and looked so ’80s. We had to change it, but we didn’t want a white house like everyone else," say homeowners Rob and Erin Morris. "Now we get notes in our mailbox asking what our colors are. We’re happy to share!" The house had board-and-batten siding long before it was trendy, but the roof used to be totally different. Rob and his dad, a general contractor, extended the eaves to give it more of a Craftsman feel.

The metal planters behind the Aidrondack chairs are water troughs from Tractor Supply Co. They are filled with a mix of pink ice plants, bushveld kalanchoe and jade. The next project on their list: replacing the grass with something more drought-resistant, like reed grass or orange New Zealand sedge.

Location: Healdsburg, CA

Built in: 1986

Size: 1,618 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Hale Navy and (door) Damask Gold, Benjamin Moore

We bought this house because it’s close to our business, but we love the history: It’s one of the few Colonial-style homes in this area and was built by a blacksmith," say homeowners Richard and Alison Crowell. "We didn’t change the façade at all." The lanterns on the front of the house still use gas and have real flickering flames. Keeping with its historic look, gray composite tiles give the roof old-fashioned charm, and they’re fireproof — important in California.

"The roses were here when we moved in, but in bad shape," say Richard and Alison. They hired a rosarian (rose specialist), who nursed them back to health. These iceburg roses look dainty, but they’re disease- and mildew-resistant. The two crape myrtle trees thrive in the heat.

Location: Healdsburg, CA

Built in: 1870s

Size: 5,000 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Moonmist, (trim) White Snow and (door) Tanager, Sherwin-Williams

“We love the colors of our home’s exterior. The soft blue looks pretty against the black shutters and front door,” say homeowners Stephanie and Jamie Neilson. A portico with four round, fluted columns makes this stucco Dutch Colonial even more elegant. Black awnings with white trim and open sides echo the house’s shutters and shade the west-facing front windows from late afternoon sun.

Four ficus trees evenly spaced across the front of the house thrive in partial sunlight. The flower bed blooms with gerbera daisies, sweet alyssum, tulips and pansies. In Pasadena’s warm climate, they blossom from late February through November.

Location: Pasadena, CA

Built in: 1927

Paint colors: (house) Celtic Gray and (shutters and front door) Black Suede, Behr