Copy the Curb Appeal: Mystic, Connecticut

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November 02, 2020

From: HGTV Magazine

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Julie Bidwell

Photo By: Aaron Graubart

Photo By: unknown

Photo By: Julie Bidwell

Photo By: Aaron Graubart

Photo By: Julie Bidwell

Photo By: Aaron Graubart

About the House

“We saw a New England Cape Cod on a drive in the country one day and said, ‘We want that!’ So we built our own [in 1958]," say homeowners Dorothy and Douglas MacPherson of their 2,400-square-foot house. "We got traditional style — and a bright front door that’s distinct.”

The home's clapboard exterior, made with long horizontal boards that overlap, has been popular on East Coast homes since colonial times. Clapboard comes from the word klappen — Dutch for split (as in, wood hand-split from trees). Boxwood lining the front path and holly beneath the bay window on the right play up the home’s classic style. Rosebushes bloom from spring to fall, while coreopsis bring subtle hints of yellow in summer. A Japanese dwarf maple tree in front of the side porch creates privacy.

House Paint

Upward

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams

Trim Paint

Pure White

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams

Shutters Paint

Salty Dog

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams

Jeld-Wen 6-Panel Front Door

Fluted pilasters make a simple door look stately. “It used to be red, but the kids convinced us to paint it blue,” says Dorothy, “Now we all love it!”

Buy It: Home Depot, $136

Front Door Paint

Brazilian Blue

Buy It: Benjamin Moore

Door Knocker

Brass Accents Eagle 5-3/4"-tall brass door knocker in satin nickel finish

Buy It: Houzz, $58

Anchor Doormat

Kikkerland Anchor 18" x 30" vinyl doormat

Buy It: Bed Bath and Beyond, $32

Outdoor Light

Generation Lighting Sea Gull Classico 25-1/2"-tall brass light in black

Buy It: Foundry Lighting, $115

Ceramic Planters

Pink flowers really stand out in blue planters. “I like that they’re bright and showy, even from the street,” says Dorothy.

Buy It: Home Depot, $50

About the House

“We love the warm cottage feel of our place, so we embraced it!" say homeowners Kerry and Jeffrey Van Schoick of their 1,721-square-foot house (built in 1856). "We hung louvered black shutters and filled the yard with whimsical flowers that highlight the picket fence. It’s always such a good feeling coming home.”

When the couple bought the house in 2015, they knew they were after a natural feel with lush blooms and year-round greenery in the yard. Wild-looking stonecrop, coneflowers and boxwood line the fence, while fluffy holly and Russian sage fill the space under the windows. “The garden continues to amaze us with its constant blooms through fall,” Jeffrey says. And check out the picket fence. Like traditional ones, it's painted white to match the home’s trim. Its ornate design makes the garden oh-so-dreamy.

House Paint

Sag Harbor Gray

Buy It: Benjamin Moore

Rustic Knotty Alder Door

High-gloss black paint modernizes the original-style double front door. “The color and shape provide a great backdrop for holiday decorations,” says Jeffrey.

Buy It: Home Depot, $1,274

Front Door Paint

Black

Buy It: Benjamin Moore

Industrial Light

Lois 20 -1/2"-tall steel wall lantern in industrial bronze finish

Buy It: Birch Lane, $310

Dog Statue

Sitting Bulldog 6-3/4"W x 5-3/4"D x 9-1/2"H cement statue

Buy It: Houzz, $44

Fiberglass Planters

The entrance needed energy that matched the buzz of the yard. To the rescue: bold yellow pots filled with begonias that pop.

Buy It: Pots Planters and More, $137

About the House

“The roofline, cornices and trim work drew us in [when we bought the house in 2000], but we saw room for improvement," say homeowners Sandy and David Carpenter of their 2,200-square-foot house. "We gave it a new color scheme and added a window to the first floor, on the left side of the house. There’s so much joy in preserving a historic home (1850).”

As for the landscaping, Sandy and David neatened it up. They chose one taller plant (the weeping fig to the left of the door) that they put in a planter and bring in during winter, and one shorter one (the adjacent yew).

And check out the cupola. Cupolas were designed to add natural light and ventilation to attics. This original one is topped with a copper weather vane.

House Paint

Hale Navy

Buy It: Benjamin Moore

Trim Paint

Simply White

Buy It: Benjamin Moore

Traditional Douglas Fir Front Doors

Once home to a whaling ship captain, this house was later converted to a duplex. The couple kept both doors to maintain a symmetrical look.

Buy It: Simpson Door, $700 and up

Front Door Paint

Arroyo Red

Buy It: Benjamin Moore

Patterned Doormat

Kaya 18" x 30" coir doormat in navy

Buy It: Pottery Barn, $25

Door Knocker

Anchor Coastal 6"-tall brass door knocker

Buy It: Treasure Gurus, $43

Planters

Red New Guinea impatiens in matching white planters accentuate the color of the front door.

Buy It: Lowe's, $160

Wave Trellis

Panacea Products Wave 48"-tall steel pot trellis

Buy It: Amazon, $67

Post Light

Hinkley Freeport 20-1/4"-tall aluminum post light in black

Buy It: Lamps Plus, $289

Copy the Curb Appeal: Mystic, Connecticut

Related To:

Shop This Look

About the House

House Paint

Trim Paint

Shutters Paint

Jeld-Wen 6-Panel Front Door

Front Door Paint

Door Knocker

Anchor Doormat

Outdoor Light

Ceramic Planters

About the House

House Paint

Rustic Knotty Alder Door

Front Door Paint

Industrial Light

Dog Statue

Fiberglass Planters

About the House

House Paint

Trim Paint

Traditional Douglas Fir Front Doors

Front Door Paint

Patterned Doormat

Door Knocker

Planters

Wave Trellis

Post Light

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