Copy the Curb Appeal: St. Paul, Minnesota
These eye-catching houses from HGTV Magazine are loaded with inspiring ideas.
About the House
“We were drawn to the entry’s decorative brick and the 9-lite windows. Before, the door was gray, and it blended in with the rest of the house," say homeowners Natalie and Joe Paquet. "Painting it red gave the whole place a happy refresh.”
The couple purchased the 1926, 1,821 square-foot home in 2001, then got to work revamping the yard, starting with American arborvitae trees that provide greenery even during freezing Minnesota winters. “The last homeowners were more grass people than plant people,” Natalie says. The couple chose a mix of hostas and sedum for an easy-care way to fill out the beds.
And those window boxes? Natalie built them with her dad, and puts in different flowers every spring. “I pick a color scheme — this year it’s red and pink — then layer in leafy textures,” she says.
House Paint
Snowfall White
Buy It: Behr
Window Frame Paint
Dark Storm Cloud
Buy It: Behr
Window Trim Paint
Cracked Pepper
Buy It: Behr
Front Door
It’s original to the home and painted Joe’s favorite color. The design around the door is common on homes in St. Paul. “Our brick has a mix of yellow, blue and red specks, which adds tons of character,” Natalie says.
Buy It: Therma-Tru (for stores), $1,878 and up
Front Door Paint
Vine Ripened Tomato
Buy It: Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines
Floral Doormat
Fessler 2' x 3' coir doormat in blue
Buy It: AllModern, $59
Lantern Light
Progress Lighting BrassGuard Collection 14-3/4"-tall aluminum lantern in black
Buy It: Build, $118
House Numbers
6000 Series 3" x 6" stoneware house numbers
Buy It: Craftsman Tiles, $19 each
Stoneware Chime
The couple hung one by local artist Sarah Dudgeon near the door. (5"H x 4-1/2"-diameter stoneware bell in buff)
Buy It: Connected Goods, $65
About the House
“We have a thing for cottages — our last place was one too," say homeowners Kate and Justin Dietz. "After seeing the winding walkway, the stone chimney and the quaint white shutters on this house, we couldn’t resist. It’s the ideal little retreat.”
The couple purchased the 1946, 2,000 square-foot house in 2017. In the yard, they barely changed a thing. “The way the ivy crawls across the siding and the wildness of the overgrown hostas and hydrangeas is exactly what we wanted,” Kate says. Japanese meadowsweet shrubs perk up the left side of the yard.
And the bay window? “We love the look of this window,” Kate says. “Nestled behind the greenery, it’s so picturesque.” Inside, there’s a sofa where she and Justin like to sit and read.
House Paint
Eclipse
Buy It: Benjamin Moore
Shutters and Trim
White Ice
Buy It: Benjamin Moore
Front Door
Kate and Justin were into the interesting design and can’t-miss-it color. “The blue feels really cheerful,” Kate says.
Buy It: Simpson Door (for stores), $800 and up
Front Door Paint
Athens Blue
Buy It: Benjamin Moore
Aluminum Mailbox
PRO-DF 16"W x 4-1/4"D x 8-1/2"H cast aluminum mailbox in black
Buy It: Wayfair, $66
House Numbers
Hillman 4"-tall aluminum house numbers in painted steel finish
Buy It: Lowe's, $2 each
White Planters
Yellow mums burst out of matching planters to the right of the steps. Next to the blue door, they’re even sunnier.
Buy It: AllModern, $83
About the House
“Our neighbors have always called this the ‘fairy-tale house.’ At first the monochrome look seemed stark to us, but once we added color to the yard and freshened the paint on the storm door, it felt completely magical,” say homeowners Erin and Tim Kjar.
The couple bought the 1928, 1,700 square-foot American tudor in 2016. Check out the front-facing gables, half-timbering (those exposed beams), stucco and stonework — classic features of an American tudor.
In the yard, Erin and Tim drew inspiration from the lush yet informal vibe of cottage-style gardens. They scored it with bushy shrubs and bright perennials in various heights. “The pink was an evolution,” Erin says. “The quick fire hydrangea were so pretty, I ended up piling on other shades of pink.”
House Paint
Metropolis
Buy It: Valspar
Storm Door and Trim Paint
City Storm
Buy It: Valspar
Window Trim Paint
Palisade Blue
Buy It: Valspar
Arched Front Door
Original to the home, the door’s arch makes it the couple’s favorite feature. And the storm door comes in handy: “It’s just the right height for our dog to peek out of,” Erin says.
Buy It: Doors4Home, $3,570 and up
Floral Doormat
Entryways Victoria and Albert Museum Espalier 18" x 30" coir doormat
Buy It: Wayfair, $30
White Sconce
Bayside Mission 9-1/2"-tall steel sconce in matte white
Buy It: Lamps Plus, $50
Address Plaque
Whitehall Rolling Hills 7-1/2" x 15" cast aluminum address plaque in pewter silver finish
Buy It: Home Depot, $100
Plastic Urn
Erin changes the flowers in the urns at the top of the steps seasonally. Right now they’re full of fuchsia zinnias and golden moneywort to go with the pink and green theme. (Arcadia Garden Products Hamilton 22"-tall plastic composite urn in chocolate)
Buy It: Home Depot, $104
About the House
“We were instantly charmed by this old house and lovely yard, though it had a plain yellow color that wasn’t doing it justice," say homeowners Katy and Mike Wardwell. "After polling family and friends, we went with dusty blue — it fits with the historic details and is very welcoming.” The couple bought the 1913, 2,617 square-foot home in 2017.
In the yard, the couple went with a quick fire hydrangea shrub, which turns pink as the season progresses and can grow up to 8 feet tall. Hostas on both sides of the yard balance it out.
And that path to the front door? It’s made up of recycled bricks from old St. Paul streets. Says Katy, “We knew right away the path was a keeper — it’s full of history!”
House Paint
Dix Blue
Buy It: Farrow & Ball
Trim Paint
All White
Buy It: Farrow & Ball
Window Trim Paint
Off-Black
Buy It: Farrow & Ball
Porch Paint
Down Pipe
Buy It: Farrow & Ball
Strawberry Doormat
Strawberry 18" x 30" coir doormat
Buy It: Etsy: blackandwheatco, $49
Metal Light
Cottage 9V832 11"-tall metal light
Buy It: Lamps Plus, $86
House Numbers
Avalon 4-1/2"-tall zinc house numbers in aged bronze finish
Buy It: House of Antique Hardware, $20 each
Wicker Chair
Torrey polyester and synthetic wicker lounge chair in espresso
Buy It: Pottery Barn, $1,249
Terra-Cotta Pots
Assorted small pots fit in with the home’s low-key allure. The terra-cotta one to the left of the steps holds a mix of purple, green and red coleus.
Buy It: Home Depot, $4
Black Planter
Wrapping around a bamboo stake, pink mandevilla stand tall in a sleek planter by the front door. And those hanging planters? Dragon Wing begonia and Creeping Jenny dangle from the two baskets on the porch. “They add greenery and a little privacy to our seating area,” Katy says.
Buy It: Grandin Road, $129
