Copy the Summertime Curb Appeal

These eye-catching houses from HGTV Magazine are loaded with inspiring ideas!

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May 30, 2019

From: HGTV Magazine

Related To:

The House: Salt Lake City, Utah

"Our Cape Cod was originally light gray, including the chimneys, and it looked washed out," explain homeowners Susan and Tom Smith. "We had the brick restored, then replaced the wood siding with dark gray composite shingles for more contrast. It’s totally fresh yet still classic."

In hallmark Cape Cod style, there’s no portico over the entry—instead the facade is flat. A dentil-molding-trimmed crosshead above the door makes the perfect spot for house numbers. As for the landscaping, Susan wanted the yard to be lush and inviting, so she planted a mix of tall flowers—like the pink, white and red hollyhocks close to the house—and shorter ones, like lavender and marguerite daisies in front of them. Cranesbills add volume.

Built: 1936

Bought: 2007

Size: 3,400 sq. ft.

House Paint

Stone Hearth

Buy It: Kelly-Moore (for stores)

Trim Paint

Whitest White

Buy It: Kelly-Moore (for stores)

Shaker Front Door

The glorious color—already in place when the Smiths moved in—is handy for giving friends directions. "There are a few similar homes on our block, but we can always say we’re the one with the red door," says Susan. (744 Traditional Shaker wood door)

Buy It: Simpson Doors (for info), $800 and up

Door Paint

Haute Couture

Buy It: Kelly-Moore (for stores)

Door Surround

Japanese Sable

Buy It: Kelly-Moore (for stores)

House Numbers

Premium 4"-tall brass house numbers in satin nickel finish

Buy It: House of Antique Hardware, $5 each

Heart Doormat

Heart Typography 18" x 30" coir doormat

Buy It: Target, $13

Adirondack Chairs

Adams Real Comfort polypropylene Adirondack chair in cherry red

Buy It: Ace Hardware, $18

Potted Plants

A sleek pot brimming with bright petunias perks up the concrete steps. (Dundee 9"H x 10"-diameter iron planter)

Buy It: Crate and Barrel, $40

The House: Saratoga Springs, New York

"While we’ve always been drawn to old houses, this is the oldest one we've ever had," say homeowners Jennifer and Frazier Taylor. "All the original details—curvy brackets, turned spindles, and the scalloped trim over the door—remind us every day that it’s been loved for more than a century."

The old landscaping was all thorny bushes—not good for the couple's young kids. New, softer plantings include tall spirea and low speedwell in front of the porch, with pinky white hydrangeas on the far left. To keep the summer sun at bay, Jennifer hung a UV-resistant outdoor curtain on the left side of the porch.

As for the fancy pink-painted wood brackets on the house—they're pure Victorian-era style.

Built: 1853

Bought in: 2014

Size: 2,560 sq. ft.

House Paint

Acacia Haze

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams (for stores)

Trim Paint

High Reflective White

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams

Gingerbread Trim Paint

Youthful Coral

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams (for stores)

Door Brackets

Ekena Millwork Crendon Wagon Wheel 12"W x 1-1/2"D x 12"H wood bracket

Buy It: Architectural Depot, $14

House Numbers

Bordeaux 7-1/2" x 9-3/4" aluminum house number sign in white and gold

Buy It: Comfort House, $60

Blue Runner

Courtyard Collection CY6015-243 2'3" x 6'7" polypropylene runner

Buy It: Amazon, $60

Hanging Lantern

Mellen 2-Light 19"-tall metal hanging lantern in mystic black

Buy It: Birch Lane, $158

Wicker Chairs

High backs and thick cushions make these seats extra cozy. (Hampton resin wicker lounge chair in ivory with cushions in Sunbrella guava)

Buy It: Front Gate, $1,179

Malacca Pillows

Malacca 18-1/2 " x 18-1/2" polyester pillows in blue and white

Buy It: Pillow Perfect, $85 (for a set of 2)

Navy Planter

Allen + Roth 14-1/2"-tall resin planter in navy

Buy It: Lowe's, $25

The House: Cincinnati, Ohio

"With its simple shape, two kinds of shutters, and a picket fence, this house charmed us instantly. It's like a country cottage, even though it's smack-dab in the middle of the city," say Donna McMullin and David Rensberger, homeowners.

In the yard, Hostas got the boot in favor of a colorful and wild-looking mix more typical of English gardens than Ohio ones. Black-eyed Susan and Becky Shasta daisies peek out from behind the pickets, with coneflowers in the center; ruby-splashed coleus holds court in front of the right window.

Built: 1923

Bought: 2008

Size: 3,200 sq. ft.

House Paint

Special Gray by HGTV HOME

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams (for stores)

Trim Paint

Snowbound by HGTV HOME

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams (for stores)

Shutter Paint

Hearts of Palm by HGTV HOME

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams (for stores)

Front Door

Donna and David liked the traditional vibe of their six-panel front door, but not its hunter green color. Eggplant purple feels both special and elegant. (6-Panel steel door with brickmould)

Buy It: Home Depot, $195

Door Paint

Expressive Plum by HGTV HOME

Buy It: Sherwin-Williams (for stores)

Brass Door Knocker

Modern 5-1/2" x 4-3/4" brass door knocker

Buy It: Williams Sonoma, $55

Black Wall Sconce

Darby Home Co. Coleg 3-Light 19"-tall metal wall lantern in black

Buy It: Wayfair, $157

Window Flower Boxes

Petunias deliver blooms all summer long, while trailing Limelight licorice keeps boxes looking plentiful. (Devon 36"W x 11"D x 10-3/4"H polyethylene window box in white)

Buy It: Grandin Road, $139

Avery Fountain

Avery 36-1/4"H x 29-1/2"-diameter concrete fountain in alpine stone

Buy It: Birch Lane, $890

The House: Savannah, Georgia

"Before I bought it, my bungalow was a depressing dark blue covered with mold, and it had weeds for a yard. But the wraparound porch was a dream!" says homeowner Jan Cunningham. "I kept driving by just to look at it. Now others do the same: People roll down their windows to tell me how much they love my house."

As for the hanging baskets, Jan explains, "I've had ferns on the porch of every house I've lived in. Their fullness gives some privacy, and they’re low effort."

Built: 1937

Bought: 2003

Size: 1,275 sq. ft.

Front Door and Trim Paint

Brilliant White

Buy It: Benjamin Moore (for stores)

House Paint

Beautiful in My Eyes

Buy It: Benjamin Moore (for stores)

Porch Floor Paint

Silver Half Dollar

Buy It: Benjamin Moore (for stores)

Floral Doormat

Opalhouse Garden Party 18" x 30" coir doormat

Buy It: Target, $13

White Wall Lantern

Valeri 11-3/4"-tall metal wall lantern in white

Buy It: Joss and Main, $78

White Wicker Chairs

Three Posts Burtch wicker rocking chairs in white

Buy It: Wayfair, $308 for a set of 2

Patterned Pillows

Pillows with watercolor-y blues go well with a peachy pink house. (Burkburnett 18-1/2" x 18-1/2" polyester outdoor pillows)

Buy It: Joss and Main, $80 for a set of 2

Green Planter

Lime green kicks up the cute at the base of the wide steps. (Turn on the Brights Cawley 9-3/4"-tall terra-cotta planter in green)

Buy It: Wayfair, $47

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Copy the Summertime Curb Appeal

Related To:

The House: Salt Lake City, Utah

House Paint

Trim Paint

Shaker Front Door

Door Paint

Door Surround

House Numbers

Heart Doormat

Adirondack Chairs

Potted Plants

The House: Saratoga Springs, New York

House Paint

Trim Paint

Gingerbread Trim Paint

Door Brackets

House Numbers

Blue Runner

Hanging Lantern

Wicker Chairs

Malacca Pillows

Navy Planter

The House: Cincinnati, Ohio

House Paint

Trim Paint

Shutter Paint

Front Door

Door Paint

Brass Door Knocker

Black Wall Sconce

Window Flower Boxes

Avery Fountain

The House: Savannah, Georgia

Front Door and Trim Paint

House Paint

Porch Floor Paint

Floral Doormat

White Wall Lantern

White Wicker Chairs

Patterned Pillows

Green Planter

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