Copy the Summertime Curb Appeal
These eye-catching houses from HGTV Magazine are loaded with inspiring ideas!
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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
