Curb appeal is a ceaseless source of dilemmas for home owners. How to get inspired when you're looking at a totally uninspiring facade? You ask a designer; that's how. Someone who has experience looking beyond the grey, with a catalog of quick, practical fixes at the ready.
For the lucky M.Q., who sent in a photo of a grey lackluster split-level, the designer at hand is Peter Fallico! Peter's back this season with Home to Keep, a show that takes on new challenges every week much like the below. Check out how Peter transforms bland into elegant with only a few surface suggestions!
From M. Q.:
"Hi there,
I was planning to give some spark to my gray split level... I want to repaint the door (garage and front door) I just don't know if I should do both the same color ? and then which color to choose? The concrete steps also need to be refreshed.What are your suggestion to make it more appealing?
Thank you for your time."
Peter suggests: Hi M. Q. Yes, I definitely agree your gray split level needs some spark. Fortunately your home has great structure to work with.
Here are my suggestions:
- Keep all the white trim color.
- Repair the damage in your concrete steps and paint them using appropriate outdoor cement paint that's non-slip. I would paint them out in a deep charcoal color.
- New larger (at least double the size) outdoor light fixtures in the same or similar finish as your front door hardware. (Check out www.clicklightingandhome.com)
- Add black decorative shutters to each side of your window over the garage.
- If you can match your handrail add another to the opposite side or replace with all black hand rails on both sides.
- Add a large outdoor rug to your front porch.
- Add a large durable planting urn on the porch below the light fixture. Fill the urn with a large fern or I like using the ready made large hanging baskets that you can find in garden centers.
- You can also perhaps add a horizontal planter box below your 3-pane window on the right. The planter box should be the same width as your window, and make sure some of the plants cascade down.
Best of luck sprucing up your home!
Peter Fallico
Looks good, no? Do you guys have any other suggestions for M.Q.?
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