When we bought our 3-acre plot, and the funky little fixer that sat on it, there wasn’t a whole lot of landscaping goin’ on…
We’ve spent the past few years mainly working on the inside of the house, but my master gardener Mom has helped us add a few touches of color here and there…
I took advantage of the nice weather this past weekend and got some much-needed weeding and exterior-related cleaning done. The chairs on the porch had definitely started looking more shabby than chic…
I hosed them off and sprayed them with some leftover oil rubbed bronze spray paint I had from our Eagan mirror project…
I washed the inexpensive Ikea cushions we have on them too…
Amazing what a quick coat of paint and a spin in the ol’ washing machine can do!
And I finally got my beloved begonias. I planted two light pink ones in the big pot between the chairs, and this ravishing red one in a smaller pot by the front door…
And speaking of fun flowers- I got couple of them in the mail this week too…
They came from Santa Rosa Gardens in Florida. (My Mom just got a job there, so I just had to place an order!)
I don’t think I’ve ever received a live plant in the mail before now, but I gotta say, it was pretty neat. (And their customer service lady is SO friendly!)
They were buried in puffy layers of brown paper, and wrapped up snug in little netted ‘socks’…
I got the baby daylily to go next to the big one you can see back there in the distance…
I think I’ll get one more to completely soften the edge of that curve at some point.
I also received this fuzzy little fella…
I planted it in front of the hanging plants we got last week…which, by the way, are so pretty when the sun comes out…
Their little flower heads stay closed if it’s cloudy out. (Kinda like mine- LOL!)
So, the house doesn’t look quite as drab today…
…but there’s still lots of work to do out there. Kev’s chompin’ at the bit to paint the place, and he’s determined to do it him$elf, ifyaknowwhatI’m$ayin.
Here’s (sort of) what we’re thinking…
(Come on over Google reader! We’ve got some presto change-o’s to show ya!)
(Move your cursor on and off of the photo below)
A warmer paint color on the house, new DIY wood shutters, and crisp, white-painted window trim.
And maybe we’ll go wild and wrap our round columns with wood, to make them square, kinda like these…
Move your cursor on and off of the photo below to see what that would (sort of) look like…
I’m not sure it’s totally necessary, but we’re clearly obsessed with making changes always up for tryin’ something new!
This next presto change-o shows what we’re thinking about doing to our currently unfinished front door…
Don’t you think a little warm walnut-colored stain would look loverly on it?
There are so many different things we could do to the exterior, but we’re trying to keep costs down as low as possible, so maybe we’ll just tackle a few of these types of (semi) cost effective changes a little at a time…
(Move your cursor on and off of the photo below)
(FYI- none of these colors or ideas are set in stone)
We’d also kinda like to investigate the option of replacing the vinyl siding in the eaves with some kind of cedar shake material…
(Move your cursor on and off of the photo below)
(Maybe the front door and/or shutters would be a different color then? Kinda diggin’ the green!)
Who knows!
Kev and I always say that creating our own place together feels kinda like living in the ‘big kid’ version of a couch cushion fort.
There are so many opportunities for DIY adventure within those wacky walls!
PS- Here are the still photos in case you can’t view the presto change-o’s above…
Inspiration A:
Inspiration B:
And for more couch cushion inspiration…I give you: Lily…
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Cheri
Love the warm colors you chose and the cedar shake shingles. That is my vote (not that it matters).
Robin L.
I think that color would look great, along with the shutters and door color. And I always have a soft spot for cedar shingles. I think you guys are on to something!
Sue
Love your curb appeal ideas!
Have you ever thought of ripping out the concrete pad under the window and extending your lawn? I think it would look fab!
Sue
xo
Layla
Yes! I actually did a presto change-o showing what that would look like, but I didn’t end up including it in the post. So funny you thought about that too!
😀
Sue
Really, I’d love to see it. E-mail it to me?
Sue
xo
Heather R.
Love the warmer colors on your house. I know it will be stunning. 🙂
christi
Love the exterior changes that you have in mind…changing out the colors, and adding the cedar shingles will take it over the top! Amazing! 🙂
cailan
Love the presto! I need to be doing exactly what you did last weekend…maybe next weekend. Thank you for the inspirational push in the right direction!
Kara
Looks awesome! Can’t wait to see what you guys wind up with!! I’m sure it’ll be perfect!
Gabrielle
Hi Layla..I like all your choices..the wood color on the door. I love getting out in the garden and planting new plants…experiment all the time. Have you gotten any of my emails with pictures attaced for some presto chango’s…I’d love to see what you’d do to our outside…struggle with what color to paint..can’t make a decision…thinking of going Charcoal black with a crisp white trim and a pop of color on the door…but not thinking so good with a brown roof?
Amanda mangrum
Love Love Love the warm changes!!! Beautiful to match the inside:)
Charcoal and crayons
The exterior already looks a million times better than what you started with!
Looking forward to seeing some of these great ideas come to life.
LeahC
Love your “presto changes”…I think the warm color and green door would look wonderful:) Love the shutters, too!
Felicity @ Our Little Beehive
My momma is a master gardener too! I love it when she comes down and tidies things up for us 🙂
Karen
Looks wonderful!! What kind of plant are those purple-ish bushes? Oh and that little tree too? We’re planning to tear out some overgrown bushes this weekend, but I’m struggling with what to replace them with. Thanks for the inspiration!
Lisa Lyons
Love this! You did such a great job! I love that you use ‘less is more” mindset in your decorating! Thanks for the ideas!
Jennifer M
Beautiful ideas! I loved the warmer color on the front door, until I saw the green! Now I’m on the fence. They are both delightful! The cedar shake is nice too-also warm and inviting. Isn’t that amazing? Can’t wait to see what you choose. I am also a lover of Begonias. Your red ones have so many delicate petals. Are they a special kind?
Love your blog!
Layla
Hey Jennifer!
I’ll ask my Mom what they’re called…I accidentally threw away the little tags!
😀
Shana
I too would love to know what type of begonias those are! Love the shape of the flower!
MaryAnn
Great ideas & so inspiring! I love the cedar shake idea & the warmer color & yep, the squared off columns. Like you said, not necessary but such a pretty look!
It’s wonderful that you both find these kinds of projects fun 🙂
jana
Oh my goodness, my chairs have 2 sisters. I picked up the same 2 wicker chairs from my neighbor last summer and I painted them black and popped them in the house. I love them. You can see them if you click over to my blog.
Lizziefitz
The whole presto ,move your cursor doesn’t seem to work on my iPad? Two websites you might want to visit, Flythroughmywindow and justbeachy blogs. First one for great paint combo Texas Leather(warm and smart looking) .second DIY cedar shakes that turned out fantastic and very inexpensive . What about Bermuda shutters over your double windows so they are functional as well as gorgeous? Have a great day!!!
Layla
Hey Lizzie!
We have actually featured both those fantastic blogs, but I don’t think I’ve seen the paint combo or cedar shake posts- thanks for the head up!
🙂
Carly
Hi Layla, first time commenter here. 🙂 I just love your blog and all your beautiful decorating ideas. We live in a similar size and style of home so I get lots of wonderful ideas from you. Love your exterior ideas. Last year we painted our exterior in similar browns and have ordered a mission style wood front door to finish it off and would love to add more landscaping like yours. Beautifully done!
Shaunna
lovely.
😉
shaunna
Sherri Langford-Farrell
What a difference!!! Love it!!!
Pam McCormick
Okay my 2 cents…leave the brick you have but go fern green. Keep the door color, but freshen it and add cedar shakes. You then have 3 colors to mix and blend- shades of brown because of the roof and cedar shakes, shades of green because of the body of the house, plants, etc., and mustard-gold tones because of door.
Seasonally you could add pops of color like pink flowers for summer, orange/pumpkin for fall, and cranberry/reds for winter.
Layla
Hey Pam!
Our roof is actually a medium gray color, but I love the idea of all the colors you suggested!
🙂
Pam McCormick
OOPS that could change the color scheme SORRY! medium grey is terrific and I love your door color ….I actually like your exterior texture with the stone/brick material but agree with you to change it’s color.How would charcoal or slate grey, green shades and your door all look? it gives you tons of options for flowers and landscape otions.Best of luck with whatever colors you choose.My husband and I painted our house 1913 cape cod and helped our daughter/son-in-law paint their house last summer with Behr primer included paint and it worked great.
Melanie
It is sooo funny!
I was totally thinking you should change the vinyl and then the next picture was of you changing the vinyl to shake…it’s like you took the thought right out of my head:)
Great ideas- as always!
Tammy
love love the new exterior colors your thinking about!!!
Lee
Oh yes! The warm browns and tans with the green door are absolutely inviting!!!
Katy Lunsford
I { L O V E } your house and the things you are doing to it are awesome!
Joyce
I really like the new paint choices- makes the house look more cottage-y than the more formal color it is now, tho’ the current color is lookin’ good, too!
The portion of the driveway closest to the front door? Maybe an old bench, umbrella & table/ ironwork/ trellis w/ plants beneath to give you more height there to balance off the other side of the house…. of course, if you need that for parking- never mind!
Lisa
Love the presto chango days! The warmer color looks so pretty and inviting – and how lucky are you to have your mom for ideas and inspirations for your garden???
[email protected]
Love it! You have some great ideas! And how nice to be able to see what it might look like before spending the money. It does my heart good to see that you are also in a little rancher like we are, however I don’t see the dreaded carport in your picture 🙂
Rachel Pedersen
Santa Rosa Gardens is not far from me… Doesn’t planting new things just make you feel good?!?! It is nice to step back at the end of a yardwork day and see all that has been accomplished 🙂
Patsy
Layla, I can’t get the cursor movement to work for me. I’ve had it work in your other posts like this. What’s wrong, can you tell me? Thanks BTW, the landscaping makes a huge difference. Once you get the house painted it will be gorgeous.
Layla
Hmmm…I’m not sure Patsy. You may have to refresh the post? I know how to draw, but I haven’t a clue when it comes to anything technical! LOL!
Michelle "Chaos Caretaker"
I really love the wood shutter look (been thinking about doing the same on our abode), but my favorite detail is the thatched looking eave where the vinyl is. How cozy does that make it!?! I have a question. What software do you use to update your colors on existing pics? That is so much fun to be able to visualize what your plans will look like after the fact. I would love to do that for an area of our house. I am guessing by a few things you have mentioned that we may not be that far apart in proximity…we are in Montgomery.
Layla
Hey Michelle!
We’re in Prattville, and I use Photoshop to presto change-o our pics!
😀
Michelle "Chaos Caretaker"
Suh-weet! My hubs lived in Prattville when we met (and brought together our blended family of five). Shoot me an email if you ever want to meet for coffee or a chat over paint swatches. I have the utmost respect for your vision and eye for design.
Donna K.
I like the green door. I’m a believer in the 3 color combo for houses. So far, no one has mentioned porch boxes! That’s all I could think of when looking at your house. Porch boxes under the windows filled with flowers would really “cottage-it-up.” 🙂
Kelly
I like the warmer colors on the outside too! How nice to buy the plants through your mom – very sweet.
Beth
Lookin’ good! I would DEFINITELY add some shake shingles to the eaves, but I’d use the same color you use on the stone. You can get vinyl ones in many colors. They would be much more subtle and add another wonderful texture against the stone. Also, wouldn’t you like a dark stormy gray next to that creamy stone color?? I think that would be amazing, especially looking at the color of your roof.
Layla
Hmmm…we were thinkin’ the cinderblock would be a taupey-tan color, more than a cream color. Guess we’ll just have to keep playin’ around with things until we come up with the look we love! Thanks for the suggestions Beth!
Beth
Oh, I forgot to say that I LOVE the color you’ve shown for the cinder blocks – and yes, I’d call it taupey-tan other than cream, too. 🙂 Love everything you do!!
Patsy
I tried again, now it’s working. I have to tell you those colors do not do it for me. I think the house needs more contrast than the beige with the natural wood shudders. Then again it’s your house. I just imagine something more cheerful looking to prepare people for the gorgeous inside y’all have created. I will send you a photo of my exterior just to give you an example of what I’m talking about.
Layla
We’ll look forward to receiving your photos, Patsy!
Mike @HA
We recently made a grown up blanket fort! http://www.athomealterations.com/2011/04/urban-camping.html
The curb appeals are looking great! We really want to fix up our exterior but we’ve been so busy indoors we haven’t had time (or money) yet. For now, I’ll just enjoy yours 🙂
Grey Stables Cottage
I love it! Big vote for the shakes in the gables, after all you can’t ever have too much texture 🙂 It’s so funny you posted this today, I’m hosting a giveaway for a curb appeal makeover as we speak! It’s funny though we’re going the opposite direction on our house 🙂 If you see my “present” and “dreaming” pics we’ve gone from beige to grey, but I think with the cinderblock avoiding grey is a smart move. Such a clever girl you are!
hugs
Dawn
Ok! I love the brownish changes except the Mom in me says keep the extra concrete for safe bike riding in the driveway… And instead of ever needed maintance cedar siding try the regular siding but they make a newer version that we used on our home that is vertical instead of horizontal. Home maintaining is tough work and motherhood is always calling! 🙂 Good luck with whatever you do and keep up the wonderful blogging about it along the way!
Layla
Right there with ya Dawn! In fact, our neighbor kids often use our driveway to ride their bikes on. (theirs is gravel)
Plus, it always seems like we need the extra parking spaces. (Kev’s in a band ya know!) 😀
Elen
What fun! The warmer tones are lovely. I particularly like the pop of the green door. Very inviting. Good luck!
Fairfield House
Layla,
Love the ideas you have for the exterior of TLC! I suggest you host a painting/planting party. Kevin can just play some tunes for us to pace ourselves. Considering the turnout you got for your garage sale at Rhoda’s, I’d say your house would be painted in 15 minutes! 🙂
Your Friend,
Deborah
Deb-IL
As usual, Layla, you have come up with some big bang ideas for relatively little bucks! I’d love to get inside your head while your’e doing the mental gymnastics for some of these ideas. Love the warmer colors for your house and have no doubt you’ll tweak them until you come up with the best combo.
My husband and I are planning a move for a lifestyle change and are scouting a few different places around the country. Of course that means lots of nights spent on Trulia looking at houses and wondering if we could fix up this one or that one and make it home. You’d be a great person to go house hunting with – I’d be walking out the door of a dump and you’d be grabbing my sleeve saying “Wait, wait – just picture this….” !!! Hey – I just thought of another business idea for you – PRE-purchase design advice!
Cottage By The Sea
The color definitely warms things up but I do love the white/grey? Especially if you are leaving the stone. We have a house in our neighborhood that is the same stone and their shutters are what I call blueberry. Their door is also blueberry. Then they have window boxes and gardens overflowing with jewel colors, pinks, reds, rich greens, golds, oranges. It’s just beautiful. Whatever you two do will be beautiful, it always is.
Lorrie
I love all the ideas for exterior changes. If I had a vote, it would be the last presto chang-o with the green door. I’m sure whatever changes you make will look amazing!
Kim in MD
Love, love, love each and every idea for the exterior changes, although I do think it looks very cute as is! I really love the square columns…I have square columns in my house (trimmed out exactly the same as your potential column) and I just love them!
The video of Lily is just adorable! 🙂
Julianna
Every change made it neater and neater! So creative! I tell ya, you’re both full of creative genius! LOVE IT!
Marie @ Sally Lee by the Sea
I’m really digging the idea of square columns – they are fabulous! It really is amazing what paint and washing stuff can do; the chairs on the porch look really great now. Once the beautiful landscaping fills in it will be a real showstopper. Hope you & K have a lovely week.
Layla
Hope you have yourself a wonderful week too Marie!
😀
Susan
LOVE!! Especially the door w/ walnut and the cedar shakes. I wouldn’t go for the green door but if you want color instead of stain, what about a barn red??? (you know you wanna try it)
ps>> your presto works for me…but then I’m on a Macbook Pro. (I love my Mac, can you tell?)
Layla
Hey Susan!
I actually tried out a barn red colored door but it didn’t look as good as the green for some reason. Who knows what color it’ll end up in real life though! 😀
Layla
We love our Mac Mini too!
😀
Anne
I love the all the colors you chose for the facelift – really warm and classy. Adds so much to your already pretty house.
lawteeda
Love the presto change-o’s — How do you do that? Is it a special program?
Layla
Photoshop CS3! 🙂