How To: Curb Appeal
Whether you're selling your home and want top dollar, or just want a beautiful house to come home to, start at the street. Focus on the essentials - upkeep, landscaping, balance, cohesiveness and charm - to get that often-lusted-after-but-seldom-achieved "curb appeal."
ADDRESS REPAIRS
Wash, paint, repair. You can spend all the time (and money) in the world with frou frou distractions, but if you need a new roof, you need a new roof. Start with the basics and the rest will be the icing on top.
Scrub the siding, touch up the trim, and repair the handrail. And, while it can be costly, a fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference and may be worth it.
CLEAN UP THE landscaping
Trim the trees, prune the bushes, sweep your walkways and even the mulch. Reseed or replace brown patches in the grass. Create balance between each element: established landscaping looks even better when it's in proportion with your home. And don't forget about pots, planters and window boxes; layer each with seasonal blooms to add color and texture.
Edit
Aim for consistency in terms of architectural and design style. If you have a Craftsman door, decorative Victorian corbels won't make sense. Use online sources like Pinterest and Houzz to inspire and guide you.
If you're having a tough time putting a finger on what doesn't feel quite right, don't hesitate to call in the pros - an architect or designer should be able to spot the issue easily.
Add charm
The most welcoming entries have a little personality. Add a pop of color with a painted door or shutters. Replace your door hardware and add a vintage door knocker. Create ambiance with lighting. Rotate seasonal wreaths. And don't forget the welcome mat.
Take caution: while special features can be memorable, take care in choosing those that are not polarizing style-wise. Your cherished antique knickknack collection might feel overwhelming and distracting to others.
The Best: White Paint Colors
Everything you need to know about selecting the right color and my go-to faves.
It is the design question every client asks, the decision that stumps the most: what paint color should I use? There are literally thousands of colors available - many of which are lovely and many more that look the same. (How many whites does this world need?!) Add in a dozen brands to choose from, a mind-boggling array of sheens... And while many designers and contractors will tell you otherwise, paint is a pain to change and it can be expensive to do so. Better to get it right the first time.
We'll share a little secret with you: designers use the same handful of colors over and over again. We know what works and rarely deviate. We not only want to get it right the first time, we want to get it right every time, because wall color is so important.
WHY NEUTRALS RULE
Think of your walls like the canvas for everything else in your room. Neutrals don't go out of style or beg to be changed with the season. Regardless of whether you love brights, deep hues or anything in between, choosing the right neutral will provide your color palate with a strong foundation, allowing your furnishings, window coverings and architectural details to really pop.
OUR PICKS
Before you judge: the colors above look nothing like they do in real life, so we're doubtful you'll fall immediately in love with them like we know you would if you saw them in person. Ugh. We beg you to head to your local Benjamin Moore retailer and see their beauty in person... they're worth it.
Our go-to color for trim is Benjamin Moore's Simply White, OC-24. It's not too cool, not too warm... it's simply white. And for a soft, creamy, "I play well with others" wall color, we use Benjamin Moore's Wind's Breath, OC-117. It's not too cool or warm. It doesn't push yellow or gray (as many neutrals do!), but it looks beautiful with either. It's the perfect neutral.
The combination is admittedly light, which we love, because it creates an airy foundation... to which you can add everything from bright hues to deep tones, depending on your style or mood. There is enough contrast from trim to wall, but not so much that all you see is woodwork. We've used it countless times because it works.
Simply White, OC-117, Benjamin Moore
Winds Breath, OC-24, Benjamin Moore
CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLORS
If you don't care for the above combo, here's how to select your own:
Look for inspiration. There are many resources (Houzz and Pinterest are our faves) where you can find photos with paint colors listed. Select your top three and look for the common thread - are they all gray? All creamy? Somewhere in between?
Look at your existing furnishings. If you're in love with gray walls, but have all gold-yellow-cream upholstered furniture, it may be wise to compromise with your paint color. (Mixing neutrals is very "in" but tough to do well.) Consider a hue that can swing both ways, like Feather Down (above).
Pay attention to undertones. This can be tough to identify in a light shade, so look at the darkest color on the swatch (within the same color family) for clues. Do you see cooler tones like blue or green? Or warmer tones like brown or yellow?
Consider your lighting. If your room is flooded with natural light, you'll see the hue's truest color. Other lighting types/sources (fluorescent, for example) can draw out the warmer or cooler tones in a color.
Try samples on your wall. It's takes a little extra time and effort up front, but painting 3x3 "swatches" on your wall will give you a much better idea of which color you're drawn to, which looks best with your existing furnishings, and which looks best in your room's lighting.
COORDINATING TRIM + CEILING COLORS
Select a trim color that provides contrast from the walls, but that maintains a similar undertone. For example, if you have a cool gray wall, ensure your white trim does not have a creamy yellow undertone. A "blue white" will be better suited. For ceilings, try the same color you used on your walls or trim in eggshell sheen.