how can I create kerb appeal

8 years ago

This is my recently purchased home. I rented for 3 years before I bought it. It is pebble dashed and most of it is in good condition, but it's not a pretty looking house. It's one of four houses built in 1958 for police officers. It's brick with cavity walls under the pebbledash.

my thoughts are to have the outside walls rendered and painted. What about a porch or a slated roof built above the large bay flat roof?

With th regards the garden. The privet hedge is like the hind leg of a donkey with slim and fat areas. As you can see from the pick, there is a forest tree growing right on the corner of the garden! It drips sap all over the garden plants. I'd like to take down the privet and replace with something else and then get rid of the conifer, fern type trees that are stuck here and there with no real design thought. I need a simple idea that I can do to the garden to give it kerb appeal.

Featured Answer

PRO

Dale Loth Architects

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

It's easy to imagine your delight at finally being able to improve the look of the house you were unable to alter for three years. Although it may not be the most obvious first step, I'd suggest looking at the overall character of the four houses before singling out your own. Perhaps think about how the whole group could be improved without radical alterations. There may be smaller changes that everyone would consider when funds allow, and ideally you'd agree a general approach.

Apart from technical and maintenance issues of rendering over the often-hated pebbledash, would the change in character harm the group as a whole? Would adding a pitched roof over the bay look good with the window proportions?

Good window design and landscaping can make a huge difference to a house's appearance. If the privet hedge is a unifying feature for the four houses, hard pruning and judicious fertilising would quickly improve its look, although the areas near the base of the tree are unlikely to thrive as much as those further away. If the neighbouring front gardens have no privet hedge, perhaps replace it with a more attractive truly evergreen alternative, or think about something less formal. Assuming the big tree (perhaps a lime?) is on your own property, it would benefit from removal of what looks like ivy growing up it and lopping of lower branches. (If you live in a Conservation Area, you'd probably need permission for this.) If the tree is one of a group, it would be wise to discuss changes with neighbours. Perhaps they'd all like to replace the trees with a more attractive, smaller-growing type. Of course, there are many appealing planting options for your front garden and this could significantly improve the look of the house. There, the orientation, soil characteristics, your personal taste, and how keen you are on gardening will help narrow down the exciting (or bewildering) range of options.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

Ocean Clarke
8 years ago
Some great advice from Dale Loth Architects there!
Related Discussions
How to increase curb appeal
Q
Comments (4)
I would start with a glossy leaf evergreen hedge across the front. Remove the fence down the path and replace with buxus hedging with topairy roses coming out of the middle of the hedge. I'd remove the trees in front of your window - they're too large and will only block out sun - can you replant in the back garden? The colour of the house is nice, I'm taking it you want to blend with the victorian houses or at least have a more traditional frontage? I think you would benefit from getting a garden designer in.
...See More
What can I do to give my house kerb appeal?
Q
Comments (13)
Do you own the property or are you renting? What is underneath the gravel? Do you use the two lines of flagstones for parking? If you own you will reap the benefit of any improvement, whereas it is hardly worth spending much money if you will be moving on and another will receive any gains. So if it's soil under the gravel, or if whatever it is can easily be cleared to reveal soil, in either instance planting will offer an economical, changing kaleidoscope as plants change colour, flower then set fruit or seed across the seasons. There is some maintenance commitment but for a space that size it won't be much. If you do park there you could put low-growing plants between the two rows of flags. If the ground is well covered in a hard-to-shift material such as thick concrete you could swap the gravel for another colour - various shades of blue or grey or would be a good fit - for a low cost solution. If you own, you could lay setts or attractive patio paving on top of the concrete or whatever is there but be aware of drainage considerations. Is it free draining right now? Whether gravel or other covering you will be restricted to container based plants whether or not you own. I would try to get a climbing plant growing up the wall around where the drainpipe is, just to break up the endless grey facade, and get it branching out over those outcropping lintels above the ground floor windows. A good design could probably achieve quite a lot more but I'm not a designer, just throwing in a few ideas.
...See More
How to improve curb appeal?
Q
Comments (7)
After more thinking, we are planning on a major restructuring of the front. The garage will be converted into another room, the front door will be moved to the centre and the window moved to the right. The pipe will be also moved (apparently our builder tells us it's not too difficult). We will probably adjust the position of the top right-hand side window so that it's more symmetric. Given these potential changes, what would you suggest we can do alongside these to make the house more attractive? Perhaps add bay windows? A porch? The house originally dates to 1920s so we would love to renovate it in keeping with that era.
...See More
Advice and ideas needed on how to add curb appeal
Q
Comments (7)
Thanks guys - love these landscaping ideas! Will also look into replacing the window - I think we are going to convert the garage so at the least we can consider this for the new windows we install here. It is kind of in the countryside - Chislehurst in Kent - so kind of in between but definitely not rural! My husband and I mocked up an idea of what we had been thinking before your suggestions ... see attached... what do you guys think? forgive my crap photoshop skills,...
...See More
Caroline Murphy
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you Dale Loth. I understand your thoughts re changing the appearance of the house. In actual fact, the other end of the four has rendered the outside and it does look odd.. Partly why I thought that rendering mine would balance them out. The already rendered house is the only one without a privet hedge - they have metal railings. I would not want metal railings but would like to do something about the privet. I will start by giving it some hard pruning to level it out.

unfortunately, the tree is not on my property. It is right on the corner of my garden on the outside. It is owned by the council who I contacted about overhanging branches and constantly blocked guttering. They removed three very spindly branches and left the rest. I did explain that the ivy causes the tree to block a lot of light but they did nothing about that. I will pester them some more.

i have no idea about how a pitched roof would look. I simply want to give the front of the house something to make it less council house looking. Currently, the garden is laid with pebbles and three fern / conifer trees that are simply stuck anywhere. There are lots of sickly looking shrubs which I think suffer with lack of light and sap from the tree... they will have to go. A lawn is out of the question due to the tree.

i would like something clean and simple so I can keep on top of the seedlings and leaves from the tree.
PRO
Dale Loth Architects
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Private and publicly-funded post-war houses often had similar, simple designs, but details and landscaping were sadly seen as expendable on many council houses. One rarely sees successful attempts to make these simple houses look what they are not, irrespective of their original funding source. On the other hand, excellent hard and soft landscaping, perhaps with subtle lighting, can transform their image.

Any arboriculturalist in your council should know the damage that ivy causes when it grows up a tree, (Since the tree has seedlings, it may be a sycamore, which can be real nuisance.) Some fine shrubs will grow under trees, though. Shiny-leafed evergreens will cope best with the sap. A flowering climber on a trellis on the front wall of the house could also make it feel less utilitarian, if that's to your taste.

When all the outside walls are faced with pebbles, the last thing you'd want is more of them covering the front garden, as if some of them just hadn't stuck to the wall. I'd go for areas of natural stone paving - perhaps largish slabs extending into the driveway - interspersed with ground-cover plants. Again consider the orientation and soil type before making any choices.
Caroline Murphy thanked Dale Loth Architects
Caroline Murphy
Original Author
7 years ago
My garden update so far. Most of the poorly planted and badly pruned old plants have been removed. The stones have gone and been replaced with wood chip for now... I need to come up with a plan. The hedge has also been seriously cut back so it is now straight and lower.
Caroline Murphy
Original Author
7 years ago
The bottom picture is the side of the house... Looking very bare now. Any ideas for this space? It gets a good amount of sun.
PRO
The Bulb Co
7 years ago
Hi Caroline, I'm not a very good gardener so can't really offer you any advice for what to plant I'm afraid! One thing you could do though which is what I've done at my home would be to give your drive way a good blasting with a power washer to clean up your paving area as it really does make a difference to how it looks and doesnt take that long to do.
Caroline Murphy thanked The Bulb Co
PRO
The Lighting Company
7 years ago
Hi, I'm of the same ilk as The Bulb co above, not a natural born gardener but clean and tidy with a few feature plants is great. A couple of plants that perform well for me, (mainly because i don't have to do anything are), 'red robin' and the Pieris Japonica which is the red one you have in the front garden by the looks of things. Both are evergreen and take very little care, well in my garden anyway. An occasional cut of the red robin keeps new growth coming through red. About once a year. There a link to more info from RHS whivh may help.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=145

That's the end of my gardening knowledge but I would offer a suggestion of a nice modern outside light something like this adds a bit of a modern look. If you can move the light a little further to the right as you look at the house it's let you show off the architectural detail of your doorway a little better.

Finally your home is pretty, it's looks well built and honest and that has a charm that many modern homes lack.

We have a great magazine which in this months edition talks a little about post modern homes. It's worth signing up to our newsletter and you get the digital mag FREE along with lots of other VIP benefits on of which is discount for any new VIP subscribers really worth doing as it's giving a special 20% Off at the moment. Maybe good time to join up?

Best Regards

The Lighting Company
Caroline Murphy thanked The Lighting Company
Caroline Murphy
Original Author
7 years ago
Many thanks to The Bulb & Lighting Company. Yes, the drive is a mess, due mostly to the gardens being stripped and lots of soil and dirt all over. It does need a damn good clean but that will have to wait until I've finished my initial planting.

i will certainly check out a more modern light Lighting Company ;). I can't move it though. Each time something is taken away, it leaves a pebble dash free area - not a good look. There are a few spots that need some attention already around the back but I think some planting may hide those.

Thanks again
PRO
The Lighting Company
7 years ago
I understand, maybe a light with a square or large back plate will be best for you both in terms of looks and practicality big enough to cover all of the dash free zone.

If you need any further help please feel free to email us... 'Lighting Related' I've exhausted my gardening knowledge.

sales@lightingcompany.co.uk

Best Regards

Lynne
Lauren
7 years ago
I think an attractive timber porch would make a great deal of difference to the overall look. Whilst I also like the idea of adding a pitched roof to the bay it would be out of step with the neighbours so probably appear odd.

You could also consider window boxes under the bay and maybe a front door colour change. A heritage sage green often works well against pebbledash.
championcat
7 years ago
well said Dale Loth Architects. a friend has recently renovated her 50s semi. with the exterior, she reinstated the original design, kept the pebble dashing, had a replica front door made to look like the original. her house is understated but has loads more kerb appeal than those with porches and roofs added on.
Caroline Murphy thanked championcat
Caroline Murphy
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you Championcat.. I'm replacing the door anyway. Was thinking of a light green but will now do some research to find a 50's style door colour.

i also like Dayles idea of natural stone slabs. However, unsure what he means re them going into the driveway? I've been lucky enough to come across someone who works with natural stone for patios (the project at the back of my house) I will see if he can suggest something for the front.
PRO
Branwhite Properties Ltd
7 years ago
A porch entrance that close to a bay window? I'd be tempted to build out the lower floor to the extent of the bay window and run a pitched roof right across the bay and porch.