Q: We’ve lived in our house for 4 years now. We have 4 children and most likely will move to a larger house next Spring. Can you give us some ideas about how to create some curb appeal? We are willing to paint and do some landscaping.
BTW, used the Ivory Tusk for the walls of our newly remodeled walk out basement and absolutely love it. Also, used the Whispering Spring in the bathroom. Love that too. Thanks! Chris Murray, Summit, New Jersey
A: Thanks, Chris. First of all, with four children, congratulations on even getting out of bed in the morning. I spend more than 3 consecutive hours with my twins and I feel like I deserve a medal.
Second, I think your house looks charming as is, but you’re right to be thinking about curb appeal in this increasingly tough housing market.The exterior colors do look dated to me – the sagey green shutters in particular.
I would play up the country house feel and go with yellow on the clapboard and a dark green or deep blue (a little friendlier, somehow) on the shutters.
A client of mine just used Benj. Moore‘s 2064-10 Bold Blue on the shutters and front door of a yellow house and loves it. ( HC-6 Windham Cream – a “best of bossy’s colors” color – is a good creamy yellow, stronger than the swatch at right appears.)
If you prefer green for the shutters and door, Black Forest Green (an “EXT RM” color, no number) is excellent because it’s so black – very English. I can’t find a tab of it, but 2050-10 Salamander is close.
It would be worth asking a landscape person for some advice on the garden. At a minimum, I think it’s worth replacing your window boxes with natural wood or coco-moss to hit home the whole “country house” idea.
Since you’ll be showing it in the spring, you could plant a zillion bulbs this fall so your garden is exploding with color when you show it. If that doesn’t work, or if you just don’t have time (because you have FOUR KIDS), put readymade planters of multi-colored flowers flanking the front door – replacing the topiaries – and put two more at the bottom of the steps.
Or better yet, have your realtor do it. Especially if he or she has fewer than four kids.
