6 house designs that maximize curb appeal

The Cozby House

ARCHITECT
Rick Garza
RPGA Design Group, Inc.
rickgarza@rpgaarchitects.com
817.332.9477x206
www.rpgaarchitects.com

When it comes to selling your homes, making a good first impression is key to prospective buyers. Curb appeal is vital to selling your homes and getting what they are truly worth. There are some key elements in creating an inviting curb appeal on a budget that will have buyers making offers quick.

While this example is a remodel, I believe it offers simple tactics for spicing up your home exteriors. First, we removed the shutters; if they’re not operable, we don’t need them. Also, when you have window flower boxes, they should align with the windows they’re under. Moving the boxes underneath the windows, giving them a fresh coat of paint, and planting some seasonal flowers finishes up this small weekend project.

Giving the house and the front door a new coat of paint immediately updates the entire exterior; it’s the easiest and most cost effective way to change how your house looks. If you’re having problems choosing a color palette for your home, visit the paint center at the local hardware store for inspiration. The paint manufacturers have spent time researching which colors coordinate with one another. They also have swatches that “fool proof” the selections by laying out which one is the base, the trim, and the accent color.

We also replaced the dated floral railings and added built-up columns with stone veneer that complements the new paint color on the brick. This may be slightly more costly than a simple new column, but the character it adds is worth a little extra money.

New planters flanking the entry give the property a more inviting feel, and low-voltage solar lights along the walkway provide security and safety. We also added trees to the front yard for visual interest and shade.

A. Removed shutters

B. Relocated window boxes with fresh flowers

C. Newly painted house

D. Painted door to add color to house

E. New railings for porch

F. Updated columns with stone veneer

G. Changeable planters from season to season

H. Low-voltage solar lights for security and safety

I. Shade trees to lower utilities

J. Fresh mulch for water retention

Craftsman Bungalow

ARCHITECT
Donald F. Evans, AIA
The Evans Group
407.650.8770
devans@theevansgroup.com              
www.theevansgroup.com

What do you do when you find a solidly built but less-than-charming, 1950s struck-block home on a double lot in the sought-after neighborhood of College Park in Orlando? Oh, and did I mention that it’s across the street from a beautiful city park? Renovate, renovate, renovate.

As always, our job is to take a sow’s ear and create a silk purse. The previous homeowners had spent a lot of money to remove the roof, raise the walls two courses of block, and re-roof the home, but unfortunately they didn’t help the style of the home with such a low-pitched roof.

Taking the givens into consideration, we chose a style that could work with the design features in place and created a Craftsman Bungalow. The design includes: extending the porch across the front of the home with a standing-seam metal roof; detailing the columns and adding a faux stone base; sheathing the home with cementitious horizontal siding; adding new windows, shutters, flower boxes, and wide window casings; detailing the gable end of the existing porch with cementitious shakes, exposed roof rafters, and decorative knee braces; and replacing the garage door and adding a trellis above.

The color palette selected is style appropriate, which completes the Craftsman look that took its inspiration from an actual Greene & Greene bungalow. The transformation continued with the addition of a curved paver driveway, the removal of all sod, and the addition of planting material and a drip irrigation system. This home went from a “drive by” to a “stop and take a closer look.”

A. Extended the front porch across the front of the home with a standing-seam galvanized metal roof 

B. Designed the columns with a tapered square detail with a faux stone cap and base

C. Cladded the home in cementitious horizontal siding, adding new windows, shutters, flower boxes, and wide window casings

D. Exposed roof rafters, decorative knee braces, and cementitious shake siding details added to the gable end of the original porch

E. Replaced the garage door with a style-appropriate solid wood door and added detail of wood trellis above.

F. Added a circular driveway in pavers, removed all sod, and added plant material, pine needle base, and a drip irrigation system.

G. The style of the home continues to the rear of the home with a cedar deck and trellis, the landscaping, and koi pond with waterfall.