One normally pictures Farmhouse, Craftsman, Plantation and Country home plans as having wide, wrap-around porches that surround the home or covered porches in the front and also in the rear. Cozy images enter our thoughts of porch swings, rocking chairs, lemonade, big lazy dogs and that “Oh so precious” family time. Our family has so many commitments we don’t take the time to slow down and enjoy one another’s company. If we do slow down it seems our quiet family time is shared with the TV, computer, phone, iPod and all the other electronic devices that keep us connected 24/7. That may be family time but definitely not “quality” family time.

We have lived in our home for over fifteen years and have always wanted to add a porch to the front. We put on an addition about five years ago and added the door but have not moved forward on the porch. The time has come. Over the years I have collected a lot of information about porch styles, material options, furniture and accessories. The porch we add needs to enhance the front of our home as well as create a cozy place to relax for the entire family.

I love the wrap-around porches that span the entire front of the home and then wrap around the corners and basically surround the exterior of the home. Unfortunately the exterior of our home will not lend itself to this. But I know we will be equally happy with a wide front porch that will be covered. A covered porch will definitely get more use. We will be able to use it when the sun is shining and even if it is raining. With it being covered, lighting and fans can be added. Soft lighting that adds charm as well as brighter lighting for night reading and board games. Outdoor ceiling fans will be a great addition not only move the warm summer air but to keep pesky bugs from bothering us.

The width of the porch will be dependent on what type of furniture arrangement we choose. The assortment is huge and ranges from lounge chairs, conversation sets, rockers and hammocks and styles from Traditional to Contemporary. To accent the frames of wicker, wrought iron, resin and aluminum there are plenty of choices in fabric and cushions that are made to withstand the weather. The biggest decision is what fits your personal style and also complements the exterior.

Once that furniture decision has been made the fun begins. It is time to accessorize! We are leaning towards a neutral color in the furniture cushions and plan to add accents that are bold, bright and colorful. There are many patterns available in pillows and outdoor rugs. Plaid, floral, geometric, and on and on, but one thing for certain is the choice will be good quality and weather and mold resistant. Also things to think about while decorating is artwork that can be hung outdoors, wind chimes, waterfalls, candles, vases and of course, outdoor plants. With so many options available it will be important to make sure we don’t go overboard. I don’t want the porch to be cluttered, just decorated in a way that is peaceful and relaxing and doesn’t require any maintenance other than the occasional wipe down.

To spruce things up and aesthetically tie it all-together we may want to add some flowering plants to the landscape in the front and also paint the shutters with accent colors that match the porch color scheme. This way the porch won’t seem like an afterthought but will stand out as a focal point.

In the beginning I’m not sure the entire family will agree with me but soon they will come around. It is time to spend some quality time together and not be connected to electronics but to one another. The porch will be our refuge. It will soon be our place to relax after a long day and have a change to sit back and talk.

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We have just finished building one of those country home plans and now it is time to add the driveway. Our new home is beautiful and I want to make sure the driveway is perfect and complements the exterior. It is the first thing visitors will see when entering our property and I want it to welcome our guests. It is a large investment but I know, if done correctly it will never have to be replaced.

Some of the things that need to be planned out are the location, shape, width, extra parking, turn around space, back up room, landscaping and material. This all sounds like a lot and it is. Years ago the only options available were dirt, gravel, asphalt or concrete. Today the options are a little overwhelming.

The first thing is the location. I want to make sure there is plenty of parking for guests entering our front door and also family members coming in through the garage. Then we will need to add sidewalks to both doors. I have read that the walks need to be at least 4’ wide so two people can walk comfortably side-b-side without bumping into one another.

Next is the shape and width. This is also another big decision. They can be circular, angled, curved or straight. Through research it is noted that driveways need to be 9-12’ in width and if there is a 2-car garage that width needs to be doubled. If there are curves or circles the radius should not be any tighter than 10-15’. If there are angles they should be in 18’ or greater lengths. If not, it is too difficult to maneuver a vehicle – especially a larger model. If your driveway is straight and leads right to the garage or carport there should be a minimum of 18’ from the driveway edge to the parking area. These are all standard dimensions and every situation is different but they at least give an idea of what is needed.

There is room on our property for extra parking, turn around space and back up room. For safety reasons this is very important. So many driveways have people backing up into the street. It is much safer to back up and turn around and then enter the street facing forward. I wanted to build one of those beautiful courtyards with fountains and landscaping in the middle but the suggested size is 55’ square and that would take up too much of our front yard.

Since we don’t have any landscaping done around the house yet this shouldn’t be too difficult. I want to make sure it all ties together around the entire home. In talking to local landscaping companies some great suggestions have been made. One that I will for sure want to remember is if I plan to plant any larger plants such as trees and some varieties of bushes to first find out what kind of root system they develop as they grow so they don’t wind under the driveway and cause problems. What a headache that would be!

I have noticed some of the older homes in the neighborhood have recently fixed up their existing driveways rather than have them replaced. Most of them were concrete and they just painted them to accent the exterior of their home. Others lined the concrete driveway with contrasting pavers and some went as far as resurfacing and stamping the driveway with really neat patterns and colors. It is amazing what is on the market today.

For our home design we have made the decision to use brick pavers along the side, pour concrete in the middle and stamp it with a unique pattern that will really set off the driveway and house. There are many professionals in our area and I am going to do some research into who does that best work at an affordable price. Installing a driveway is far beyond my expertise and I want to make sure it is done right. One thing that I have found out while talking to neighbors is to make sure that the driveway slopes away from the house and doesn’t have high and low spots so water can stand and cause damage. Or worse yet, drain around our home and cause damage to the foundation.

After looking into all the option, one thing is for sure – I want our driveway to be trouble free, maintenance free and look good for as long as we own our home. With proper planning upfront I know that the driveway will add to the curb appeal of our beautiful country home plan and will impress all who enter or those who simply drive by.

While employed I worked on interior projects so thought I should find out a little more about the exterior and what to do and not to do. I talked to local real estate people and also some residential designers and found out some great tips. The first one being – curb appeal is critical. When a potential homebuyer has so much to select from on the Internet, through the paper, local magazines and also from just driving around neighborhoods, you have to grab their attention with a beautiful exterior that has great curb appeal.

One thing that I had not thought of but is very important is the mailbox. The one on the home that I bought is a metal mailbox on a 4×4 pole. The weeds are so tall you can barely even see the box. The message this sends to people driving by is if they can’t even take care of the mailbox I’m sure the house is also a mess. So they do just that, drive on by. A great rule of thumb from the realtor is to make sure the mailbox resembles the same style of the home. If it is a contemporary home, purchase a contemporary style mailbox. Since the home I am flipping is a country home design I want to try and find a country-style mailbox that is the same color of the exterior of the home. I’m sure I can find one on-line or at the local hardware store. I need to start over with the landscaping around the mailbox. Plans are to pull up all the weeds and see if there are any plants worth keeping. If not I will till it all up and surround the pole with little evergreens mixed in with some bright colored flowers. I will then purchase some house numbers that match the style and place them on the mailbox.

The next thing that needs to be addressed is the doorway. There are many different styles that range from the simple concrete path to the elaborate stone walkway. Whatever style I choose it needs to be one that makes a great impression. The entrance into the home is something everyone will see and will definitely pay attention to. The door style and color currently matches the home and looks OK but definitely needs a good coat of paint and new hardware. I also know that antiquing the front door and then adding hardware with an  antique style is very popular right now and would look good on this style of home. If I get ambitious I just might have to take on that task.

Symmetry makes one feel in balance and welcome. This goes for the exterior as well as the interior. I plan to frame the door with potted plants and light fixtures on both sides to create an entrance that is appealing to the eye.

Some people in the neighborhood have painted their doorsteps and some have even tiled them. They look amazing, but I think that is something I will let the new homeowner do if they are so inclined. I know I talked about placing house numbers on the mailbox but the way the porch sets I could easily be creative and place tiles above the doorway and then add the numbers. This may be something that is quite unique and will add to the curb appeal. We will see.

Now that I have covered the minor repairs, there are many other parts of the exterior that needs to be addressed. They are additional landscaping, porches, driveways, roofing, windows and garage doors.

Landscaping needs to contrast the home. The home is hard and solid so the plants and shrubs need to be soft and in proportion to the home to create an exterior balance. Once I get it all planted I need to make sure I take the time to keep it clean, well trimmed and fertilized. There is nothing worse than driving by a home and knowing that once there were beautiful plants, crawling vines and shrubs – only to see weeds are choking them.

Next is a new roof. It will be important to match to roof to the neighborhood and also to the home itself. Whatever type I choose it will be one that will last and won’t leak. This may take time to research what is best and what is available in the area.

There are not too many windows in the home but the ones that are there need to be replaced. They are single pane and I’m sure a draft can be felt when the wind blows. I have found the best type is the new ENERGY STAR window. They will definitely save the new homeowner on their energy bills. They come in many different styles and sizes. I just need to find the style that fits best with my overall exterior theme. I may have to get the assistance of a local window dealer to help me out.

What can I say – the driveway is in bad shape. It is too far-gone to just repair the cracks and clean the stains. It is very narrow and leads directly to the garage. There is plenty of room to create a much more inviting circular driveway that “swings by” the front door for easy access. I plan to pour new concrete and then border it with pavers.

The final things will be fixing up the front porch and rail and also painting the garage doors. The columns on the front porch are rotting and are only 4×4. It looks like the porch could fall down with a good wind gust. I will replace the columns with larger ones that are wrapped in vinyl and then replace the railing so that they all match. I know this will be a big expense but this will definitely pay off when the home goes on the market. The garage doors were recently replaced but are the standard white ones. I plan to paint them to match the front door.

Once I make all these upgrades to this run down home I know it will look like it was newly built. The value of the home will increase greatly and will have great curb appeal. Who knows, I may even want to live there and sell the one I’m in. Once the neighbors see how beautiful the home looks they will take the time to spruce their homes up so it will be a win-win situation for our cul-de-sac and also our home values!

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We are getting ready to be empty nesters but before that happens our home has to go through one last hurrah – the marriage of our youngest son. Soon after the wedding we will be moving into a smaller ranch home design.

There are many things we need to do in order to put the shine on our home and give it some curb appeal both for the big day and also for putting it on the market.

So many homeowners’ today don’t have the financial means to move into something bigger and nicer but have decided to take the time and fix up the home design they are in. I found a wealth of information on how to improve the home you live in.

It’s all about creating curb appeal. Some ways to accomplish this is to update your color scheme. Create a typical color scheme or be creative with the finishes you choose. Add some contrast for the extra spark. Clean up the landscaping, pull the weeds, and take time to repair the driveway so it doesn’t have to be replaced. Make sure your house can easily be found. House numbers need to be clearly visible so guests and potential buyers can find it. Spruce up the area around the mailbox and if possible have it match the style of your home.  To welcome guests try to create symmetry and balance when approaching your home. These are all some quick tips that don’t hurt the pocket book too much.

If your home needs other larger and more expensive improvements it will pay off in the end. Make sure your roof is in good shape. Contact a professional to make sure your shingles and gutters don’t need replaced. The last thing you want is a leaky roof that will damage the interior. You may also have to look at replacing or repairing windows and doors. They may be old and outdated and need to be replaced to update the look and feel of your home.

Some of these ideas may require the assistance of professionals to avoid structural issues in the future. Take the time to do them but make sure you do them right. Once completed you can step back and be proud of the place you call home – and you may not want to move at all!