Curb Appeal – What You Can Do

You just have to see the Victorians in the Historic District of Ocala. There are a growing number of intriguing paint combinations – making each of those houses unique and in several cases just gorgeous.

Therein is some inspiration. The more distinctive the architecture, the more details involved in a structure, the more you can make a statement. BUT, subtlety and compatibility are as important as contrast.

The best looking houses typically are painted either with a darker color with lighter trim, or the reverse – lighter color with darker trim. Neutral colors work best – like setting a stage, and letting the details make the strongest statements. Don’t forget that a roof has color too.

One of the loveliest impressions we’ve seen is in Tallahassee – a two story home with classic style painted with a soft gray exterior then highlighter with black shutters and trim - a backdrop for landscaping. And masses of the same color in flowering plants just grab your attention.

Another example - a one-story custom home (with porches) painted in a darker gray, satin finish, with a blue cast is another neutral that makes a statement – trim mostly in white, but with some architectural details in light blue. Then, a wine red front door, and all of the outdoor furniture is painted the same color as the door – making those items pop.

This color scheme was devised by Jill Ann Brown, an Ocala interior designer. And the flowering trees and plants are red.  So there are pops of red deliberately placed to invite your eye to notice the whole expanse of a larger than usual property.

This time of year, massing red poinsettias in red pots is so attractive, people driving by actually stop. One plant does not make that statement. Even a small cluster does not make enough of a statement. It’s the intensity of massing them that demands attention even from a distance. And it all blends in coordination with that front door - not a glaring color, but definitely a contrast so it is visable enough to be noticed.

Putting containers from the plant nursery into inexpensive colored pots makes it easy to change blooming annuals with the seasons. In the case of red, geraniums throughout the summer and burgandy pansies mixed into the masses of poinsettias work in the winter months.

The key is to use a color in landscaping that’s included in the color scheme of a house. Masses of white in a garden can have the same effect as the red. Lots and lots and lots of one color makes a welcoming statement, without having to resort to neon choices. The best thing to do is to avoid neons, and use consistency instead. If any part of a house is yellow, then a yellow garden works too.