The House Plan Shop Blog

You don’t have to own a money tree or take a month off work to spruce up your home and add some curb appeal. With a little imagination and creativity and a willingness to have fun, these DIY projects will give your home an inviting look and maybe even boost your property value.

1. Give the front door a fresh look. With a fresh coat of paint, your home will make a statement to the passers-by on the street. Bright red or a bold hue of blue will give classic Colonial and Cape Cod homes, as well as other styles, a striking look. Likewise, a good cleaning and a fresh coat of varnish will give natural wooden doors an elegant look.
2. Remodel your porch. Adding a new porch or remodeling the one you have is like giving your home a facelift. A small porch will accentuate the entry while a full-length porch or wrap-around porch will transform the look of your home and add outdoor living space.
3. Enhance your walkways. Be adventurous and try something other than traditional gray concrete walkways. There are all kinds of interesting pavers and stepping stones available at home improvement stores and landscaping centers. Build a walkway with bricks or paving stones and add a touch of enchantment and charm to your home.
4. Add a little life. Dress up your walkways, porch and entry with flowers and plants. Simple touches such as hanging flower baskets or ferns on the front porch, window boxes, potted plants on the steps, or a Japanese maple along the sidewalk can make the most ordinary home stand out in any neighborhood.
5. Add accent lighting. There are a variety of lighting fixtures that will dramatize your home from dusk to dawn, including solar power lighting. Add carriage lamps by the garage, decorative lighting on the covered front porch or landscape lighting along the driveway and walkways. You’ll give your home curb appeal from the dark street and increase safety.

By tackling just one or all of these curb appeal enhances, you’ll make your home stand out in the neighborhood and deliver a welcoming look to all who enter.

Tags: curb appeal, DIY projects, Home Decorating, Home Improvement, Lawn and Garden

Mediterranean homes are considered beautiful and elegant by many. To achieve an exquisite exterior look that is sure to catch the eye of passersby, it is important to understand what makes these homes POP with curb appeal. If you are building with Mediterranean house plans consider these tips to achieve a stunning exterior look.

Exterior Finish and Trim

• Mediterranean homes found throughout Spain, Italy and Greece feature a stucco façade painted in a light color, such as beige or a pastel hue, due to warm temperatures and sun exposure.
• Brightly colored, red clay tile roofs accent the light color façade with eye-catching magnitude.
• Wrought iron gates and railings are characteristic of Mediterranean homes.
• Incorporate brightly colored, hand-painted patterned tiles or mosaics in a square or round shape above the entry door, on the side of the home or on stepping stones in the garden or courtyard.

Landscaping

• Seek professional help to come up with a good layout for your garden and the landscaping surrounding your home.
• Include lush green plants that are suited for your geographic region such as palm trees, jasmine bushes and other rich foliage creating a striking contrast between the light colored walls and the healthy green plants.
• Incorporate an herb garden into your landscaping with herbs and spices you will use in your favorite Spanish and Italian dishes.
• Create a path through your garden and to your front door with stepping stones such as limestone.

When it comes to building a home with Mediterranean house plans it is important to know how to compliment the exterior and achieve stunning street appeal. These tips for exterior finish and landscaping are sure to make your home stand out among all others. You can find other ideas for decorating and landscaping a Mediterranean home by paging though magazines and looking at various online websites.

To find a Mediterranean home plan that is sure to accommodate your needs and deliver an elegant feel and life style, take some time to visit The House Plan Shop.

Tags: decorating tips, exterior, landscaping tips, Mediterranean home plans, Mediterranean House Plans, style