Exteriors: 10 steps to cool the exterior of your home - From front doors and garden fences with beautiful flowers; thoughtful design and the area of routine maintenance around your home will pay dividends in creating a good first impression. In addition to getting on top of most of the winter-proofing, like repainting doors and repairing walls, beautify your space by trimming hedges, planning to plant perennials in the spring and the creation a seasonal windowboxing. Check out these inspiring ideas to get you started.
Trewin Design Architects
You have a beautiful front door flowering
Frame your door with planters is a welcome gesture that will win applause from visitors and neighbors. Choose containers corresponding clay, zinc and wood for a designer look, and fill them with a bay long term or seasonal mixed green and lush flowers.
See a range of stylish metal planter
Frame your door with planters is a welcome gesture that will win applause from visitors and neighbors. Choose containers corresponding clay, zinc and wood for a designer look, and fill them with a bay long term or seasonal mixed green and lush flowers.
See a range of stylish metal planter
Communities ENVIRON Ltd
Stop the rot
a white picket fence looks pretty as a picture, but it can be quick to disappear if neglected. Check your fence regularly for wear, replacing the battens if necessary. An annual layer of protective mastic should help stop the rot setting.
a white picket fence looks pretty as a picture, but it can be quick to disappear if neglected. Check your fence regularly for wear, replacing the battens if necessary. An annual layer of protective mastic should help stop the rot setting.
Ryland Peters & Small | CICO Books
Dress your windowsills
window boxes and hanging baskets add instant curb appeal to the front of your house for very little 'effort. Opt for colorful flower varieties back for a whimsical look. Ivy and red flowers give a beautiful winter look to see you through the colder months.
For a more lasting effect, provide a few select plants that bloom at different times, so you have a constant stream of beautiful flowers throughout the year.
See other ways to go green on your doorstep
window boxes and hanging baskets add instant curb appeal to the front of your house for very little 'effort. Opt for colorful flower varieties back for a whimsical look. Ivy and red flowers give a beautiful winter look to see you through the colder months.
For a more lasting effect, provide a few select plants that bloom at different times, so you have a constant stream of beautiful flowers throughout the year.
See other ways to go green on your doorstep
Adrian Payne sculpture and metalworking
Paint your door
iron or metal doors get rusty from time to time, so treat them to an annual layer paint - all plan ahead so you can take a dry spell. It will increase their life and help them look clean and tidy, too. If your guards are in relatively good condition, give them a wash to get rid of dust and dirt.
iron or metal doors get rusty from time to time, so treat them to an annual layer paint - all plan ahead so you can take a dry spell. It will increase their life and help them look clean and tidy, too. If your guards are in relatively good condition, give them a wash to get rid of dust and dirt.
Llama Group
repair your walls
a garden wall is a solid and fairly low-maintenance alternative to a fence or hedge, but it still needs attention. If you have a wall, check for loose stones, bricks or crumbling showing the turn of each season, so you can attend to urgent repairs. It's also wise to remove unwanted plants growing therein to keep looking in the best shape possible.
a garden wall is a solid and fairly low-maintenance alternative to a fence or hedge, but it still needs attention. If you have a wall, check for loose stones, bricks or crumbling showing the turn of each season, so you can attend to urgent repairs. It's also wise to remove unwanted plants growing therein to keep looking in the best shape possible.
Llama Group
plan ahead for flowers
If your front garden feels a little flat, start planning how you can add vim and vigor. Now is the time to curl up under a blanket and do your planting plans for spring. Draw a rough plan of your garden layout, identify gaps you want to address and areas that are ripe for change.
wildflowers family, such as peonies, foxgloves, nepetas and Geraniums , can be planted in herbaceous borders. Pretty lavender and monitoring fragrant roses can be left alone to work their magic and do not require much maintenance.
If your front garden feels a little flat, start planning how you can add vim and vigor. Now is the time to curl up under a blanket and do your planting plans for spring. Draw a rough plan of your garden layout, identify gaps you want to address and areas that are ripe for change.
wildflowers family, such as peonies, foxgloves, nepetas and Geraniums , can be planted in herbaceous borders. Pretty lavender and monitoring fragrant roses can be left alone to work their magic and do not require much maintenance.
Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design
Present your topiary
If you're handy with a pair of scissors, get to work on your hedges to create a stylish and sleek design that will give the front of your home the wow factor . If you do not have a hedge, do not worry :. Buy a smaller version, pot and display your front door or along your driveway
If you're handy with a pair of scissors, get to work on your hedges to create a stylish and sleek design that will give the front of your home the wow factor . If you do not have a hedge, do not worry :. Buy a smaller version, pot and display your front door or along your driveway
David Churchill - Architectural Photographer
plan pretty borders
If you have a path to your door, or around of the house, framed the way with a selection of plants and fragrant herbs, such as lavender. Choose plants with low maintenance Following that your soil and, with a little luck - and a little judicious pruning - they come back year after year
Tell us ...
[ How did you design your garden and entrance? Share your tips and photos in the comments below.
If you have a path to your door, or around of the house, framed the way with a selection of plants and fragrant herbs, such as lavender. Choose plants with low maintenance Following that your soil and, with a little luck - and a little judicious pruning - they come back year after year
Tell us ...
[ How did you design your garden and entrance? Share your tips and photos in the comments below.