Let's play "redecorate" my house again! PIPs.

[Deleted]

This is my garage entry area/landing.  It's the entry most people use. It had a rug but got too dirty to clean and then molded so I just pitched it. It needs a good scrub down I'm aware, but it's mud everyday lately, so I'm waiting a bit. Ignore the clutter. It's all stuff that goes back to the barn when I get there. Things to know: I want something welcoming but simple. I am not repainting the steps. The wreath stays. I just bought it and love it. The door is getting painted next week (Ace Hardware India Ink...regular deep black). Ignore the wrapping on the wall. We do the have the drywall, it's coming.


I'm also AWing that railing. H built it out of recycled milk pipeline they took out during a barn remodel.


How do I style up the front door area of my house? I wish I could get you a closeup, but that address plaque while awesome and the best house purchase ever pretty much tells all..lol. Things to note...there's three rounded steps up to that door that come off a long sidewalk (in front of the row of bushes). Those plants all bloom pretty flowers in the summer, so they're not boring at all. I see the front bush (Korean Lilac) needs a trim, will do tomorrow). The red door is getting painted black (India Ink) as well next week. I'm looking for simple things here I can do in a trip to Menard's and by myself. So no building porticos, ripping out landscaping (We just did most of that when we built), adding a front porch..lol. Also note, it faces south so the sun bakes everything (until my trees get big) or the wind blows it away..so sturdy is good.

And yes, my lawn is getting better everyday. It's usually pretty perfect but it's been a sh*tty sh*tty spring! Ick.

[InBetweenDays]

For the garage entrance I'd add some sort of bench against that back railing (looks great by the way!) where guests can sit to take off their shoes. I'd maybe get another indoor/outdoor rug and a colorful pot/floor vase to hold umbrellas? It could also be cool to find a salvaged old window or stained glass and hang it above that back railing so it's kind of floating.

For the front I'd add some varying heights and texture to the plants out front. I don't know what does well there, but some large evergreen grasses or broadleaf evergreen shrubs? Some giant lilies, irises, or other tall perennials. And if you're painting the front door black maybe a colorful planter to the left of the steps.

[SusanBAnthony]

I think I would just plant more in the front. I know it is too early in the spring to see the color from your current plantings, but I would be on the hunt for anyone you know who has day lilies, etc, that you can take a cutting of. An arborvitae or other vertical growing bush might look good to give you some height. They are pretty cheap and pretty idiot proof to grow if I remember correctly.

[Deleted]

Thanks girls!
It does look a little dull know. I will repost later this summer.
All those bushes do flower, so it looks much better in July. That tall tree stick thing under the bathroom window actually produces fully red flowers. The other bushes all bloom or at least do colored leaves. So it's not all green/brown. I picked flowering plants intentionally.

It's just a sh*tty time of year..it never gets warm and I wanted suggestions now..lol.

I might do a fun doormat and some heavy planters on each side. I think that'd help. I used to have some, but I get so tired of the wind blowing stuff over...lol.

[ktzmoh]

It's hard to say because everything is still just emerging from winter mode, but I'd line the walk with annuals, add some more plants in between your shrubs (different heights). Have you thought about painting the shutters?

I agree about the bench (maybe with some cubbies underneath? at the garage entrance. And i love the railing. Looks great and what a great tie in with the farm.

[simpsongal]

Have you thought about painting the shutters? The white is a little washed out with the light blue siding. I think a black door w/colorful shutters would look striking.

[sierramist03]

I'd do something like this at your front door it's small and would take up a bunch of room.

[Deleted]

May 8, 2013 10:47:04 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Have you thought about painting the shutters? The white is a little washed out with the light blue siding. I think a black door w/colorful shutters would look striking.

The siding is actually medium gray. Like I said, sh*tty picture all around. I'll try again later with better lighting and some damn sunshine one of these days!

[clementine]

Flower boxes on the outside! Not just for flowers - I put evergreen boughs and pinecones in mine in the winter, pansies in the spring, all kinds of stuff in the summer and fall. YHL showed some good ones today, but I would suggest a different color from theirs. I also second changing the shutters. Black would provide some good contrast. I like the red doors and the cool milk pipe railing!

[downtoearth]

Garage Area
Love the railing and the gray porch!
Once you have the walls up, I bet you can come up with a lot of other decorating ideas near the door.

Would you consider painting a just a "welcome mat" on the porch in front of the door or painting a rubber mat or wood mat for boots a fun color would be cute?





Could you also do a boot storage shelf/bench where the red chair is?
I would paint these fun colors and put them next to the chair:


or some version of this


Out Front:
I like the suggesting about painting the shutters by simpsongal.

What about glass lanterns on the porch in the front (or would it get to dirty too quickly)?


For the landscaping, if you like it clean, I would just add some taller ornamental grasses interspersed with the existing lower shrubs. But I like a little messy and pretty, so I would also add some wildflower mixes if you wanted it to pop a little more:

[mrs.jacinthe]

I agree with a bench in the garage. Maybe something like this:

as regards the front, I think maybe some window boxes would go a LONG way, at least until your landscaping grows up.

[FoxInFiji]

Lots of great suggestions so far. I'll add that I've had issues with the hollow fiberglass/plastic planters tipping over as well. But last year I got a glazed ceramic pot with tray underneath it for a present and it's much sturdier/heavier. The pot itself is multiple tones of blue so it brings a bunch of color before I even add the annuals. Of course they are more expensive and you have to bring them in in the winter but I always did that with my fiberglass ones as well. I'd probably just do one of those with some fun annuals in it. Then just fill in with a few more perennials in the beds.

I like your red door. I think if the shutters were a darker color they would stand out more though. We have the same light gray color siding and on a bright day the white trim just blends in.

[Deleted]

Thanks again girls! Lots of good suggestions here. I'll hunt for some cement planters in the future. The painting a rug is fun. For now I pulled out a wire shelf and some baskets for storage of crap and changed the throw pillow on the chair.

I do like a very simple clean look. I want to love ornamental grasses and the like..but there's 3 acres of lawn to mow in this place...I don't do well with plants and it's hard to make time for the extras. I should PIP the rest of the farm someday. It's very well decorated/inlaws gardens outback..it's just the front of my house that's pretty plain.

H will kill me if I suggest planting grass in the landscaping. I can hear "I spend 30K on weed prevention in the field every year...I'm not about to dig up the landscaping to plant the stuff!" HA.

[stephm0188]

I love our ornamental grasses. They're pretty much hands off. We have blue oatgrass in the front, and reed grass around the patio for privacy. The oatgrass is great. It doesn't spread, and it has a nice silvery blue color. They're a smidge large for my tastes this year and need to be divided, but I prefer to keep them smaller. The reed grass spreads a bit and can be invasive, but ours are pretty well contained. I cut the dead stalks down in spring so the new growth can come in. Easy peasy. Aside from that, they don't need any care.

My midnight salvia are fabulous as well. They don't seem to need a ton of water, and they've doubled their size since I planted them last spring.

I think window boxes would be adorable, but they'd require watering, especially with your southern exposure.