Dear Homework,

After nearly two decades in our Wildwood home, we feel it’s time to take a fresh look at our property. The house is a basic vinyl-covered, three-bedroom ranch in a small subdivision of similar homes. All have frontentry garages and fairly small lots. What would you suggest to ‘perfect’ the overall appearance of our home? We also are wondering what to do in our backyard; it’s overgrown and lacks focus and privacy.

Sincerely,

—What’s Wrong With This Picture?

Dear What’s Wrong With This Picture?,

Your home shows some frequently seen issues that are of interest to readers of this column. The goal should be to upgrade the impact of the home’s architecture and landscape and have the two work together in harmony. Let me make some observations followed by the suggested remedies:

  • The front door and much of the façade are hidden by a centrally placed shade tree. Remove the shade tree and replace it with two new ones near the sidewalk. These will frame the house nicely, and removing the one by the house will reveal the handsome Japanese maple (which will need a little pruning to thin it out).
  • The two-car garage and its adjacent driveway create a bland area that brings down the whole composition. A new carriage-style door with windows and detailing brings new charm to this formerly ‘blank’ area. A new shuttered window in the gable brings some details of the house to the garage wing, making it look less utilitarian.
  •  The white and green-gray color scheme is a popular choice, but in this case, it seems a bit drab. A maroon accent color on the front door and shutters adds interest throughout the façade and complements the color of the Japanese maple.
  • The impact of the neighboring home’s dull side elevation and the unfortunate ‘utility lump’ in your front yard undermine the impression of the property. Blocking the neighboring home with white dogwood trees underplanted with ornamental grass returns the focus to your home and makes your property seem larger by making use of your side yard. By adding a second, lower layer to the right-side hedge, the utilities are screened and the yard looks bigger.
  • The backyard is dominated by giant evergreens. Sadly, these magnificent specimens need to go. After their removal, a simple 6-foot wood fence will establish some privacy. A two-tier retaining wall deals with the modest slope and forms a pocket for the new focus: a fountain centered on the existing patio. Various plantings and treillage, or trellis, add interest and formality to the scheme.

Hopefully you will feel there is more that is ‘right’ with this picture after these changes. Thanks for a useful Extra Credit submission,

—Homework

Homework is penned by Paul Doerner, Founding Partner of the Lawrence Group. if you would like your home critiqued, contact us at homework@townandstyle.com.