Dear Homework: Over the last two years, we made lots of improvements on the inside of our Ladue home, but have neglected the outside. We are looking for low-maintenance and affordable landscaping tips and other ideas to give our new house more curb appeal. We have been debating about adding outside shutters to the whole front, or just the garage windows, or not at all. We’ve also considered some kind of art to the middle top of the garage between the windows or something in the front circle. Thank you for providing your expertise!
Thanks,
—Ready to Dig
First, I do think your whole house would look better with shutters. The side trim on your windows seems too wide, and I would use the shutters to overlap some of this trim. I also feel that after you add shutters to the garage wing, it won’t need further ornamentation. I would paint the shutters dark green.
Next, I would give the screened porch taller proportions (more in keeping with the style of the house) by adding three white trellises planted with climbing mandevilla.
My final architectural recommendation would be to straighten the angle of the porch’s brick stoop. This would yield more parking and allow the stoop to be styled more in keeping with the home’s architecture.
I would suggest that the landscape close to the home be more formal and interconnected by trimming the left side tree and moving the right side one. The style of the façade is about as formal as it gets, so I think the proposed hedges edged with liriope grass work well together. Toward the street, I would plant a wall of Knockout roses and upgrade the driveway entry with rows of cobblestones. A layer of brown chat gravel rolled into the asphalt will create the feel of a country estate and add charm to the prominent circle drive. All these little changes help make the property feel more like the real thing: a fine Southern Colonial Estate.
Thanks for asking,
—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.