MAINTAINING YOUR CURB APPEAL

EVEN IN A DROUGHT

Something I have found to be an interesting truth...

not everyone thinks they deserve to have a beautiful home.
Some people believe they have the right to remain - mediocre

Its something I struggle to understand.

Even if I felt that I was somehow unworthy of a pretty place to live,
I would believe with all my heart that my boys deserved a lovely home
and I would do my best to create that for them.

Some beauty you create
and

then again, some places in this world are just naturally beautiful.

Norway, for example

via

via Pinterest

My boy took a little trip there this year - 

via Pinterest

It was quite an adventure.  From the photos he took, I'm convinced its one of the beautiful places... Norway

and New Zealand.  

via Pinterest

I can't think of a single inch of NZ that isn't beautiful.

via Pinterest

I had the great privilege of living and working in this lovely country
for a few years....

via Pinterest

Pinterest

Pinterest

Those not privileged to live there, have to travel to experience that much beauty....

or attempt to create a little piece of Eden on our own.

I have been trying to do that in my yard in the midst of a drought...
talk about a losing battle.
Today I noticed all the brown patches on the front patch of lawn had been torn up -
creating even more brown ugliness -
we think raccoons are to blame.
They made quite a mess of things.

California is well into several years of drought and requiring water cutbacks.
As I watch the grass grow browner and browner
and the potted plants droop and die where flowers used to bloom...
I  realize Eden doesn't always work out as planned.

The lush garden of my dreams will have to wait until the drought ends.

For now, we will tidy, seek drought friendly alternatives,
live with brown grass, and pray for rain.

Here are some tips for curb appeal in the midst of a drought...

1.  Shrubs require less water than grass.
Lawns need lots of water.  Shrubs require much less.

Reduce the size of your lawn by widening the planting borders

Plant drought tolerant shrubs and plants

You will be surprised which plants are hardy and can handle less water.

Perennials tend be more drought tolerant than annuals, but there are some annuals that will be able to handle less water.  Check with your local nursery for native plants and drought tolerant annuals and perennials.

This colorful border (above) is also drought tolerant.

2.  Add a little more hardscape

Who could resist this little seating area in a corner of their garden?

 Gravel between the pavers or flagstone makes your patio water permeable.

Reduce the size of your lawn by adding a patio.

no more lawn here - plants, gravel and a fountain charm their way to the front door

Pavers are engineered so that water is able to go through to the soil beneath and back into the ground waters below.  A dry creek serves the same purpose and can add a focal point.

3.  Replace the Lawn

Choosing a drought tolerant ground cover will greatly reduce your watering needs, although all young plants require enough water to get their roots established.  The above green carpet is creeping thyme.  The same ground cover blooms below, providing a carpet of color.

Trailing Rosemary (below) - also drought tolerant

So, create your  Eden.  Just make it more drought friendly!

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ANSWERS TO READERS QUESTIONS

Hi Claudine,  I stumbled upon your blog and other sites while searching Pinterest for color ideas for my home.  I was recently given a code violation by the City of Baltimore for peeling paint on my house and have been given 30 days to get it taken care of or face some hefty fines. I have spent most of my morning today admiring your blogs/websites and see that you have offered others suggestions for paint colors.  This is a photo of my house and I would be so grateful if you could help me or point me in the right direction for colors that would complement the brick.  

 

I have been admiring a house not too far from me that has been painted SW Outerspace (it looks dark blue/grey in the sun) with white trim, not sure if it would be too dark with the brick.

Sherwin Williams OUTERSPACE

 It is not brick but some sort of siding so the entire house is that color.  I think I would like something in the blue/grey or even colonial blue family but am open to any pallet or suggestions from someone who does this for a living. I look forward to any ideas that might have.  Thanks, Joan.

Hi Joan!   You've hit on a good color to go with the reddish brick on your home.  A nice cool tone is a good compliment.  The blue/gray color family as well as the gray color family would be good choices for your brick.  I don't think Outerspace would be too strong a color, but it may make your home look small.  Sometimes intense deep colors can do that. Here are some alternatives.  I'm also throwing in a gray or two.

Benjamin Moore BLUE NOTE

This may be a better choice for your home.  Not as intense.  See the reddish brick on the foundation and how they compliment each other.

Benjamin Moore MINERAL ALLOY

Sherwin Williams SLATE TILE

 There is a little of the red brick on this next picture to help you picture the color next to it.

Sherwin Williams GRANITE PEAK

Sherwin Williams STORM CLOUD

I would definitely keep the white trim, and I'd add a distinct door color so that the white trim pops and the door says 'welcome'!

Good luck!

Hi!
I am attaching a picture of my home that we will be painting soon. I have
tried Several colors and we are having a hard time deciding on a good base
color, but we know we will be using a lighter color for the trim and off-black
Shutters. We want to stay away from anything with pink, flesh tones.

Here is my question: Can you suggest a Sherwin Williams color (or colors)
you would use to make the house look better and tie in the stone, front door
and Roof better?
 
I am desperate at this point.
Thank you so much!

Laura 
Marietta, Georgia

Laura, to dispel the pinky fleshy tones - find a color with a gray undertone - which will also be the perfect tones to tie in the stone and roof colors.

Benjamin Moore VALLEY FORGE TAN

I can show you palettes and give you suggestions, but you will ultimately have to hold samples up to your home, against the stone, etc. to see which best fits your light and the existing materials.

Sherwin Williams DORIAN GRAY

Sherwin Williams COPLEY GRAY

Benjamin Moore ROCKPORT GRAY

 A lighter color would make the stone stand out more.  

 Darker hues will make it blend in more.

Choose 2 or 3 of these to paint onto white foam core board and carry them outside to see how they look in the sunlight, and next to the stone, etc.

Benjamin Moore GRAY HUSKIE

Benjamin Moore CHELSEA GRAY

Benjamin Moore COPLEY GRAY

GOOD LUCK!

THE MAGIC OF PAINT...

AND A LITTLE BIT OF O' THE GREEN...

Its not completely finished, but I couldn't wait to share

the before and after photos of one of my long-distance decorating clients.

Here's the before... a 'u' shaped kitchen with oak cabinets and white tile countertops

I felt it was important to keep this area light

if we went dark with the cabinets, this could really become a cave..

but with the white counter tops and backsplash, 

I was afraid a totally white kitchen

might look a little sterile

So we opted for White Dove (BM) upper cabinets and dark charcoal lower cabinets

The results are pretty dramatic, right?

Suddenly the room is filled with light, the stainless steel gleams, and the backsplash pops...

That's the magic of paint...

There are more dramatic changes in the living room and bathroom, 

but I will save that for a later post.  

Today, I'm helping a reader from Ireland...

and she's adorable

Hi Claudine, 
A question all the way from Ireland!! But this geographical position might impact if you can help me with this 

question or not as the paint ranges I am able to work with this side of the Atlantic are "Farrow and Ball" or      

"Little Greene" (a company similar to F&B) 

So I have 3 questions- The first, I understand, you may answer for free. The other two, I would appreciate if 

you could quote me a price for your advice. So firstly, what gray/grey colour/color (lol!!) should I paint my 

kitchen cabinets in our kitchen-diner that gets a lot of sun in the morning. I am aiming for an industrial, 

organic, natural look. 

I need something to coordinate with my terra cotta tiles (which really are not as orange as they seem in the 

attached photo) as I really cannot deal with taking them up. I have tried a tester of F&B Dove Tale matt 

emulsion on a primed door and was very happy with it. It came through as grey with subtle putty tones- a 

warm grey. I then tested it on a wall and it was a lot darker and browner than I would like. 

It seemed to be a lot more subtle on the primed press. So I am assuming that if it I order the Dove Tale in 

eggshell it will be similar to the tester on the wall than on the press (I really hope I am making sense!!!) 

Please help..... I have gone through a dozen testers of grey, finding them all a bit too cold, clinical and dull. 

There are some elements of the Dove Tale I love- it has depth and subtlety but its just too.....brown. I went tomy local F&B stockist and she was like 'no way to grey' suggesting a cream, but I can't do cream as every 

kitchen is cream at the moment in Ireland!!!! and it really isn't practical for our family. I have a patio door to 

the left of the picture where the dining part of the room is.

Thank you so much for your help!!!

Hello Ireland!

Since I am familiar with Farrow and Ball's line of paint, I will answer for that palette.  Dove Tale is quite

brown - it has a little grey/gray in it, but its going to read brown no matter where you put it or what time of day it is.    Depending on the light, it can look VERY brown...

Here are a few inspiration photos with gray cabinets, which I think you might like a little better.

Happily, Farrow and Ball has a few hues that are definitely gray and that we can work with.   

Although gray is a cool color, with your terra-cotta floor and some fresh white trim, it shouldn't look cold...

lighter grays will be colder in tone (unless they have a beige undertone)

but a cooler background always shows off the accent colors well.  A monochromatic look (like the one below) will come across as a bit cool - so make sure your accent colors are warm or bright.

The warmth of the terra cotta floor will look best with a cool cabinet color, (see the orange-isn wood tones
with the gray below...)

and those very cool door pulls will stand out more if the gray is not terribly dark.

Here are a few Farrow and Ball colors to consider..

 FB LAMP ROOM GRAY

FB LAMP ROOM GRAY

FB LAMP ROOM GRAY

Hard to believe these are ALL Lamp Room Gray - the first picture is flooded with light - and light affects the intensity of the color.

FB DOWN PIPE

FB MOLES BREATH

Pavilion has a warm undertone.  Looks great with white trim.

FB PAVILION

FB PAVILION

FB PAVILION GRAY

FB MANOR HOUSE GRAY

FB MANOR HOUSE GRAY

FB PLUMMET

FB PLUMMET

FB PURBECK STONE

FB PURBECK STONE

 You can see how the colors varies from photo to photo - the reason is that light affects paint color - and I'm quite sure that Irish light is going to be different than California light... so please try a few samples first.  I hope you find a color here that will work for your kitchen!

GRAY RULES

If you love gray, you are not alone.

Our love affair with gray started quietly,
but quickly became the popular choice for neutral wall color.
It is loved by homeowners and designers alike.

I find it hard to name a color that doesn't look good with gray
and all but a few colors have a gray version.
The sheer multitude of grays is both a blessing and a curse.

The undertones that make gray more than just a color of concrete,
also make finding the perfect hue difficult.

But there are rules to making your gray experience successful...

1.

DON'T LET IT GET TOO CHILLY....

There are warm grays and then there are grays that have a definite chill factor.

Grays with beige, brown and some purple undertones are warm grays.  

Most plain grays, silver grays and grays with a blue or green undertone will feel cool.

I'm not saying to avoid them, just be wise.

If you choose a cool gray, balance it with some warmth.

If you choose cooler gray tones for your walls, remember to add some warmth.

Warm toned woods, floors, rugs, even the matchstick blinds in this photo

take the chill off this room.

2

ADD LOTS OF WHITE

White freshens gray and keeps it from feeling heavy

or depressing...

Fresh white trim, woodwork,fabrics, curtains, etc...

They just look amazing together...

 3.

 UPDATE YOUR METALS

 Something magical happens when you add warm metals to a cool color...

Silver or stainless is the usual choice when people think of gray.

It's true - it looks nice!

but warming up your metals creates a little magic..

and as gold and brass are back...

give them a try...

 More rules later.....  bye for now


QUESTION FROM A READER;


I have a very open floor plan with 2 story ceilings...I love the gray colors.  Looking for a warm neutral that will flow through living room, kitchen, and up,the stairway...I like,blues...been looking at BM ash wood...will,this work, or do,I,need a color a little deeper because of,the high ceilings...thanks so much.

Regards,
Sandra white | Hloo@aol.com

Hi Sandra,

'Blue' and 'warm neutral' are polar opposites.  Blue tones are cool.  So when you say you want a warm neutral I'm assuming you are thinking something that will go with blues because you will be using blue as the accent.  

In that case, Ashwood is perfect.  

ASHWOOD Benjamin Moore

I would also try Grant Beige that is a little deeper in color and see which one you like the best in the vaulted ceiling area. 

GRANT BEIGE Benjamin Moore

They are safe bets, since I don't know which hue of the blue you like.  Good luck!