The evolution of the exterior of the house

When we bought our house, we described it to people as the ugliest house on the prettiest street. Most streets have a house like ours - a house that has been neglected, and needs some love.  Over the past three years we've been focusing the majority of our energy (and finances) the interior of the house but the exterior has been had some major improvements as well. To show you the new walkway we had done last week by Chandler & Co, I think you really have to see the evolution of our house. So, this is what we started with....

The first thing we did was that Spring we added a new wood door (a gift from my parents because we were dead broke) and removed the dead plants and tried fixing the lawn. It was at this time that we noticed our walkway was alternating colours. (True story - we didn't notice the alternating colours until well after we bought! The things you don't notice when you're buying a house!)

Between then and this past Summer, little happened to the front of the house with the exception of some planting. But this Summer and Fall we really made the biggest improvements (and costliest) - the windows, and the walkway. But, although the most expensive of the improvements, they weild the biggest results.

Yay! A totally new house. Although the walkway was a little bit of a surprise expense this Fall, it makes such an improvement to the house and I smile every time I walk up it. I'm so excited to have little Ghosts and Goblins walk up it in a few weeks.

So with the new windows, new front door (style #2744), new walkway, I think our house goes from the ugliest house on the street, to one of the prettiest. The whole process has actually been interesting - where I think for our House #2, we may look for the ugliest house again. Because transforming it has been crazy fun, and great to pick the details.

[Design + Build by Bill Chandler http://www.chandlerandco.ca/]

Ps., My appearance on the Steven and Chris Show I typed the wrong date. It is TUESDAY, October 18th. (I had previously writen Monday, October 18th)

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Front walkway - happening right now

Last January I did graphic design work for Bill Chandler from Chandler Landscaping + Contracting. You may know Bill from having seen his landscaping projects featured in Style at Home Magazine but I also have the luxury of knowing him from doing a major landscaping project on my parents beautiful house. At this point he feels like a friend of the family, so when he came up with a plan for my front yard as a gift last year, I was over the moon. [See the post here].  So, a reminder - here is the plan that he came up with for our front. I love the walkway how it goes up the middle of the lawn, vs. to the side. It then turns and has 2 HUGE stone stairs.

Although it wasn't high on our priority list, I'm a huge beleiver that money should be invested in curb appeal. It's essentially like an invitation to your party - it is someones first experience to your home. And, for resale (one day) I know that it will pay off. Bill was available and rather quickly we went from talking about it to saying "go for it". And, this morning this is what we woke to....

EEEEEK! Due to budget, the plantings that he suggested aren't happening. But that is something I feel confident that I can handle on my own. Installing stone, well, although Aub and I could do it, we're at a time in the season where we are very busy (the Holiday season for work is picking up for me) and Aub is busy at work too.

The previous owners did the WEIRDEST things to the house. Like alternating colour walkways, and carpeting our front porch. Yes. Carpeted our front porch. Stay tuned for some more pictures. So excited!

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New front planters

You know the Season has officially changed when you can change your front planters. Normally I do tulips, but this year I splurged on the fancy Hydrangeas that I have admired.  I love the purple! And they can be planted in our garden after they are loved on our porch.

The more we improve the exterior the more the windows stand out. Thankfully, Aubrey agrees with me and we are in serious discussions about doing all of our windows this Spring/Summer. So some neighbourhood stalking is in order, as we stare at what other people are doing... ;)

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Curb Appeal

When Aubrey and I were first married, we used to take evening walks and admire houses in our neighbourhood and talk about one day owning our own. It was my first introduction to my love of curb appeal and also my first introduction to how powerful landscaping is, in presenting an image of a home. As aspiring homeowners, we were being sold before even walking into a house.

Even though we now own a home, I still love walking and admiring what other people have done to their front gardens. In my neighbourhood, this one is one of my favourites front gardens for it's amazing use of Serviceberry trees with metal hedging.

I think the reason why front landscaping is usually neglected (at least in our case) is that it is quite expensive. As we still save up for new windows, a rug, a kitchen, a bathroom - the list goes on, sadly the front is usually the last. But we continue to save ideas, as you never know when that day will come! Until then, I will continue to snap photos of my neighbours houses. ;)

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Landscaping Dreams in the Dead of Winter

William Chandler of Chandler Landscaping designed this gorgeous yard featured in Style At Home's May 2010 Issue. Bill, as I know him, also did my parents yard and it is hands down, the most beautiful residential garden I have ever seen. Timeless, sophisticated and traditional would be words I think of when I see his work. I'm doing some graphic design work for Bill (his website is coming soon) and I had mentioned last Summer our dislike of our front yard. Fast forward to a week ago, and after Bill and I were wrapping up a meeting, he slips this out of a folder for me....

It's OUR yard. I was shocked. It was beautiful. I am in in love with the possibilities. Especially what he did for our walkway. Isn't that gorgeous how it isn't just straight, and it is wider - which will be fantastic for the stroller. Bill worked in plants we already had purchased like the Hydrangeas and boxwood's. The garden would be filled with lavender and Thyme and Lilacs. Although we couldn't likely do ALL of the planting right away, getting the new walkway would be an amazing improvement. Not sure if it's in our budget but we will see!  (To see our Front Landscaping wish list from last year here click here) What a perfect time of year to start dreaming of flowers and greenery.

(Main photo courtesy of Style at Home Magazine, May 2010)
Photography by Andreas Trauttmansdorff

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