Here's our sad little front entry when we bought the house:
We've been those neighbors that move into a neighborhood and have JUNK out all the time because our house has been undergoing so many renovations: demo stuff from the basement, carpet remnants, yard debris, and just trash... I've had paint samples along the side of the house for a few months and I've been feeling so embarrassed!! I always joke that I need to put a big sign in my yard : "MUST SEE INSIDE!" hahaha Anyway, we're finally getting somewhere with the outside & I thought I'd share. Dave painted it a warm deep gray (pulled from some of the stones) and we went with a warm white trim. (It used to be this yucky beigey-nude color.) We added in a ton of shrubs & plants but it's still not enough (There were only 2 dying bushes in front of my house when we moved in.) so we have plans to add more in as soon as we can afford it. Anyway, here is again before:
And here is is now:
I thought the crazy orange door would be temporary for the Fall (yes, we have our cheesey Halloween stuff out now!! :) but I'm kind of loving it. I pulled the orange from some of the stones that are orange. (Same ones from the family room, remember?) and as crazy as it is, I think it actually works and it may stay for a little longer. (Will have to say what Maria of
Colour Me Happy thinks!!) Coming home to it makes me happy. Here's a close-up of my vintage Halloween sign:
And my really cheesey "stone" crow I found at Michael's. hee hee I'm giving him a coat of black paint to, hopefully to look more like iron...
Also let me clarify in case you're wondering what's gotten into me: I love tasteful Fall decorations but for the 2 weeks before Halloween I think (especially having kids & a Halloween party) that more is more!! I like to try to stay a little vintage but I can't help falling for real-looking skeletons & ghosts. I COVET this ghost ring from Grandinroad (below) HOW COOL IS THAT?!!! SO SPOOKY!!! i'm going to try to make my own for our Hallween Party... IN the clearing in the woods in our back yard....
OK, sorry, now back to the entry. Anyway, we hung the caged outdoor hanging lantern (around $200) that echoes the one in the interior entry and found the welcome mat with a similar pattern at Ikea. My Boston Fern is now outside because I couldn't handle him inside. (He was way too messy and it's so sad that even watering and misting wouldn't keep him happy!!) I repainted the house numbers in black (all crossed out for safety purposes) and have plans to add the metal lion door knocker that I've had for years.
Will show more pics of the front of the house soon! Have a great weekend & happy almost Halloween!!! Mu-hu-hahahahahah ;) ;)
xoxo,
lauren
Door color: Behr's 'Maple Leaf' (#250D-6)
Siding Color: Ralph Lauren 'Master Room" done in Behr exterior flat paint
Trim Color: Behr's 'Cotton Whisper' (#W-F-300)
