Curb Appeal and Landscaping Ideas From the Southwest

About the House

"Our property used to be a pecan orchard. There is still a big tree in our front yard that offers a lot of shade — important in Texas!" say homeowners Patrick and Angela Gaither. The standout eyebrow arch over the door was inspired by a historic house nearby. "It makes ours look old-fashioned, even though it isn’t." The striped awnings have retro candy shop vibes.

Fort Worth, Texas, is in the migration path for many butterflies, so Angela chose lots of pollinator-friendly plants. Black diamond crepe myrtle has classic crepe paper–like blooms and unique dark purple-black leaves. Sombrero rosada coneflower can grow up to 2 feet tall and is a favorite stop for visiting butterflies.

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Built in: 2009

Size: 2,600 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Chamomile and (door) Bold Brick, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

"We love living in a small house," say homeowners John and Talley Scott. "We downsized and realized that we don’t miss the extra space — or the extra work." When they bought the house in 2012, it had red brick and iron columns; a coat of white paint totally transformed it. Talley designed the front door, and the couple had a local cabinetmaker build it. "We’re known as 'the pink door house' in the neighborhood."

"We brought the boxwood, peonies and roses from our old house — they were too pretty to leave," say John and Talley. The soil on their new property had a lot of clay in it, so Talley, a master gardener, added field dirt and compost. Now, the plants are thriving. Dusty Miller, a pale-color perennial, brings variety to the greenery in the garden beds. Dianthus in the flower bed on the right grow easily from seed and thrive in many climates.

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Built in: 1940

Size: 1,400 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Simply White and (door) Wheatberry, Benjamin Moore

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

"We’re history and architecture buffs, so we kept as many of the 1930s details as we could, like the stained-glass window next to the door," say homeowners Jose Lucas and Brittany Goode. The previous owners added the copper awning, which also adds a traditional feel. Over time, it has developed a rich patina. The door looks original, but it came from a local salvage store. "We had to sand and repaint it; we chose this shade of green because it complements the bricks," they say. About those charming mismatched bricks: the couple's real estate agent told them the bricks had originally been discarded because of scorch marks. "They’re actually very valuable — we get letters from people wanting to buy them."

Foxtail fern (in the planters) isn’t really a fern at all — it’s an evergreen perennial in the asparagus family. Zinnias (in the flower beds) are hardy enough to survive hot, humid summers.

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Built in: 1939

Size: 1,129 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (shutters) Tricorn Black and (door) Alexandrite, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“When we moved to this area, we didn’t want a cookie-cutter suburban house, and this home, with its interesting H-shaped layout, delivered," say homeowners Ann and John Damele. A pair of chimneys adds height to the facade and emphasizes the home’s perfect symmetry. Ann and John added a new front door, which they stained and sealed.

Fast-growing mandevilla plants fill the urns flanking the front door. The cheerful yard features orange marigolds, yellow zinnias and pink and red periwinkles.

Location: Dallas, TX

Built in: 1926

Size: 2,012 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Lover's Hideaway, (brown trim) Cannon Ball and (white trim) Whitest White, Kelly-Moore

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

"We used to live three doors down and were lucky enough to get this home before it hit the market," say homeowners Amber and Kevin Edwards of their Dallas house. "The sweet yellow exterior made it our favorite house on the block.”

Although some of their neighbors have enclosed their arched porches, the Edwardses prefer the quaint original look and have kept theirs open. Rattan armchairs with a cool wingback shape look stylish on the front porch, especially when accented with patterned pillows. A local garden center helped them fill the pots on the porch with a mash-up of coleus, sweet potato vine, celosia and dusty miller. Red, pink and white begonias, which thrive in the sunny front yard, bloom in beds on either side of the walkway. On the far left, a few leafy caladiums add texture and height.

Location: Dallas, TX

Built in: 1925

Size: 2,334 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Concord Buff, (trim) Dover White and (window trim) Black Swan, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

The multi-paned windows, framed by blue louvered shutters, are one of Donna and Mark Herbener's favorite things about their Dallas home's exterior. After years painted an ordinary off-white, the door got a coat of rich red that pairs well with the blue shutters and shingles and ups the charm. Narrow Doric columns on either side of the front door support the portico without looking imposing or stuffy like larger ones might. The terracotta pots on and around the steps burst with cheerful red geraniums that match the door.

“The front yard has changed the most over the years," say the Herbeners. "What started as boring foundation plantings have grown into a garden with a life of its own." A mix of purple petunias, pink geraniums and lamb’s ear give the garden an informal feel. A small concrete gnome to the right of the walkway makes Donna smile “even when the weeds are growing faster than the flowers,” she says.

Location: Dallas, TX

Built in: 1926

Size: 2,800 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Gosling, (shutters and shingles) try Blue Sentinel and (front door) Red Vitality by Pratt & Lambert for a similar look

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“We were originally drawn to this home’s fieldstone front, which stands out among the many brick ones in the area," say Dallas homeowners Erin and Kevin Galyean. "Then when we stepped on the porch, we were sold.” Mounted above the door, an antique-looking sconce contributes to the home's cottage feel. The sturdy wood swing is a favorite gathering spot, especially for the Galyeans’ 8-year-old daughter and her neighborhood friends. The stained-glass panel on the Galyeans’ front door, which is original to the house, features a family crest. Ornate urns on either side of the door are filled with jasmine. “When they flower, I can smell them every time I come and go through the door,” says Erin.

In the flower beds surrounding the oak trees sprout a mix of vibrant blooms, including orange and yellow cosmos and red astilbe. Their colors play off the house’s warm hues. A gentle curve makes the path, which is bordered with monkey grass, look more picturesque. Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality, so the Galyeans placed a concrete pair at the start of their walkway.

Location: Dallas, TX

Built in: 1930

Size: 2,641 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (trim) Casa Blanca, (window trim) Pure White and (front door) Stolen Kiss, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

Pink brick and sage shutters bolster this Tulsa, Oklahoma, home’s quaint English countryside feel. “When we meet new people in the neighborhood, they tell us they love ‘the pink house',” say homeowners Ann and Britt Radford. A recessed front door makes for one impressive entrance, and arched frames over the double windows mimic the doorway’s pretty curves.

The English ivy used to be ground cover. After noticing it gracing the sides of other homes in the area, the Radfords let it grow. Pro tip: Climbing ivy is only OK on brick and mortar that’s in good shape; otherwise, it can grow inside cracks and damage walls. And it’s not advisable for wood or stucco. Trim it twice a year and redirect tendrils away from windows, trim and gutters.

Location: Tulsa, OK

Built in: 1926

Size: 2,500 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Angelic, Sherwin-Williams; (shutters) Bitter Sage, Behr; (front door) Boreal Forest, Benjamin Moore

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

Homeowners Susan and Russ Tunnell painted the front door bright orange, which immediately modernized the traditional house. “The color has just the right amount of funkiness,” says Susan. To the left of the door, the stack of protruding bricks that resemble stone blocks (called quoin, which means corner in French) — are sometimes used as reinforcement. Here, they’re just for looks. Covering the dormer in shiplap-style cedar bumped up character, too.

Tall yellow trumpetbush in the back of the plant beds look wild in a good way. Rocks around the beds form a retaining wall for soil and complement the more casual landscaping.

Location: Tulsa, OK

Built in: 1943

Size: 2,462 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Alabaster, (front door) Cayenne and (trim and shutters) Deep Forest Brown, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

A variety of siding (shingles, board-and-batten and brick) goes with the eclectic Craftsman architecture. The portico is another oh-so-Craftsman detail, while the portholes add playfulness. The pergola-esque trim over the right garage door and wood details on the left one elevate them to the design level of the house. “Every time I drive up, they make me smile,” says Emily.

A Japanese maple with dark red foliage is just as rich as the deep blue siding behind it. Pink sunpatiens in the beds bloom from spring to fall. Unlike impatiens, they’re happiest soaking up sunlight.

Location: Tulsa, OK

Built in: 1939

Size: 4,200 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Sea Serpent, Sherwin-Williams; (trim, gable and garage doors) Simply White, Benjamin Moore

About the House

"Cute cottage" isn’t code for “too tiny” for Oklahoma homeowners Tina and Danny Limes. “Had I known how much I’d love living in a smaller home,” says Tina, “I would have downsized years ago!” Multihued shingles boost the storybook look, while the original door painted aqua blue walks the line between classic and current. Tina and Danny had the concrete porch repoured and extended to fit a pair of chairs. “We face a park,” she says, “so we like to sit and people-watch.”

Cedar planters secured to the house are a cool twist on traditional flower boxes. Variegated hosta in the flower beds are drought and cold weather-tolerant, and they minimize weeds.

Location: Tulsa, OK

Built in: 1929

Size: 1,328

Paint colors: (house) Pure White, (dormer and accents) Earl Grey and (front door) Festoon Aqua, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

Jamie and John Bloodsworth bought this San Antonio, home in 1991. “We expanded the back of the house but kept the facade and chimney the same, since the cottage charm is what drew us here in the first place,” they say. The stepped chimney — made of hand-laid, locally quarried Texas limestone — looks like it’s right out of a storybook. Two slightly arched corbels frame the entry, packing a lot of charm into a tiny porch. The Bloodsworths have painted the original-to-the-house door four colors since moving in. Their most recent pick is golden orange.

The long, gently curving fieldstone path helps highlight how far back the house sits from the street. Midway down the path on the right, a Mexican honeysuckle bush grows clusters of tubular orange flowers all summer. Bordered by Blanco River rocks, small colorful beds of salvia ‘Henry Duelberg,’ rudbekia ‘Indian Summer,’ purple coneflowers and zinnias add zip to the landscaping.

Location: San Antonio, TX

Built in: 1929

Size: 2,300 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (siding) Burlap, (blue trim) Jacaranda, (white trim) Nacre and (front door) Saffron Thread, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“We used to live down the street, and we always admired this house’s symmetrical Craftsman architecture and earthy paint colors," say San Antonio homeowners Rachel and Greg Chaney. The multi-lite Spanish cedar door echoes the house’s narrow windows. The same unglazed red-brown tiles that make up the central walkway cover the floor of the porch. Regular power-washing keeps them looking like new. Teak chairs don’t take up much space and offer a comfy spot for watching the kids play in the front yard.

A local landscaper revamped the yard using a less-is-more approach. The new greenery by the windows includes aspidistra and Fatsia Japonica. River rocks surrounding the curbside boxwoods prevent soil erosion during heavy rainfalls.

Location: San Antonio, TX

Built in: 1940

Size: 2,800 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (stucco) Seafoam Storm and (trim) Swiss Coffee, Valspar

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“When we bought this fixer-upper, we knew there was a charmer beneath the old siding," say Lori and Joel Dunlap of their San Antonio home. "Once we replaced the rotted spots, we couldn’t wait to paint the entire thing black.” Durable with a smooth, marble-like sheen, the polished concrete porch floor requires zero care. It is original to the house and "still gleams," says Lori. Striped all-weather cushions add a cabana feel. To make the black exterior feel a little less serious, the Dunlaps went with chartreuse for the front door.

Boxwoods pop out from curved patches of Asiatic jasmine in front of the patio. Two dwarf citrus trees, planted in terracotta pots at both ends of the porch, bear fruit in the winter and spring.

Location: San Antonio, TX

Built in: 1937

Size: 1,800 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (siding) Carbon Copy and (front door) Split Pea, Benjamin Moore; (trim) Ultra White, Valspar

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“The limestone wall along the porch is our favorite thing about the exterior. Abundant in Texas Hill Country, this type of rock gives our home a sense of place," say San Antonio homeowners Elizabeth and Madison Marceau. The doors leading onto the porch are often kept open during parties. "It’s as close to California living as we can get in Texas," says Madison.

A glazed terracotta pot filled with Liriope Muscari, which flowers in the summer and early fall, sits outside the front door. Heat-tolerant plants make up the low-maintenance garden, including aspidistra and Liriope Muscari in front of the rock wall, and Cora Vinca in two shades of pink: punch and apricot. The Marceaus screwed numbers to a slab of leftover stone and set it in front of the flower bed. DIY address plaque!

Location: San Antonio, TX

Built in: 1934

Size: 2,523 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (stucco) Gray Horse and (trim) Winter White, Benjamin Moore

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“When I bought this bungalow, the exterior was clad in manufactured rock, which I removed to reveal the original stucco," says Carol Crockett of her house in Phoenix. "I think the home’s first owners would be proud.” Typical of the bungalow style, columns with chunky bases line the front and side porches.

Inspired by the bright doors on homes in Washington, DC, where she used to live, Crockett painted hers a happy red hue. Instead of a pair of potted flowers, Crockett flanked the door with a set of foo dogs — very feng shui! The pittosporum shrubs get trimmed every three months so they keep their neat, rectangular shape.

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Built in: 1920

Size: 1,900 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (stucco) Warm White, Dunn-Edwards; (trim) Black Forest Green, Benjamin Moore; (front door) try Chili Pepper by Behr for a similar look

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

Jennifer and Brennan Watkins bought their Arizona home in 2008. “One of our favorite features of the house is the French doors. Open them up and you can relax in the fresh air even when you’re inside,” they say. The Watkinses use the front patio year-round, so they outfitted it with cushioned seats and a wide umbrella for lots of shade. Multi-paned windows make the two carriage-style doors look more house-like, less garage-like.

In the flower beds, different blooms add pops of color: Ruellia ‘Katie’ by the fence, an orange bells shrub to the right of the patio and red hibiscus by the front door.

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Built in: 1960

Size: 2,500 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (siding) Solaria, try (trim) Cheviot and (front door) Crabby Apple by Sherwin-Williams for a similar look

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“When we met this charming house, it was love at first sight," say Robert Betnar and Thomas Vigil of their Phoenix home. White brickwork around the front door and window emphasizes their arched shape. Original to the house, it is one of the architectural details that attracted Betnar and Vigil to the home. The 1930s roof needed replacing after a tree fell on the house in a 2008 storm. The homeowners chose cedar to replicate the original shingles.

Envisioning an English country garden, they choose plants that have a slightly wild appearance, including orange flame, twisted myrtle and two purple-leaf plum trees for the front yard. Simple white pots set on the front stoop are filled with blue plumbago flowers to play off the color of the front door. Betnar and Vigil tried out more than 20 paints before landing on this pretty blue-gray shade.

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Built in: 1935

Size: 2,000 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (brick) Riverbend, (trim) Swiss Coffee and (front door) Taliesin Blue, Dunn-Edwards

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“The old mousy brown color of our home blended right into the hedges," say Houston homeowners Kim and Cooper Etheridge. "Painting the brick bright white puts the spotlight on the house — and a can’t-miss-it-green door doesn’t hurt!”

Crisp striped awnings give the classic cottage a modern edge. “Some awnings can skew too cutesy,” says Kim. “But this sleek style feels fresh.”

In the yard, the creeping fig covering the brick chimney is the only remaining part of the original landscaping. “Rows of tall shrubs and trees blocked the front, though the fig ivy’s charming,” says Kim. Now there’s a row of pruned Royal Purple smoke trees and boxwood to the left. Orange daisies in the porch planter by the ottoman cheerfully greet visitors.

Location: Houston, TX

Built in: 1938

Size: 2,000 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; (steps and porch) Flannel Gray and (front door) Laser, Behr

About the House

“When we first laid eyes on the house, it was a one-story cottage turned two-story stucco box with Frankenstein-like additions, like a triangular bay window on the second floor," say Houston homeowners Annie and Andrew Ashcroft. "Twin gables, a new porch, portico and shingled siding totally transformed it.” Circular windows are a vintage touch, drawing attention to the peaks of the gables. Their roundness softens the house’s angles, as does the gently curved portico. “We have two puppies and a cat, which is why I love our Dutch door,” says Annie. “When pizza’s delivered I just open the top to sign for it, and no one can escape!” Tall blades of bamboo grass add presence to the entry. Equally exciting: Since they’re faux, they’re no-maintenance.

In the yard, a pair of boxwood flanking the sidewalk say “Come on in!” Nestled among the shrubs by the porch, Graffiti Pink pentas pop (and serve as butterfly bait).

Location: Houston, TX

Built in: 1938

Size: 3,700 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Krypton and (front door) Pure White, Sherwin-Williams

About the House

“The only things we changed on our house were the front door and the color of the siding, which we made just a couple shades darker for more impact. Its charm-soaked bones were what sold us — they just needed dressing up!” say homeowners Katherine and Jason Tramonte Jr. of their Houston home. “The old six-panel Colonial-style wood door didn’t look right on our Craftsman cottage,” says Jason. He and Katherine replaced it with this two-panel one with a dentil shelf. They also wanted the porch to function as another room in the house, especially handy for their annual crawfish boil. Four rockers with pillows give the space a cozy vibe.

In the yard, canna lilies with bright orange blooms bring the drama to a small front yard; they can grow up to 8 feet tall. A crape myrtle tree on the right gets showy hot pink flowers. The strings of color hanging from the crape myrtle branches are Mardi Gras beads.

Location: Houston, TX

Built in: 1935

Size: 1,899 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (house) Grey Tweed and (front door) Sunbaked Orange, Glidden

About the House

“Since we built our home in one of Austin’s oldest neighborhoods, we didn’t want it to look brand-new," say homeowners Sarah and Jason Williams. "We love that most people think it’s always been here.” The panel above the porch was rescued from a house that was being demolished. Surrounded by fish scale-shingle siding, it instantly adds history to the home. A potted lemon tree and a collection of patterned pillows give the front porch lots of personality.

In the front yard, easy-care plants that thrive in the South, including raspberry autumn sage, white autumn sage and pink dianthus, grow along the walkway.

Location: Austin, TX

Built in: 2013

Size: 2,576 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (siding) Gypsum and (front doors) Kingston Aqua, PPG

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“Our painted red porch floor, combined with the dormer on the roof, makes our bungalow a charmer,” say Austin, Texas, homeowners Josie and Mark Jesser. A pair of painted wood rockers completes the porch’s homey look.

Ceramic and terracotta pots hold red begonias, ixora Maui, Chinese evergreen and ‘Black Velvet’ petunias. The built-in planters in front of the porch are made from the same steel as the steps. They’re filled with Japanese plum yew and asparagus fern. The Jessers installed this classic red-brick walkway themselves.

Location: Austin, TX

Built in: 1914

Size: 3,200 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (siding) Oak Leaf Brown, (trim) Honeydew and (porch floor) Chinese Red, Sherwin-Williams

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“The covered porch and round vent above the door sold us on this charmer,” say homeowners Ann and Tim Blanz. “The painter called our color choices ‘garish,’ but we don’t have a minute of regret.” There’s not another house on the block with a colorful front door, so the Blanzes were more than happy to go all in on theirs. A pair of lime green wicker chairs flanking the door picks up color from the cacti in the yard and makes the porch feel inviting. Modern house numbers on the overhang are a sleek, unexpected touch on this quaint 1940s cottage.

The Blanzes chose to xeriscape their yard, meaning they planted drought-resistant plants that get most of their nourishment from rainwater and don’t need much additional upkeep. The yard includes a sago palm, blue agave, red yucca and ball cacti. Instead of grass, crushed limestone provides ground cover.

Location: Austin, TX

Built in: 1940

Paint colors: (siding) Prairie Sky, (shutters) Dark Kettle Black and (front door) Chickadee, Valspar

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“The color of this house — teal with a hint of gray — was one of the first things that drew us to it. The stone walkway and cute square windows up top didn’t hurt either,” say Kelsey and Scott Evans of their Austin, Texas, home. The Craftsman-style lanterns on either side of the door are in perfect sync with the home’s look. Evenings are often spent reading in the cheery red rockers.

The Evanses kept the landscaping easy to maintain. Blooms include white petunias in pots on the steps, and Knock Out roses and an abelia shrub in the flower beds. Plus, Kelsey keeps succulents in a terracotta bowl on the retaining wall post.

Idea to steal: Newly installed solar panels have drastically cut their electric bill. Last December they owed just 49 cents!

Location: Austin, TX

Built in: 2009

Size: 2,700 sq. ft.

Paint colors: Try (siding) Athenian Blue, (white trim) White Dove and (brown trim) Chestnut by Benjamin Moore for a similar look.

From: HGTV Magazine

About the House

“This house had been a college rental for 30 years!" say homeowners Lynne Hohlfeld and Michael Crockett. "Needless to say, the landscaping and the paint needed some TLC.” A turquoise front door adds fresh flair, but the Craftsman style fits the traditional architecture.

The new landscaping features drought-tolerant plants, including salvia, pink vinca and philodendrons. The decomposed granite gravel has a natural look and feels finer underfoot than regular gravel. The painted fence surrounded by greenery is extra charming.

Location: Austin, TX

Built in: 1936

Size: 2,500 sq. ft.

Paint colors: (siding) Sparrow, (trim and fence) Frostine, (front door) Majestic Blue and (corbels) Thicket, Benjamin Moore

From: HGTV Magazine

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