let’stalkcurbappeal

In this housing market, you’re going to need a little imagination to see a home’s true potential. But with the right vision and some expert advice, you can transform a drab exterior into something downright dreamy.

LET’S TALK: PUMP UP A PLAIN FAÇADE

The Expert: Bradley Butcher, AIA, Sidock Group, Gaylord

T ip #1: Add dimension to a drab exterior. Architect Bradley Butcher’s homes always have a backstory: this is the tale of a ho-hum gingerbread chalet owned by a single man, Frank from Gaylord, who fell in love with a gal named Jill in Chicago. They were meant to live happily ever after—but not before his dated Hansel-and-Gretel-style house underwent a transformation for the ages.

The home nestled in the winding hills of the community of Michaywé is “a standard Michaywé chalet and, over the years, a lot of folks have been reimagining them,” explains Butcher. “The original generation of these homes have a center front door, and no front porch—a pseudo balcony over the front door is all you get for dimension. We knew we needed to add some depth.” People now go by this house and smile, he says. Here’s how they got there:

Tip #2: Put a porch on it. “Most architects will say you want to know where the front door is,” says Butcher. “A house has to have a place that welcomes visitors,” especially in the Northern Michigan elements. Bonus: a front porch is a gracious extension of your living space—“it’s like an outdoor room overlooking the front yard and a great place to hang out.”

Tip #3: Ditch non-functional details (and add some hard-working ones!). As part of its Craftsman-style conversion, this home had its faux balcony peeled away, as well as all of the gingerbread scalloped trim. Texture now comes via the lap siding and some cedar shake shingles, plus “a reverse gable over the garage, which adds interest to the left half of the house, and sheds water and snow away from the garage door.”

Tip #4: Add an arch. The arch feature and barrel vault ceiling on the porch highlight the front door, “creating a portal and a feeling you are sheltered and out of the elements.”—E.T.

LET’S TALK: TRANSFORMATION WITH PAINT

The Expert: Ashlee Carnes, Carnes Painting and Gardening, Lake Ann

Tip #1: Plan a pleasing color combo. Instead of thinking of your house as a singular color opportunity—which can feel very flat and one-note—embrace the idea of a complete palette with multiple colors all singing together. “Shutters, porches, pillars, trim and other architectural details should stand out and make a statement, and paint is the perfect way to highlight them,” says Ashlee Carnes, who, with sister Brandi, runs Carnes Painting and Gardening. Carnes never travels without her monster paint chip wheel and encourages clients to sift and sort, even change their mind mid-project if need be, in the pursuit of creating interest and choosing colors that make you happy.

To create a more design-y feel, pull complementary and unexpected colors together—like a navy house with a turquoise front door, bright orange patio furniture and creamy white trim. Other combos? Sage + cream + yellow, lime + powder blue + white blue, slate + creamy white + rust, gray + white + cobalt blue, lavender + purple + white. Combinations are endless, but the magic is in the mix, which can be hard to nail. “This is where a paint and design pro can really guide you. I always encourage people to play,” Carnes says. “Don’t be boring. You can always change it. It’s just paint.”

Tip #2: Watch your whites. Ever been to the “white” section of the paint chips and basically lost your mind, there are so many to choose from? That’s because there is no such thing as one perfect white, especially when you’re pairing with other colors. A rich slate color will feel cold and gray with a stark white, but an alabaster, dove or chamois white will make it feel rich and inviting. Whites can have hints of peach, blue, yellow, green and beyond, so be sure your white wants to play well with your palette.

Tip #3: Let the front door have a moment. Not willing to repaint the whole house? Focus on the front door, and whatever you choose, make it anything but boring old brown or “meh” white. “A front door can be a safe way to play with color and still make a statement,” Carnes says. “There’s a lot of potential for personality there.” Turquoise, lime green, soft apricot, bold red, soothing sage, glossy black—anything but brown or white creates not only a memorable entrance, but also adds a style note that can set the tone for matching furniture, window boxes, mailboxes, planters and other accents.

Tip #4: Prepare to prep. Hiring a paint pro isn’t cheap and DIYing is certainly an option, but in order to get the job done right you may need to power wash, sand, scrape and prime— laborious steps that can require days of work and specialized tools. “Honestly, prep is the most time-consuming and most important,” Carnes says. “When you nail that part, the painting goes much more smoothly and quickly.” —C.M.

LET’S TALK: A FRESH LANDSCAPE

The Expert: Dave Grossi, Landscape Architect/ Design Director, Drost Landscape, Petoskey

Tip #1: Lean into native plants. “One of the most impactful things you can do for your landscape is to learn the native plant palette in your area and utilize them,” says Landscape Architect Dave Grossi. In Northern Michigan, around the lakes, that means plants such as Carex, Lobelia, Iris, Asclepias (milkweed), Eupatorium, Viburnum, fern varieties and others. “These plants are at home here because of the availability to water the soils provide,” Grossi explains. “Used in organized patterns or masses, native plants will bring a connection of the natural environment surrounding us to your home.”

Tip #2: Walk on solid ground. “Whether you hire a landscape professional or you’re a DIYer, if you are looking to install a walkway, you must take your time and be persistent in building a a solid base,” Grossi says. “Most of our soils here are sand but have a shallow organic makeup at the surface.”If the organics are removed, they can be spread elsewhere on your property for various purposes. Getting down to the sand layer, providing a bed of crushed aggregate and a good compaction will solidify the ground enough to install a walkway of your choice. Large irregular flagstone (limestone, sandstone or granite) is a popular selection for cottage owners who want pathways to wind through their gardens.

Tip #3: Sketch it out. “If you don’t have a vision for how the space will take form, the final product may fall short of your expectations,” Grossi says. “Hand-sketching your ideas on paper is an easy method that will help problem-solve issues you might not be aware of at first glance, and in turn, save you time and money. If you don’t have a natural knack for sketching, you can always hire a landscape architect or garden designer to assist you. Proper planning goes a long way and should not be discounted to save time.” —C.S.