CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 65 other room of the house, as an extension of your personality." Whether you're looking to sell your home or stay awhile, a yard full of personality helps other people see the unique characteristics of your home. First, determine what you want to highlight about your house. Is it sleek? Palatial? A charm- ing southern cottage? From there, creating curb appeal is all about the richness and depth of what goes into the ground. Leaves of different shapes, plants of various colors and trees and bushes a variety of heights can provide a year-round landscape that doesn't depend on the whims of Mother Nature. "Even in the winter, I want to look out onto something pretty," she stated. McIntosh encourages novice landscapers to experiment with varietals, selecting colors that play with expectations. For example, McIntosh chose magenta bougainvillea—in- stead of the common tropical pink—to climb the trellis over the gate that leads into Minc's courtyard. "I adore placing deep, rich leaves against something sil- very. It creates a dramatic effect that you don't get when eve- rything is just green," McIntosh said. Grouping is another simple strategy that McIntosh says makes a big statement. "Instead of spreading one plant you like all across a yard, get several of them and bunch them together. Make them stand out," McIntosh said. To bring in seasonal elements, McIntosh is a believer in the power of pots. Use several different plants and layer their textures and colors. By potting marigolds and pansies in the fall, then replacing them with tulips and other bulbs in the spring, you'll keep your house looking fresh and seasonal with minimal effort. Whitney Allen Austin of Green Side Up says that perenni- als are a great addition to any yard. "With perennials," Allen Austin said, "you plant once and enjoy the spring and summer flowers for years to come." When creating containers, she suggests using the rill, Fill and Spill technique. "rill can be a plant with height and lots of color. Fill adds fluff, volume and more color, and Spill is a trailing plant that grows over the side of the container. e key is to have all angles of your container covered," Allen Austin said. If you don't have a green-thumb or don't want to get your hands dirty, focus on other aspects of your house. Adding outdoor lighting, fencing, stepping stones, water features, hammocks, pillows or hanging a flag can do wonders for a front or back yard. Angie Hott of Chapman-Wilson: Pools, Spas and Home Improvements said that adding in new elements can really spruce up your home. She said, "New windows and vinyl siding can give a house a clean, fresh finished look, plus it's maintenance free." Your own Curb Appealing Adding curb appeal to your home is up to you. Focus on what you like. What colors do you prefer? What plants do you love? Curb appeal is all about enjoying the atmosphere around your house so you will ultimately enjoy spending more time outside. Maybe it's hanging some twinkle lights in the trees to il- luminate your walk to the middle of the yard when you look up at sky full of stars. Maybe it's hanging an American flag in honor of our country for the year and not just the 4th of July. Maybe it's planting a hibiscus, your mother's favorite flower, right beside the front door, so when you see it you will always think of her. No matter if it's a welcoming wreath or a banner for your favorite baseball team or an artistic wind chime, curb appeal is about you. It's about the simple transformations that will make your house feel more like your home. CV This gorgeous Lake Front Community is nestled inside Fayetteville, NC. New Homes Starting in the $270's. Lake Front Homes | Private Boat Launch | Community Beach | Pavilion & Dock | Jack Britt School District *Jay Dowdy, Berkshire & Hathaway Visit BillClarkHomes.com or Call 910-257-3754

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