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Add curb appeal to your home

Get the best-looking house on the block and ratchet up its value wiith smart exterior upgrades. From This Old House Magazine.

Bold Federal rowhouse
Bold Federal rowhouse
After
Project Particulars

1. Siding: The new fiber-cement clapboards are a fire-resistant version - mandated by the city - of what was there originally.

2. Paint: An autumnal shade of yellow brings the facade back to life. The green on the cornice and shutters is in keeping with a period palette, and a close match to paint remnants found on the body of the house.

3. Shutters: These cedar replacements for the long-gone originals focus attention on the once-receding windows.

4. Entry: Replacing the bracketed door entablature with one that's angular and clean-lined helps restore the rowhouse's Federal styling and complements the boxy window casings.

5. Details: Matching the shutter dogs, lantern and house numbers to the iron railings creates a cohesive look.

Value Added: 30 percent

Porch
Before

Porch
After

Palette
Before

Palette
After

Rowhouse
Before

Rowhouse
After

Garage
Before

Garage
After

Pavers
Before

Pavers
After

Pavers
After
Bump up your curb appeal with these surefire tips (more)
How to transform - or take the focus off - a boring, straight driveway (more)
Imaginative details can raise a deck to extraordinary design heights (more)
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