I like my exteriors to hint at what is going on inside, while still maintaining privacy. I spray painted my garden gate with very basic stencil letters from Home Depot. The industrial look is clean and bold.
A discarded umbrella stand finds new life as a planter; it sits on the top of an old post. Combining the two pieces gave me the height I desired.
Surprisingly, many people we know ask us what the "F" on our front door stands for. However, I like something clean and graphic and this metal letter from Anthropologie makes my kind of statement.
Our stairs are the first thing people see when they walk in our front door - so I decided to make them a focal point. Painting the risers a slightly different color from the walls and applying vinyl decals that I designed online - we created a look that gets attention straight away. Children love to count out the stairs as they walk up - so it doubles as an educational tool!
Our front entryway had a narrow cement path and a slim patch of grass to the right. We cut out the grass on the side and poured down pea gravel to create a larger walkway and also a sitting area. The side entry to our house makes our front door invisible from the street - this treatment highlights the entry to our home.
I can enjoy my morning coffee here while the girls play out front. I made these pillows from a towel I purchased at a thrift store - they are backed with Sunbrella fabric.
I choose plants with great leaves and good form.
This summer, my front window box was filled mostly with foliage; many times I find the leaf of a plant more attractive than the flower.