The Dynamic Entryway.....

The entry to your home is your blank canvas. What do you want it to say about you? What do you want it to say about your home? its style? its personality? the family that lives in it?
This is the opportunity we have to create something elegant, artsy, fun, laid back, conservative....you name it. Whether you do it with color, plants or accents around the door, your entry is the first thing that visitors see and the biggest impression you can make.



I've always loved the idea of playing with Front door color. It's something so affordable and can be changed every year if you have commitment issues. Finding the perfect color is a journey that says everything about who you are.



A traditional black or deep charcoal will give you the conservative classic look while a whimsical tangerine might say that you're willing to take chances in life. pretty tough to make too big an error on the door....If it's wrong? you'll know it right away and you can just head back to Benjamin Moore for another consult. Take some color matches of the home and its trim and then try those with a host of hues that appeal to you. When you get it right, the neighbors will love it.




Accents around or on the door can also give major impact for a lot less. Finding something to hang is almost as simple as a visit to Google for ideas. It's not surprising that when you need a little help with something unique, you can almost bet that the information highway has an infinite amount of pictures and suggestions on the perfect accent. Once you've seen something you love, it's easy to head out and find it or put together your own version of it.


Whether it's two symmetrical planters showcasing your entry like little soldiers, a couple of handmade cedar chairs or an amazing live wreath hanging....take the opportunity to say a little something about the people that live inside by mapping out a completely unique entrance to your palace !!

To paint or not to paint....that is the question. Why is it that people freak when you tell them that you want to paint over the brick or any natural wood for that matter. Although our homes were stunning when first built in those natural states, it stands to reason that over the years they dull and become dated. One amazingly easy way to brighten and present your home as though it were just built yesterday is to PAINT. Even if there is brick to go over.

We all know that in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver, there really aren't any fully brick homes like the Southern U.S. but we certainly have plenty of partial brick and especially on homes from the 1970's era.

We love the character of those old 'Brady Bunch' houses but so often they have the original brick or stone facade and our husbands are bound to say something silly like "you can't paint that brick....it's brick!!!" as though there is some silent rule on what can and can't be painted.

Well it is my very humble opinion that painting over the brick in any damn color you choose, will render you a brand new fresh look.

Take a look around if you're considering doing so. The West side of Vancouver has heaps of great exterior ideas simply because of the age of the homes in general.

I say paint and then repaint when you're tired of that color !!!

Springs addition to Street Appeal....

We visited family last spring on Keats Island and I was in awe of the natural beauty of the landscape. This is the exact look and feel that we try to recreate on our own land in the city or suburbs. Just a little piece of paradise with the feeling that it's all been there for a hundred years with little effort. Just a good solid wooden Adirondak placed nearby and your set for sanity. Enjoy the beauty. Maybe the IPhone is a little uncalled for in the scene? ya think?

It isn't always easy to remember that sometimes the landscape left untouched can be stunning as well

Homes of New England Inspire....

In 2008 I spent a few years going back and forth between Vancouver and Ipswich, Massachussettes. This period of time really amped up my interest in the Street Appeal of homes. The Americans are amazing at preserving their somewhat youthful history and it really shows in the Heritage homes of New England. Even the smalles and simplest Salt Box homes gave off a feeling of character, warmth and welcome. Things as simple as the homes color or trim color combined with the original wood features of 100 years ago, make them all so charming. In these homes are where I came to understand that less really can be more. Simplicity is something that can also emit a deep sense of interest. Sometimes more so than the newest homes today with all of the fancy details. I now try to look beyond what is already there or what could be added to a homes exterior and first try to imagine what I might take away.

The Details....

Always consider the small details that aren't necessarily noticed at first but certainly help to add to the complete impact of your home. Could be as simple as adding shutters and painting them a specific color that sets your home apart from others on the street. Landscape lighting is a sure winner and if you can't afford the best....Home Depot always has something within the average homeowners price range. Check out images on Google first so that you can design a plan that highlites key areas in your yard. The effects are magnificent !!

The Cost of small improvements

When my husband and I bought our home, we did not have the money to paint the home or trim even...but we did choose an interesting door color and simply placing an adirondack out front helped to give our home the welcoming feel that I was hoping for.

What we all want....

Let's be frank.....we all want our land value to be worth the most that it can be. How to accomplish this? Street Impact. By giving your home the best look you can, you not only improve the value of your own home, but you are also improving the neighborhood. When neighborhoods become more desirable, land value increases.
Our homes are our largest investment and perhaps the only investment we have so figuring out ways to increase the value is in your and your neighbors best interest.