How to create Curb Appeal

(BPT) - Spring is in the air, so it’s time to give your home an exterior makeover and add curb appeal. A few simple tricks can help boost your home’s profile, and ensure visitors get a good first impression when they arrive on your doorstep.

Make a statement with your front door

Your front door is one of the first things people notice about your home. Is your door drab, drafty or just plain past its prime? Make a bold statement and improve your home’s energy efficiency with a new Energy Star-qualified front door. Consider options with decorative glass accents and stunning sidelights to add more natural light while maintaining a sense of style and privacy.

“Pella entry doors feature stylish options in a variety of popular materials from wood to fiberglass and steel options, and the real beauty is in their performance,” says Kathy Krafka Harkema of Pella Windows and Doors. “When replacing your old front door, choose from one that accents your home’s style, with highperformance features that help keep out air and water, and low-maintenance convenience like durable prefinished options with coordinating trim.”

Accessorize with new hardware

Replace your front door hardware for a quick, easy facelift. Choose hardware finishes consistent with those of your home’s light fixtures, mailbox and house numbers to maintain a polished, cohesive look. You’ll be surprised what a difference new hardware on your front door can make in creating a positive look and feel.

Refresh exterior and trim colors

Now’s also time to add a new storm door to help keep out the elements, or to add a refreshing coat of paint on your existing exterior doors for a fresh look. For a dramatic change, repaint your home’s exterior. You can also change trim color to refresh your home’s exterior impact. When updating trim, choose color schemes that match your home’s primary exterior color, or complement it with a fresh twist.

Accent with lighting

For night-time curb appeal and safety, add a row of exterior accent lighting to illuminate a walking path with ground-insert solar lights. Or consider solar spotlights to bring out landscaping or architectural focal points. Install new matching light fixtures outside your front door, garage door or patio door to create an inviting feel and provide well-lit doorways to greet you and visiting neighbors and guests.

Create points of interest with plants

Add pops of color by arranging potted plants around your front door, or on a porch or deck. Incorporate planters or container gardens of varied sizes, shapes and colors to add visual interest. Also, planting flowerbeds along driveways and walkways gives your home a softer, more inviting feel.

For more curb appeal inspiration, visit Pella Windows and Doors on Houzz, on Pinterest.com/pellawindows or to connect with a Pella representative to discuss your home improvement project visit Pella.com/News.

771 East Main St. # C Blue Ridge, GA 30513 $7,900,000.

706-632-0367 on a private point on Blue Ridge Lake w/ 650 ft of lake frontage! Approx. 12,570 sq. ft. & full of windows & natural light, overlooking lake w/ 8 BR’s (7 w/ lake & mtn views), 7 full baths, 2 half baths. Soaring ceilings, hand-hewn log beams from 1800s, reclaimed barn wood ceilings/accent walls, stacked stone fireplaces. Master on main w/ fireplace, sitting area, 2 custom closets w/ barndoors, linen closet, BA w/ quartz countertops, heated marble floors, marble walls, double sinks, bathtub w/ marble base, marble stone shower. Custom kitchen w/ Viking appliances, quartz countertops - 4 stoves, gas range w/ pot filler, 2 sinks, prep island, ice machine, breakfast nook, separate pantry. 2 laundry rooms (main/upstairs). Theater room. Bonus space above garage w/ full BA could be another BR. 3-car garage on main & 2-car garage below. Outdoor Fireplace. Porches, decks, heated saltwater pool & spa w/ 6,000 ft patio, & custom dock w/ 2-boat slips, 2-jetski slips, party deck. 4 dual fuel heating/air units, 3 hot water heaters, house filtration system, & 1,000 gal. propane tank. Spray foam insulation between walls & subfloors. Generac whole-house generator. Furnished, gated, paved roads, minutes from town. MLS: 321771

$1,500,000. MLS: 320810

CLASSIC BRICK HOME IN BLAIRSVILLE GA! 3BR home has a large lot for family activities & is with in walking distance to downtown. New kitchen, bathrooms, A/C system, new electric & plumbing work. Wood burning fireplace. separate workshop. $294,000. MLS: 319248

3BR/2BA COUNTRY COTTAGE IN BLAIRSVILLE, GA! Large living, dining area, & master all on the main floor. Opportunities w/ commercial frontage on HWY 129 & close to Murphy, NC. 2 acres of useable land. Has old canning house, a storage shed for equipment, & large workshop. Selling AS-IS. $189,000. MLS: 318922

MOUNTAIN CHALET HOME ON 2.96 ACRES IN BLAIRSVILLE, GA! Newly Refreshed 2BR/2BA w/ a full unfinished bsmt w/extra room for expansion or storage. Open floor plan, new LVP flooring. BR’s are spacious w/ new carpets & large closets. Hot tub outside w/ privacy. $399,900. MLS: 321622

NEWLY REFRESHED HOME IN MCCAYESVILLE, GA! 3BR/2BA w/ master on the main. Long-range mtn view & close to downtown. Granite countertops, SS appl, & more! Living rm w/ gas logs. BR’s have new carpet & fresh paint. Deck is great for views of the mtns. Great Potential for a vacation rental. $339,900. MLS: 321566

“Seldom do we meet someone who truly loves what he does for a living. Keith’s passion for building beautiful homes is reflected not only in what he produces, but also in his enthusiasm in the way he approaches each new endeavor.”

Jeff Himebaugh

“Amanda and I just wanted to thank you for consistently exceeding our expectations before during and after the building process. From a personal and professional standpoint, the building of a custom home is a very stressful undertaking. However, every time we build with you we are pleasantly surprised by the result - and this is no doubt due to the fact that it is you who takes on the stress for us. We truly appreciate your passion and commitment to building the highest quality and innovative product on the market. You’ve built a team that is second to none in the Fannin County and surrounding markets, and you should be proud of that. Thank you for not just being our builder of choice in Blue Ridge, but also for being our friend.”

Paul & Amanda