Sunday, March 4, 2012

Curb Appeal & Second Looks

Do you ever see a house while driving that has so much curb appeal that you either turn around or circle the block to take a second look?  

Well I do!!  We were visiting Solvang, California last month and as we drove towards Alisal Ranch this darling bungalow caught my eye!  I asked Mr. Bloomers to please turn around and park across the street so I could snap a few pictures as I knew I  would want to share!


The house is actually a spa and was closed the day we were there. ( Sad face)  I couldn't help but admire the sweet cottage garden in the front yard.  


The blue trim on this charming little bungalow was so eye-catching and really frames 
this darling home.  I love the porch!


The sidewalk is edged with flowers and leads to a decorated front porch with rocking chairs  and pretty garden items.
I imagine customers really enjoy spending time 
in those rocking chairs. 


The garden was accented with arbors, potted plants and garden art.


Love this bicycle plant holder and the fountain in the background!


What an adorable place to have a spa day...Enchante Cottage Spa....even the name is charming!  I would
have loved to spend some time there being pampered with my best girlfriends!


This year I am freshening up my home's curb appeal  and love getting ideas while traveling or driving through my favorite neighborhoods. 


 When our fence and gate needing replacing a few summers ago I chose a cottage style scalloped topped picket fence with a rose arbor gate.  It was instant curb appeal and we immediately got compliments from our neighbors.  (our old fence was looking pretty worn so anything would have been an improvement)  I am still tweaking the landscaping.  My roses are almost to the top of the arbor and hopefully  this year they will make it to the top.  I planted  blue hydrangeas but they are still small and I may have to add a few more to get the full look I want in front of the fence. 


These climbers are a knockout variety 
and are rebloomers all season.  

(Our backyard a few summers ago)

I spent the afternoon out in my garden today, cleaning out flower beds and planting a few hardy perennials...so therapeutic for me.   Early spring is a great time to take a second look at your home's exterior and  garden areas and add some charm or curb appeal.   We recently replaced our windows and patio and one of our neighbors offered to buy our home... and it's not even up for sale!  Never underestimate the value of a little curb appeal. 

Adding curb appeal doesn't have to be expensive.   A new coat of paint on the front door, potted plants on the porch or a fresh door mat make a welcoming statement and will make you fall in love with your home all over again! 





I am hoping to add a few rockers to my front porch this year...maybe for Mother's Day.  Hopefully Mr. Bloomers is reading this post!

   
My favorite spot in the garden is next to my 
blue hydrangeas.


Nikko Blue Hydrangeas




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31 comments:

  1. That is the cutest cottage! No wonder you backed up to get a second look!

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  2. I love your favorite spot by the hydrangeas. I like all your ideas and plans for the new season. Gardening is therapuedic. Hope you get your rockers.

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  3. That is a charming cottage! Love seeing your beautiful yard and those gorgeous hydrangeas.

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  4. Your cottage is looking great! With a lovely yard and garden.

    philippine real estate

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  5. It is a cute cottage; thanks for sharing it. I love your yard and those blue hydrangeas.

    Happy Blue Monday!

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  6. What a charming home for a spa. The landscaping is beautiful. Your yard is very pretty too. I can't wait for Spring here in the midwest! Happy Blue Monday.
    Ann

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  7. That is one interesting cottage..

    Visiting for Blue Monday- hope you can stop by:)

    http://www.sweetposh.info/2012/03/celebrating-the-birth-of-our-little-guy.html

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  8. You have a discerning eye for beautiful bungalows and their cottage gardens. Thanks for taking us along.~~Dee

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  9. Lovely cottage! Your hydrangeas are gorgeous!!

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  10. Love the hydrangea's, too. Love! Miss them now that we are in Ca. Do they grow here?

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    Replies
    1. Yes they grow in Northern California all over...I don't know about So cal.

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  11. Hi lovely lady.
    Your Cottage is so cute love it.Thanks for sharing it with us. I also love your yard and those blue hydrangeas. all your photos are Gorgeous. I would like to thank you for your sweet comments on my Tablescape. I hope you will follow my new Linky and I will follow you back.
    XXOO Diane

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  12. Your yard is so beautiful! I have much to do this season to get our yard in shape. All of our geraniums caught some sort of blight last September and about six of them front and back need to be replaced. I also need to re-do a raised bed in the backyard and remake the courtyard. You have inspired me!

    I love the cottage in Solvang and the name. Last time our "girls trip" was to Solvang that cottage wasn't a spa. Time to go back!

    Yes, we have had our trip to Pismo. A week of absolutely blissful 72-75 degree weather. Long walks on the beach, lots of reading on the balcony, a little shopping in Arroyo Grande. I've done one Outdoor Wednesday post with some pictures but need to get the rest of the photos out of my camera! Fastest week ever!

    Robin

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  13. Beautiful garden you have.

    Sta Wars Blues in Disney World, please come and see.

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  14. Such a beautifully tended garden. I love all the interesting things used throughout. Would love to have a Spa day there too!

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  15. Your yard is gorgeous! And such a cute cottage! Also...gotta say how much I loved your Country French tablescape...fabulous! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  16. You are shaming me with your beautiful yard! It is so hot where I live that I hate to go outside, during gardening season. Maybe, this will inspire me - I hope so. Also, I loved my one visit to Solvang, but I missed that darling cottage!

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  17. Been by this house at least a zillion times and it never looked as good as it does in your photos. Means I'll have to really pay attention next time 'round.

    Your yard(s) are amazing. You know how beautiful it can be here, but honestly your gardens win a first prize!

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  18. Thank you for sharing the beautiful cottage with a gorgeous garden with us. My favorite is the walkway. Your garden is beautiful!...Christine

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  19. Too much is not enough when it comes to a cottage look at the Spa, is it?

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  20. Charming Garden, charming cottage and your hydrangeas are beautiful! sunny

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  21. What a cute cottage. Almost like a cottage from a saga.Vilket great to have a meal. Love your hydrangeas. I wish you a wonderful weekend! Zinnia

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  22. what a gorgeous place!!!
    I am just so happy to have the chance to visit here today!! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all could tour each friday's flaunting gardens together and in person? I would love it!
    I wish I had more time to visit all of my favorites everytime you post!
    Thank you so much for linking in and sharing your post with my party today!
    I have shared your post this week with the Tootsie Time Facebook page.
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    (¯`v´¯)
    `*.¸.*´Glenda/Tootsie
    ¸.•´¸.•*¨) ¸.•*¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´ .•´ ¸¸.•¨¯`•.

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  23. The cottage is absolutely charming Sonia ~~ I too would love to spend a day there or maybe two! I envy you had a day cleaning out your garden beds. Your place looks beautiful. I can't wait for your pictures this upcoming season. I just removed my outdoor greenery two days ago it has so cold and windy.
    Hugs Rosemary...xoxo

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  24. Sonia,
    What a delightful post!! I will need to go back and devour each beautiful pic!!
    The house and garden that you have shared with us is so darn charming!! I loved it. I tried to create a little cottage garden in my little back yard last year so I was so excited to see this sweet yard with all of it's wonderful elements. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I will be going back to this post many times I am sure for ideas!
    And your fence and arbor is to die for. I would love to have an arbor like that but it would over power my very small back yard. Love your dream rockers too. I am thinking of getting new chairs for my front porch this year too!
    Thanks so much for your visits and kind comments and thanks so much for this post as it have me dreaming of flowers and the garden but it will be another month or so before I can get out in my garden here in Pa.

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  25. Your garden is so beautiful! I hope you get your rockers, we love ours! I love hydrangea too, my fave!
    I envy your flowers, we have a way to go, like months! :)

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  26. Hi Sonia,

    It was lovely to meet you and discover your beautiful blog.
    Your garden and picket fence is beautiful and love the roses growing up.
    Hope that you can return to the spa next time for some pampering.

    Happy weekend
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  27. I love to take inspiration from other homes. There's a house near us that I practically stalk!! Take a picture of the whole front of your house one of these days. I bet it's beautiful.

    Enjoy the wonderful rain today. :)

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  28. This cottage is adorable! Thanks so much for commenting on my post about Blue Moon Cottage. I have decided that I must make one of those washtub tables for the patio!

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  29. I absolutely love all those cottages along the coast~ Monterey/Carmel area is a favorite of mine. We didn't make it farther north of Santa Barbara.
    Your arbor and gate are spectacular. I clipped it as inspiration for the arbor we are having built this spring. Ran out of time in the late fall, so now is the perfect time to line up the fence guy.:-)
    Glad you came by today. I have been so lax on my visiting- everyday life just seems to keep gettting in the way of my blogging hobby! LOL
    ~ Sue

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