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FRONT YARD
FACELIFT
Photos and abridged text courtesy Cobb Life Magazine
The old adage is never to judge a book by its cover, but that's what prospective buyers often do when viewing a home.
A well-maintained, landscaped exterior is key to attracting potential buyers. "Aside from just mere aesthetics and pleasure received by the homeowner, curb appeal helps your home to stand out. A home can be immaculate inside but if it has a rough landscape people will drive right by it," said Dasher.
In today's economy, with more people holding on to their houses until the market picks back up, many are dressing up their entryways and front landscapes to add to their overall satisfaction of a home they plan to stay in a while. "Right now, with the market the way it is, we are going to be in our home for quite some time. You just want to make where you're at as comfortable as can be," said Vickie Allen, a Kennesaw homeowner. Vickie and husband Jeff did an extensive upgrade to their home last Spring.
 
"We previously had the builder-installed minimal landscaping and it was pretty mundane. We wanted to add a bit of flair to that," said Jeff. In addition to new landscaping, the AlIens had their concrete walkway replaced with one made of Crab Orchard stone. "We built stone steps up to the front, so we integrated the stone with the brick by adding stone caps to the brick columns that supported the front porch and added a stone lip around the front porch to tie in the stone look," said Dasher. Homeowners are also including hardscapes such as boulders in front lawn makeovers to add character to the exterior. The trend in adding hardscaping to the front lawn and adding accent stone to caps, columns and walkways has taken off in the last few years. "Right now people are on the fence about big elaborate planting due to the drought; with hardscaping it's something you can do any time of the year. It adds a very big visual impact," said Dasher.
"I love seeing big rocks and things in yards. The big natural area in om front yard is really pretty in Spring when it starts to bloom," said Vickie. If hardscaping isn't in your budget, simply adding fresh landscaping can help spruce up your home's lawn. "Anything you can do ornamentally that will add color will help your home stand out," said Dasher. Vibrant and well-maintained landscaping will also make your front lawn a more inviting place to spend time. "We have two kids, so we wanted a place where we could hang out, something that dressed up om front yard and
side yard so we would have a place to sit while we watched om kids play outside," said Vickie. "[The new landscaping] is just gorgeous. We always have a ton of bees and butterflies everywhere."
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After living about 9 years in their Marietta home, Ann and Ken Stovall  needed to repair a cracked driveway and in addition decided to "do something different." To jazz up the repaved driveway, the Stovalls added two motor court areas with brick and stone elements. "We entertain a lot, so to facilitate that we decided to add the motor court," said Mrs. Stovall. The motor court adds a little pizzazz in welcoming guests, said Brenden Smith, landscape architect with C&M Residential who designed the Stovall's new driveway. New plantings framed by granite pavers were added to the home's entrance to fit more appropriately with the traditional, Charleston-style home.
"We just thought that the landscaping needed to be revamped. We had builder grade stuff and it was just tired," said Mrs. Stovall. A wrought iron railing on the front steps replaced the white wooden one for a more traditional, elegant look. The Stovalls also added a few touches of their own.  They installed outdoor lighting to add a softness to the landscaping
at night and Mrs. Stovall splurged on two new german sea glass sconces. "Being a designer I knew I wanted to replace the lights, and one of my pet peeves is that Ann Stovall people put sconces on exteriors that are too small," said Mrs. Stovall. "Every time I drive in the front of our house and see the sconces I just love them. If! ever do sell the house I'll have to figure out how to sell the house and keep those." Smith, who has been in the landscaping industry for 22 years, said he sees an increase in the number of people making home improvements every time the economy dips.
"People put the investment in their home, which is a solid investment even though the real estate market is down now," he said. "Number one, home improvements] are  functional and number two, you get to add aesthetics to your home. It becomes a more pleasurable place to return to." Smith said now is an ideal time to invest. "Right now is the best opportunity to get the improvements at a far more economical price," he said. Though the Stovall's project ended up costing more than what they had initially planned to spend, but Mrs. Stovall said it's worth every penny. "I have had so many compliments and I think it really does make a difference. One thing a lot of people don't factor in is the enjoyment factor [when considering value of their home]. And every time I drive in the driveway to my home, I am happy," she said.
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