With exclusive access to some of the county’s most lovely clients and beautiful houses, we at Nicholsons are becoming increasingly aware of how important the approach to a house is and how it relates to the interior of the building. A well designed, first impression can only be a good thing, not only making guests feel welcome and clearly directing them to the house; it can also make you feel calm and relaxed when you arrive home after a busy day.
We adhere to a few design principles which enhance every property’s kerb appeal and create an entrance that lives up to the fantastic interiors often found within. Be honest with yourself and if you have any of the following they need to go, or at least be relegated to the back garden:
o Cheap, visible light fittings; “over the top” electric gates which judder or do not open properly.
o Novelty antiques like post boxes, telephone boxes and gnomes.
o Wheelie bins, plastic toys, trampolines and clutter in the front garden
o Concrete, concrete block or crumbling tarmac drives and paths.
o Hanging baskets and mismatched pots, tacky Conifers, rockeries, bedding and ericaceous plants on non- ericaceous soils.
Unmarked houses are not good; no one is too posh for a house name or number. A solid, timeless carved stone name plaque is the best, placed to be visible for the postman, garden designer or Doctor, should they need to visit.
Once the clutter is gone and the house is proudly displaying its name, it is time to introduce the following:
o Simple, understated and elegant design. Layout is important and try to keep parking areas away from windows if at all possible.
o Discreet light fittings, so you see the light where you need it, not the fitting, cabling or glare.
o Steel edges to lawns and drives to give a crisp finish and defined lines and contain gravel, resin bound gravel or tar spray with gravel rolled in surfaces.
o Planting to be in scale with and suited to the type of house. A cottage garden will not enhance a stately home and modern blocks of mono species will not necessarily suit an old farmhouse. Avenues of trees are good; so are pleached trees and topiary.
o Keep boundaries simple and neat.
o The whole area should be easily maintained so it can be kept looking its best with minimal effort.
o The drive must relate to the interior of the house and can set the tone for the entrance to the property.
o Door furniture is almost as important as the driveway itself. Good solid knobs and knockers will go a long way to offering a warm welcome on the doorstep.
o Finally be generous with the doorstep. There’s nothing worse than having to step up to ring the bell then falling backwards off the step while waiting for the door to be opened. A wide doorstep will accommodate carol singers at Christmas and welcome guests all year round.
It’s all very well giving advice but I have to confess my own front garden is a jumble of pots and hanging baskets and I have dug up the lawn to grow vegetables!
Whatever you do, don’t let your house down. Give it the entrance it deserves and enjoy the feeling of arriving somewhere special every time you come home.
By Karen Maskell.
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