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April home-maintenance checklistFix fences, improve energy efficiency and spiff up your home's entrance.
15 ways to update your kitchenNo huge remodel required; try these clever tips for a fabulous face lift.
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Building the right fenceHere's how to plan, design and buy a fence that meets your budget.
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Courtesy of Circa Lighting
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Easy ways to update your entry on a budget
By Steele Thomas Marcoux of Coastal Living
Make an entrance
Bold colors, soft lighting, graphic house numbers, pretty planters and fun accessories make a welcome addition to your front entryway.
- Door in Simply Aqua (5008-10A); valspar.com
- Starfish wreath, $120; etsy.com/shop/beachgrasscottage
- Frog indoor/outdoor rug, $138 (4 feet by 6 feet); dashandalbert.com
Easy ways to update your entry on a budget
Color it bold
Nothing has a bigger impact on a front door than fresh paint, which improves curb appeal and provides protection from the elements. Buff the door with 220-grit sandpaper, then prime it so the paint adheres better. “A smoother finish, like a semi- or high-gloss, will help prevent moisture from creeping in and forming mildew,” says Pat Sandor, a how-to expert at The Home Depot.
From top to bottom:
- Ebbtide (SW6493); sherwin-williams.com
- Folly Green (76); farrow-ball.com
- Martha Stewart’s Peony Orange (MS032); valspar.com
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Easy ways to update your entry on a budget
Light it up
Add ambience with a hanging lantern or nautical-style sconces. Materials such as unfinished copper or brass look even better with patina, says Gale Singer, president of Circa Lighting. Another tip: Use frosted bulbs for softer light and less glare.
- Charleston 1-Light outdoor pendant in oil-rubbed bronze, $219; ballarddesigns.com
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Easy ways to update your entry on a budget
Play the numbers
Make sure guests and mail carriers can find your home with house numbers that are easily visible and have a coastal vibe.
- Eames house numbers in Paprika, $38 each; heathceramics.com
Easy ways to update your entry on a budget
Get some life
Extend a warmer welcome with planted pots. Check out local nurseries for low-maintenance plantings, such as succulents, that thrive in your plant zone.
- South Seas planter in Verde, $84; campaniainternational.com
- Bing: Find local plants
- MSN Lifestyle: Revolutionary vertical gardens
Easy ways to update your entry on a budget
Accessorize with style
Door knockers, mailboxes and pretty wreaths are like jewelry for front doors. Add one or two, but don’t overdo it.
- Anchor door knocker, $100; michaelhealy.com
- Bing: Shop for a unique door knocker
- 'Listed': Michael Moore owns 10,000-square-foot home
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