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Curb Appeal Chronicles – Numbers

OUR 2nd HOUSE

Again….and I feel pretty dumb for having to repeat myself….please do not leave comments, text me or email me (or my friends) to tell me about the house number thing.  If some crazy wants to find me…they can schedule an appointment and wait their turn like the rest of you fine folks.  And yes – I thought it through…I went over it a million times…I scoured the message boards of Katie-haters that post step-by-step directions to our house…the conclusion was this….

I am not anonymous.  We live in a world where I can get minute by minute location details on Lindsey Lohan.  And I believe without a shadow of a doubt that I am kept safe only by the hand of God.  and having an alarm system, nosy neighbors and weaponry can’t hurt (well, actually that last one can…but you know what I mean).  So that being said…thanks for your concern…I hear you…now let’s move on.

Our curb appeal project is what’s up.  Lowe’s Creative Ideas Magazine challenged us and we were all “It’s on like DonkeyKong”.  We have been tackling the 20 or so feet of untouched goodness that is visible from our curb and so far we are doing a whole lotta taping and spraypainting.  We vamped up the light fixtures…

And then we painted our hideous mailbox and attached a fallen stone…

Dontcha just love the action shots?  We left it like this overnight….we are definitely getting the classy award this month from the neighborhood…I’d put money on it.

So I mentioned before that we removed the old sticker house numbers from the front of the mailbox.  And seeing as how I really like Margaret our mail lady, I thought it would be only kind to correctly label our house with a proper plaque.  So I ran to Lowe’s and got a cheap natural pine plaque (it cost about $6) and some 4″ Gatehouse house numbers in black (they were about $4 each).  I went with the most plain basic numbers…none of those curly q’s or scripty fonts for us…they also aren’t modern…which is good because I think a super-modern look would clash with our traditional lights and the overall aesthetic of the house.   I also pulled out my favorite stain – it’s dark Walnut by Minwax.

I decided to do a medium tone.  I wanted the numbers to pop…but I didn’t want to risk going too light and lose that rich warm stain either.  So bascially my method was to wipe on three stripes of stain with the sponge and then wipe the excess off with the paper towel.  It gave it just enough time to soak in without becoming too dark.

I also did the sides and back just in case 🙂

Then I took it outside.  I wanted the wood to acclimate to the heat…I have no idea why I thought this would help but I figured that if wood was like the pores on my face, it would need to adjust to the Georgia climate.

After three days of becoming one with the south, this bad boy was ready to be sealed.  I could have used a varnish…but honestly, that sounded a little too much work for me and my very alien looking feet.  Is it just me or does that look like a extra-terrestrial mated with a sasquatch?  I swear I shave my legs.

Anyhoo…I decided in the name of EASE to just spray the plaque.  NOTE: this product says to not spray stained wood.  I am not responsible for your jacked up stained plaque.  Peace out.

I strapped on my mask and aimed my Thompson’s Waterseal – giving the entire front side a very thin coat.  Then I let it dry a few hours.  Then I repeated it four times.

After it dried, it looked entirely the same.  Nothing exciting to see here.

Then came time for the numbers.   These were pretty much the most simple to attach…just a little tap with the hammer and a tighten with the screw driver and we had bonafide mailbox signage.

Now comes the attaching part….

Jeremy got some assistance (assistance = back hugs?!) from the sprinkler kid…

So here’s how we did it…

we marked our spots for drilling on the upper corners of the plaque….then using a 1/8 inch drill bit for masonry we went through the sign into the stone.  (Jeremy was it 1/8 inch?)

Then we redrilled the stone holes just to make sure they were as deep as the screws.

Using 2.5 inch masonry screws, we screwed the sign directly into the stone.  Since our stones were definitely not flush with one another, it took some patience to find where the sign hung flat and looked best from the road.  It was kinda a balancing act.

We then took some furniture nailhead accent tacks and clipped off the tack part with pliers.  I used some Liquid Nails to put the little brassy heads over the screw heads for a more finished look.

So there we have it – one finished mailbox and one finished number plaque.  Let’s use lots of exclamation points to celebrate!!!!!!!!

The last task we had on our curb appeal list was actually the easiest…I wanted a tall plant next to the mailbox to hide the transition between our pavers and the neighbors.   Jeremy liked the green – so we went with the cheapest plastic planter that was in stock at Lowe’s that was big and came in green.  One $17 plant and two bags of potting soil later, we have a nice distraction from that weirdo corner.

Ready for before and afters?  Watch out now – the subtely might stun you 🙂

 

I love the new bush.  Isn’t it weird how just the littlest things can make you smile?!  That bush (err tree?) makes me smile every single time I pull in the driveway.

It has the same affect on our our little Geisha…

And this photo is precisely why you never tell your kid to “smile”….he’s a looker, that one…

Seriously Katie…enough with the Will-as-a-Southern-Belle photos…

And this is just for kicks – but I thought it would be fun to look back at the front from last September and compare it to now….

Check out the roses!

They got much much bigger.  Everything else is kinda okay.  The hollies are better than the Lorapetalum.  Not enough water I betcha.

 

But overall – not too shabby for 8 months of growing…

 

So that’s it folks – our curb appeal chronicles are coming to an end.   Thanks for tagging along on the adventure with us…now back to our regularly scheduled program of cheese, randomness and awkward situations with the Bowers 🙂

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Comments

  1. No comments here about the numbers! the reno looks great. I just wanted to say that you are very lucky to be able to keep a potted small tree by your entry. Where I live, it would take only a few hours for some unscrupulous person to pull up, and take the said tree to be rehomed….

  2. Love the address plaque! I’ve been REALLY wanting to order a nice one from somewhere but REALLY don’t want to spend 100 bucks either. I may have to try this! We have no address on our house and just small ones on our box. Thanks for the inspiration.

  4. Love it! Major improvement!! I, too, need to paint my mailbox, house numbers, and light fixtures and you’ve given me the inspiration I needed to get out there and get r’ done!! 🙂

  5. Beautiful! I like the numbers. I would have chosen a brighter color for the plaque, for example a red tone that catches the color of the roses. The neutral look is beautiful as well.
    Regarding the “showing your house number on the internet” topic – I live in germany and everyone who has an own blog or website is forced by law to publish his/her full address. So, if there would really be a problem with strangers spying on bloggers’ homes, we would have it.

  7. It looks great! You guys did such a nice job. Sometimes subtle changes make a huge difference. I love the number plaque. And I’m also a big fan of those planters from Lowe’s; I have several on my balcony with tomato and pepper plants. (Now I’m just waiting for the tomatoes and peppers…)

  9. Is it terrible if I wish your address were 5150 so that the song could apply to you? 5-1-5-0 somebody call the po-po! 🙂

  10. Wow! Night and day. I was admittedly kind of disappointed to see you were talking mailboxes today but who knew numbers could have such a transformation! I love the idea of moving them down onto a plaque like that. Looks great!!

  14. It’s sort of amazing the difference such small changes can make. Like, I never would have thought your driveway/mailbox area was particularly offensive looking, but when you posted the side-by-side pics…wow, what a difference!
    We’ve been doing a big-ish landscaping project in our yard. Literally adding some curb appeal by planting a flower bed from our privacy fence right up to the curb on one side, then another flower bed inside the fence and around our deck (we have some bare patches that won’t grow grass…hopefully the flowers won’t die!). The difference is astounding, even with the plants being relatively tiny for now.

  17. Do you ever take embarrassing pictures of Will just so that you have something hilarious for his wedding? Haha I love it. (Cute now, embarrassing when he is in his 20s I mean!) At my wedding there was a picture on the slideshow of my little brother dressed up as Anne of Green Gables. I think everyone thought it was hilarious except him!

  18. It’s really weird because the thing that stuck out to me too was the potted shrub/tree. It really finishes off that area. Love it!

  19. hahaha, I must admit that I was tempted to write you about your numbers just to be silly, but I was afraid my attempt at humor would get overlooked among all the other emails from people genuinely concerned for your safety (but not concerned enough not to read your little blub explicitly saying DO NOT EMAIL ME). ha. People are funny.

    Awesome curb appeal, btw!

  21. I’m getting my tush to lowes for a plaque like yours! I attempted this same exact project (well it was numbers for our house not our mailbox, but whateve’)… and i failed at the plaque part… found one at Ben Franklin Crafts but it’s too small and looks kinda weird…

    So… thanks for posting this! I’m going to pull a “redo”…

    Great job! on the whole mailbox project – it looks a million times improved!!!!

  22. The picture of Will giving his Daddy a ‘back hug’ is just precious!
    He is adorable and thank you for sharing your life with the world Katie!

  26. Love it – totally inspired to tackle our ugly curb appeal. I’ll take pics and send them to you if I am successful (as I don’t have my own blog to share).
    PS I hope you get nothing but Christmas cards from anyone who does figure out your location. That would give you something to share with the people scolding you for sharing your house numbers. Hahaha

  27. OMG you put your house numbers on the interwebs so people can now come to your house…JUST KIDDING!! It is funny (and kinda sad) that you have to keep telling people to leave you alone about that. If someone really wanted to find you, they would have already done so.

    That picture of Will hugging, I mean helping, Jeremy is so stinking sweet!!

  29. Well. I read these posts and not once did I think, “I’m going to go stalk Katie and be a creep.” I think you are fine. By the way, I love the plaque. I’ve been looking for a good solution for our house numbers. This might just be it. Thanks!

  30. I love the transformation. My fav are the numbers on the wood plaque. Super classy!

  31. People need to remember that there are tax records associated with purchasing homes. If someone wants your full address bad enough, they can find it. So posting your house number isn’t paramount to inviting crazies to stop by.

    It looks great! It’s amazing what some tweaks can do – it looks like a new entrance.

  32. I agree with everyone above.. amazing how the subtle changes can change your whole mood! I think you did a great job of working well with what you were given and with minimal costs!

    I can’t imagine how hard it would be ignore these “Katie-Haters” (it would be very difficult for me) but please know that you have more Katie-LOVERS. Haters who are spending time out of their day to map out your location tells me that you’re obviously holding power over them. You know that saying? Haters are always gonna hate… b/c they’re drinking all that HATER-ADE! 😉 And in case that’s not enough, here’s a video that should make you smile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCMWKZbZFxQ

  33. Great job! I think the subtleness is nice. It’s a “hey, we’re working on things here” vs “we’re going crazy with everything and have completely changed our entire house” like some. Not that the later is bad, it’s just overwhelming to some. Plus, you had good stuff that was worth keeping but needed some little TLC. And you’ve definitely given it that. And the plant is nice. Maybe some lights on it for Christmas?!

  34. Love the new numbers and the black mailbox! It looks so classy and elegant! You’re making me want to attack my mailbox with spray paint… and put a tree in a pot.

  35. It looks so good! I always think it is funny how Internet strangers have to insert themselves into people’s lives.

  36. Hi Katie! I think this is the first (maybe second) time I have ever commented on your blog, but I am a faithful reader. I love the mailbox makeover and it has given me the motivation to do mine this weekend.

    BUT… I really was commenting to say how much I love your pictures of Will. He is such a cutie and my favorite is the one where he is giving his dad a back hug. Makes my heart melt. You have such an amazing family and I am glad you share it with us! 🙂

  38. I’m only commenting to tell you I was honestly surprised by the fact that there are Katie Bower haters out there. I actually Googled to see what all the “hate” was about. I know there are people who will hate a blog no matter what is posted, but I mean really…it’s a life/mom/diy blog for cryin’ out loud. I guess I just don’t get it. Why expend the energy on a discussion board of “I can’t stand Katie Bower”…Really? How the hell old are you?!

    I “get” your writing and I know when you’re joking and when you’re not. And to be honest…even when I DON’T think you’re kidding, I think it’s even funnier! If people think the jokes are tasteless or inappropriate then so be it. I think they are HILARIOUS!

    Keep it up…and let the haters hate…you are not the jackass whisperer. 🙂

  39. I love it! It looks so nice and very classy. What I will remember most from this post though.. Your son is A-Dor-A-Ble! Oh my word how cute it he! Btw your feet… definitely not alien, mine however have been compared to hobbit feet. I feel ya. 🙂

  41. WOW! that looks great. i’m totally inspired to get outside and do something to our house exterior for a change.

    and LOL @ “It has the same affect on our our little Geisha…”. you are so funny!

  42. this looks GREAT! i was wondering if you were going to leave your house sans numbers. when we moved into our house it didn’t have numbers and our mail carrier actually complained to us! (very passively and under his breath. we’d been in the house for like 2 days AND i was 8 mos pregnant. HELLO!? CUT US SOME SLACK!!! plus, we’re in richmond. i expect a little more friendliness in the south!)
    we (now) have a similar plaque and love it.

  45. It looks so good! I especially love the new mailbox numbers! That wood gives the stone a cozy feel! Very welcoming! And I totally agree that bush/tree makes the space! It really is the little things sometimes!

  46. Hello! Longtime on and off lurker, coming out for my first comment to ask a question: I got the impression that you had more property with the four-wheelers and playing in the creek and such. How is your neighbor’s driveway so close? What kind of “neighborhood” do you live in? I ask because my husband comes from a farm family with a house nestled on 100 acres. I definitely enjoy privacy but also wouldn’t mind not being so secluded. I’m always interested in how people strike a balance!

    Also, I love the new house numbers. 🙂

  47. It looks really great. That plaque really makes a difference. I never would have thought of it. And I tend to agree with you about the address thing. People know your name, and all kinds of other stuff about you. If they want to find you guys, hiding those numbers won’t make a difference. Hopefully all the crazies stay away.

  48. It’s amazing how much all of the small (and cheap) updates add up. I agree with you about being able to be found. I put my name into a web crawler once (before I started blogging) and was shocked at what came up. Google really does know every thing about you anyway.

  50. I actually don’t think the difference is that subtle – it’s amazing how much more luxurious it all looks with the address plaque and the coordinating mailbox and light fixture! Good work Team Bower! 🙂

  51. Love it Katie! I love when little changes like that (well, little changes that can take days to finish 🙂 have such a big impact – and I do think it’s a big difference! Love your choices 🙂

  52. I’m not going to lie. I am loving the new transformation. Who would have thought that little bit of stuff would change everything completely? Your mailbox looked like it was begging for those numbers to be like that. It looks like it SHOULD have been that way.

    Ahhh! I am addicted to your blog, I get so antsy waiting for the next stuff!!!

  53. Well – our driveways are close because our lots are all a slice of pie that have long driveways that meet at the culdesac….but we all have 5 acres…not quite 100 but enough for us to roam 🙂
    xo – kb

  54. Seriously love the “after”. I know it’s not the biggest change, but it looks lovely.
    Aaaand, I had to read your opener, like, 9 times before I figured out what you were talking about. And man, nobody’s anonymous anymore, so… whatev.
    Happy Friday!

  56. Same here, my thought exactly. I even had the solar lights taken from my front garden, some people. It’s great that you live in a trust worthy neighborhood 🙂

  58. The mailbox looks GREAT! I just wanted to comment and say how ADORABLE that “smiling” pic of Will is! I love it!

  59. Hmmm 5050… now I know EXACTLY where Katie lives! I’m going to put my stalking hat on now.

    I kid I kid!

  60. I may has missed this somewhere along the line but I’ll ask anyways. How did Will get the nickname Tinkler? Or in this post I see you said Sprinkler?

  61. Once again, a very low cost project, with great results! It looks very elegant, and pretty.

  62. Love your blog! You have tremendous energy, and as someone who could be your “Mom” I find your writing style fun and refreshing :). You’ve got it all: good sense of humor, love of family, and a way of doing things on a shoe string budget that looks au contraire. My suggestion: paint the pot that the “tree” sits in black! It’s the little things. You hit so many homeruns, and the curb appeal blog is another example of simple re-dos that go a LONG way!!

  63. Oh my gosh! Seriously? That is awful. I must totally take where I live for granted. How sad that people would do something like that!

  64. So after I left that comment I made a late night run to the store to get cash for our neighborhood garage sale tomorrow and drove past 3 different neighbors on my street who had all their stuff just sitting out on their driveway for the night. I couldn’t help but laugh! Thats Idaho for you 🙂

  66. Very, very nice and super classy – just like everything else you do! Good job! …. and the pics of your son are DARLING!

  67. Agreed! We just bought our first home and it got listed in the paper, and it is public record on the city’s GIS website. If people really want to be creeps, something like this def won’t stop them. Love the transformation!

  68. Wow, I love this transformation!

    The first picture of Will as a geisha would be so cute as a background, it has everything you love in it (home, family/Will and life)!

  70. Looks like to me that Will was running threw a sprinkler they had on in the yard

  71. WOW I never knew there were actual YHL/BP hate pages
    I read them becuase someone mentioned googling them here and I was like.. “WTF” but indeed, they exists. They think you ramble and are racist? But fret not, they hate YHL too! (haha?)

  72. Sprinkler was because his shirt was clearly wet in that picture from a sprinkler!

  74. Oh heavens – they think I am many things. I guess it goes to show that you can’t win em all 🙂
    xo – kb

  76. I kinda felt that way too – but Jeremy loves the green…he picked it out, ya know? So I figure that I’d rather have a green pot and a happy Jeremy than undermine his contribution to the design process….it really is the little things, right?! 🙂
    xo – kb

  77. If the mail lady telling you your mail box looks good is your stamp of approval then take it from a former pizza deliverer that those big numbers are perfect! Nice big numbers are the best and yours look very polished and pretty. Good job Katie!

  79. Don’t know if you are a Friends fan, but Q sent me an email with Will’s “smile” photo and said, “Mom! He’s Chandler!” (She’d just watched The One with the Engagement Picture.)

    I cracked up. 😀

  82. Mind boggling at how high your house numbers can go… we live in a very very small place far far away and so the highest house number I’ve heard of is 400-something and I was all like, “Woaaah you must live on a long street!”

    Do you pronounce it, ‘five thousand and fifty X street’ or ‘fifty-fifty X street?’ 🙂 Just more weird curiosity.

    Love what you’ve done with your mailbox!!! It looks so brand spanking new!

  83. I do not see a need to tell this to Katie. I would be very insulted by this comment. Katie is a pregnant woman and I know that pregnant women are very sensitive (being a pregnant woman myself). Katie-I am impressed by your response and your lack of defensiveness. I think you are witty, lovely,caring, and very talented!

  84. Hey Katie! I found your blog from YHL awhile ago and never commented, but after googling to see these “hate pages,” I felt like I had to! What the heck? Haven’t these people ever seen “Mean Girls?” Don’t they know that this stuff usually ends with someone getting hit by a bus? Haha, but seriously…ignore these envious hate mongers! You rock!

  86. Michele, I’m sure Katie is already well aware of these blogs. Besides, pregnant women aren’t delicate flowers who must be shielded from any unpleasantness. One of the things we live about her is her honesty and unflinching look at life.

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