Mailbox A cast aluminum mailbox, like this one, is rust-proof, therefore it's going to always look new. Deciding on the flap is a nice touch. Special Lite Products Horizon horizontal mailbox in black, $50, amazon.com
Potted Plants Terra-cotta pots are filled with, clockwise from top left, sweet potato vine, merlot coleus, and electrical lime coleus. Coleus grows in the flowerbeds, also.
Flower Beds To present their flower beds a colour, the Dougalls planted pink and red New Guinea impatiens.
Doorbell Guests frequently tell the Dougalls they have never seen a doorbell like theirs--it is a replica of a preelectric one. Bronze Ship's Bell 5"-diameter doorbell, $83, everythingnautical.com
House Numbers Amounts with a simple, classic design look great on any home. Baldwin Hardware 4 3/4"-tall home numbers in oil-rubbed bronze finish, $14 each, myknobs.com
Paint Colors The porch ceiling has been painted blue! Siding: Sweet Chamomile from Behr; Porch ceiling: Fountain Spout by Behr; Trim: Ultra Pure White by Behr
Columns and Railing When the Dougalls revived their porch, they added white fluted railings and columns with turned-wood balusters, which lent the Queen Anne--style house even more Victorian appeal.
Lattice A porch lattice skirt is an easy addition to a house on a pier-and-beam base that's raised off the floor. Nail it onto the wooden beam of this base, or to the siding. White traditional vinyl lattice, 8'W x 1/4"D x 2'H, $13, lowes.com
Calming Colours Homeowners Katherine and Scott Kovarik say "we love the way cozy our Cape Cod looks from the outside. The yard and white outside remind us of an English cottage." Constructed in 1950, they purchased the home in 2010.
Adirondack Chair Adirondack chairs are not just for beach homes. The Kovariks added a pair behind the flower beds to the remaining measures. Atlantic Outdoor painted easy stair chair, $127, wayfair.com
Potted Plants The Kovariks planted purple and white flowers (alyssum, Supertunia, and petunias) in black urns. Grecian Urn 18"-diameter planter in black, $13, bedbathandbeyond.com
Climbing Ivy Boston ivy, a favorite clinging vine, climbs up the brick home. You could also let it crawl up a trellis set against the house or a fence up.
Shutters Flower Beds The Kovariks' blue shutters pretty up the narrow front windows on the right side and also add color against the white. These are called combination shutters, louvered around the top with a raised panel at the bottom. The landscaping was fixed up with plenty of green plants, like hostas, and hits of color, like pink phlox.
House Numbers Extra-large numbers look good hung vertically, also. Premium Brass 6"-tall home numbers in oil-rubbed bronze end, $9.50 each, houseofantiquehardware.com
Windows Multipaned windows are characteristic of Cape Cod--style houses. A row of three floor-to-ceiling ones on the left --with 36 panes total--lets in lots of sun.
Paint Colors Brick: Polo Mallet White by Ralph Lauren; Shutters: Sandoval Blue by Ralph Lauren
The Selling Point Kathy Spraitz and Mike Swanson purchased their 1899 house in 1999, but it was the 1 element that really caught their attention. "We bought this porch, and the home came with it. It's still our favourite feature," they say.
Front Door An electric-green door brightens up the dark corner of the porch. Exterior Conventional 2010 wood plank door, from $400, simpsondoor.com, painted Buckingham Gardens by Benjamin Moore
Door Knocker A glistening brass knocker looks terrific from the bright front door. The home numbers and doorknob are the exact same finish. Acorn Manufacturing Victorian big door knocker, $53, atgstores.com
Hanging and Standing Plants The coconut-fiber-lined baskets around the porch are full of sweet potato vine, variegated coleus, and spike crops. The coleus responds well to the afternoon sunlight that hits the porch.
Paint Colors Siding: Amherst Gray by Benjamin Moore; Trim: Superwhite by Sherwin-Williams; Front door: Buckingham Gardens by Benjamin Moore
Flower Beds The front flower bed is mostly green with a few bursts of white hydrangea and blue-violet balloon blossoms.
Moldings and Trim The detailed trim work on this American foursquare-style home gives it oodles of personality. So does the dentil molding across the roofline.
White Wicker Spraitz and Swanson put plenty of white wicker chairs in their spacious porch. It's all-weather furniture, so that they do not need to move it indoors for the winter. White Wicker Patio love seat, $300, zestavenue.com
Stand Out on the Block Jennifer Post and Murray Snyder purchased their 1903 house in 2007, also say "the window on the second floor is just one of our favorite particulars, together with the swing."
Porch Light Swap out a simple square or rectangular lighting for something unexpected, such as this hexagonal shape. It's still timeless enough to fit in with any style. Home Solutions by Feiss Martinsville 3-light outdoor sconce in black finish, $147, atgstores.com
Paint Colors Siding: Kale Green by Sherwin-Williams; Trim: Lily by Sherwin-Williams and Mature Grape by Sherwin-Williams
Railings The house has plenty of painted wood trim and brick accents. Intricate metal railings include yet another interesting material to front porch.
Porch Swing A wood swing seems homey and rustic. The rope string ties in with the nautical look of the round windows. International Caravan Balau porch swing, $189.50, wayfair.com
Potted Plants The urns and baskets are overflowing with bluish-purple and white petunias, giving the walkway a lush appearance.
Flower Beds The leading beds are full of pink polka-dot plants, far left, and varieties of coleus, like red coat coleus, famous for its gaudy red leaves with yellow-green boundaries.
Chair and Cushion Two teak folding chairs complement the local porch swing. For comfort, the homeowners added weather-resistant cushions. Sea Teak Avalon folding multi-position deck chair, $213.50, wayfair.com; 2-Piece Outdoor Wicker Conversation/Deep Seating pillow put in green, $46 for a pair of 2, target.com
