Help improving kerb appeal

[nc1806]

I have no clue what to do with the front of this house, any ideas?

I've attached images with identifying info removed and nc just in case..

I can take away the green bin but not the black one. I'm thinking maybe a lighter blind? Roman one? (there's a black Venetian but you can't see it). Maybe a little wreath for the door? If I move the bin I can plant something in that space.

I just absolutely do not know what to do it looks horrible, please help if you can.

Many thanks in advance.

If you can't get the black off the window sill maybe a small window box with a trailing plant so it grows down hiding the sill.
A door wreath as you suggested will add a pop of colour

move the bins - or if you have nowhere else to put them, get some of that leaf camouflage wrap stuff. Weed!!! Clean the meter cover box.

Yes a bin store isn't going to fit but I will take them into the back garden even though it's a pain because I just hate looking at them.

I'll work on it over the next few weeks hopefully and post a pic when I've finished.

There's nothing wrong with having a bin at the front. Dragging it through the house would get tiresome.

Get a couple of large pots (Facebook can be a great source of large pots) and put some greenery in and a window box/hanging basket and bob's your uncle.

if you don't like drilling then ask around for a handyman who comes recommended - I've used one in the past who charged me £20 to hang a heavy hose reel and a couple of heavy hanging baskets - well worth it as he did it properly.

If that's the best place for the bins and you don't have access to the back without going through the house, they will have to stay. I'd focus on making sure all weeds are removed and everything is clean. If you trim the shrub on the left to make space for the bin so it won't be in front of the window you could add a large planter under the window. You need to create something that catches the eye, so the bins aren't the focus.

I think if you just weed the paving and then is it possible to get both bins over to the far side of that triangular thing (drain cover?) so you can line them up neatly side by side, pointing in the same direction. A couple of big pots with bedding plants under the meter cabinet should hide the other bits of low down pipe etc.
Maybe do that entire bed with a bit of weed cover fabric and a topping of nice gravel before putting some pots on top.

You are right that is bad and largely unsolvable without getting the services moved.

I presume the gas inlet has been routed like that to meet the boiler. But it's an eyesore. You either have that routing internal to the house and covered or outside.

The smartmeter wire (I presume it is that) off the gas meter box is also hideous and looks like it was done by a trainee. the electric smartmeter line isn't much better.

I would probably make a hardstanding to the left for the bins as far away from the window as possible as they will stink. Then have a hedge to hopefully hide most of the services. You will have to keep it trimmed at the back, but it should grow over the gas meter nicely but still allow it to open.

Just a thought, could you either strip the paint off the handle / lock and letter box or replace them? Gold would look much nicer and change the look for fairly cheap.

Also, the hedge to the left of the photos cuts off a LOT of your usable space - I'd cut that back and put bit bins over there away from under the opening window.

If you don't want to pay someone to soft wash, you can buy the chemical and apply it by hand even if only to that windowsill and it'll look much better.

Definitely report the blown window to the HA - it needs to be replaced.

Yes a bin store isn't going to fit but I will take them into the back garden even though it's a pain because I just hate looking at them

Leave the black bin there, tucked over to the left. Leave them both if need be (but black only certainly looks much better). The front of your house being 'pretty' isn't the be all and end all, you need to live there too and for it to be practical and comfortable.

I would just start with a thorough scrub of the whole area, especially the window sill and the terracotta slab. Bricks already look pretty decent.

Then a thorough de-weed everywhere.

Repaint the door in a nice colour if you fancy...maybe sage green? Although it's not really necessary. Definitely repaint the windowsill if it won't clean up.

Then a nice outside door mat and a couple of tall pot plants to cover up all the pipes and meter covers between the window and front door.

It will look like a different house op.

Wrap the bins with sticky back plastic.

Paint ( or clean) window ledge.

Paint the electric boxes the closest colour to the brickwork you can so they blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb.

I would trim back the shrub and put the black bin there. I'd only start dragging it through the house if the front of the house gets all the sun and it will be a fly magnet for the summer.

Can you request a smaller recycling bin or do you fill that to bursting every two weeks? If you have two the same size, they should fit side by side outside and you can bin store or not as funds allow. You can also get stickers for bins to "conceal" them but I haven't seen anything that looks particularly natural. They always seem to be fake greenery rather than red brick which is probably what you need here.

I'd paint the window sill but dark grey to match the window finish. I wouldn't change the colour of the front door unless it is actually wooden. It looks like a modern PVC style door to me and while you will find paint companies that claim it can be done, it probably won't wear well. A wreath is personal taste, they often get stolen from front doors too. Window box only if you never open the kitchen window.

I'd see what size of tall planter you could put beside the front door where the base will fit into the narrow flower bed section. A standard tree [ball shape, single stem] would obscure the little door but still allow access to it. Bay, olive, lilac, rose, salix flamingo, there are lots of choices. You will need to see what suits the climate and sun for the front of the house. Not sure if you have space on the other side of the door. A matched pair is a bit of a cliche but would draw eyes away from all the pipes.

Then I'd plant jasmine under the window to cover the rest, with lots of compost and bark so it doesn't dry out too easily and power wash and weed the path.
If funds permit, I'd buy a nicer outdoor light.

Is the path in front yours OP? You can get these planters with trellis - grow some nice climbers like Jasmine as others have said, plus a few colourful flowers. N this one seems to not be the tallest but would definitely hide most of the utility stuff / bin if placed on the path in front on them.

cheaper alternative is to build your own custom version of this if you’re handy with DIY!

Just looked again at your pics, the trellis planter thing above actually looks the perfect height, you might have room for two side by side which would look really lovely, and you could still get to the meters etc

I’d also add a smart outdoor doormat.

You need to get rid of the bins. You need to scrub the window ledge till it's white again
You need a bay tree in a pot infront of the electricity box
You need some colourful plants dotted around to make it look pretty

Wooden bin shed, we have one and it looks so much smarter. Also acts as a handy place for parcels to be left.

You can get screens that would hide the bins, then a plant pot to the left of the door with something that can screen the meter cupboard etc. Use 'wet & forget' or similar product on the path and windowsill... 🪴

I think people are being pretty harsh.
With it's being HA there may be things you're not permitted to do so check before you make any big changes.
I would:

• Clean off the windowsill and the box thing under the window sill
• Weed the path and stones and give the areas a good clean
• get a couple of bags of stones to level out the area that your bins are in so that it's even and they look neater stored out the front
• Trim back the bushes to the left and right so they're not over hanging your path and are nice and neat.

For your window maybe get a lighter blind or a vase with nice flowers but that's not tally even needed.
Just keep the area neat and tidy and free of weeds it will look much better

Algae and Mould Remover might clean up the window sill. I got in from a big DIY place that has 2 letters and an & .
The manufacturer of the remover is again 2 letters, 8th and 7 th letter of the alphabet.

Christ this isn't a cryptography lesson or the BBC. You can name brands and even swear here.

Can’t do anything right in this place. Get abuse for advertising stuff … can’t win.

Advertising for companies is prohibited. Mentioning a brand you recommend isn't advertising.

Fair enough.
It is HG Outdoors Mould and Algae Remover . I bought it from B&Q. It was about £15 for a huge bottle. Bloody impressive.
I have pics but it might be slightly outing

Here are the pics.

Scrub window ledge. Pull up weeds. Get some ready made planters from Homebase to put by front door. Move the unsightly wheelie bins