A true life dollhouse was sitting in my inbox waiting to be transformed.  Did I hesitate?  The correct answer is no.  I did not.  Here is what Kelly (the owner of this amazing Victorian-ish home) wrote:

“Hi guys! Love the blog!! Obviously we need help. We’ve been here a year and have done lots of fun stuff inside. We’re looking at getting the exterior painted soon (love gray w/ white trim..or anything BUT the red and weird color our house is now!!!).  Landscaping – want to take attention away from the huge windows!!! The red porch has to go to! Help! :0) – Kelly”

Well, you can bet your bottom dollar that I was pumped to get a chance to modify this cute home’s exterior into something that is worthy of the newly-renovated inside.  So here is the dollhouse currently:

Let’s just clarify a few bulletpoints –  I changed the porch to white in all three options.  I tried black but then the thought of scorched little tutsies made me cringe…plus white will be really easy to clean if Kelly painted the stoop with multiple thin layers and add a little mild detergent to her pressure washer for a quick hose off.  Secondly, I changed the trim to white for the entire house…including the front of the portico.   This was a specific request and I aim to please.  Thirdly – Kelly may want to cover up those glorious big windows…but me, well, if you got it, flaunt it 🙂  Let’s just say that I am jealous with a capital J.  Now folks, here are the options:

Option 1 –  I went with the gray for the siding that Kelly suggested and then to spruce up the landscaping I removed the hydrangea plant and added inkberry holly shrubs on either side of the porch.  Flanking the corners of the house are camelia bushes that can be pruned to look like trees.  This is going to be the option that covers those amazing windows the least.  Also, I added a pendant light and finished off the look with a subdued dark green front door.

Option 2 –  This is the cottage by the sea option.  I changed the color of the siding to a light blue and added an inky navy colored door to give the house depth.  Also, the pendant is the same and blends really well with this beachy theme.  The hydrangeas on either side of the porch actually wrap around the crepe myrtle (which will help block those windows and provide the needed shade for the hydrangea to prosper).  

Option 3 –  This option is the most traditional and most all American.  Holla George Washington!  On the siding we have a greige color  – and you can see that it has more brown in the color than option 1.  The front door is a 1-2 punch with a nice ruby that plays off the understated color of the house.  On the front porch we also have black fixtures that allow a nice light for guests.  Flanking the porch are dwarf alberta spruces and a line-up of red azaleas.  The crowning glory is the number plate that adorns the portico. 

So whattya say folks? Any option bubbling your bathwater?  Is option #2 your favorite?  Or how bout numero tres?  Do you love the windows just as much as me?  I’d love your innie-put 🙂

And for those of you that are wanting some input & virtual transformations of your own – you can email me some of your hi-resolution photos to [email protected].  Kisses…