Ep 21: 48-Hour Curb Appeal, Shutter Crimes, & Neglect-Proof Plants
Put down the gray laminate and step away from the old house. Today, we are talking about your exterior.
Welcome back, folks! In the final installment of our four-part "Spring is Sprung" series on How to Handyma’sam, we are tackling the world of curb appeal. We love our DIY projects, but we’ve learned everything the hard way so you don’t have to.
This week’s episode is specifically dedicated to LaTonya—a fierce, intelligent, effervescent supporter of the pod who makes everyone better just by being around them. Be like LaTonya today, besties.
Here is the Handyma'am guide to beautifying your home in a single weekend.
The Golden Rule: Don’t Degradate Your House Style
If you want a modern, boxy home, buy a modern, boxy home. Do not buy a classic Victorian or Craftsman and force it to be something it’s not.
The easiest way to make a house look bad is to go against its original architecture. We dive deep into the specific aesthetics in the episode, but here is the cheat sheet:
Craftsman: Lean into deep greens, browns, and oranges. It’s all about symmetry and square details.
Mid-Century Modern: Groovy front door colors (teal, mustard, burnt orange), long horizontal lines, and low landscaping that doesn't clutter the view. Absolutely no crown molding.
Traditional/Colonial: Neutral siding, bold classic front doors (red, navy, glossy black), and symmetry is key.
Let’s Talk Shutter Crimes (We Know You Have Them)
We’re saying it: undersized shutters are a federal crime.
Shutters existed for a practical purpose: to close and protect windows. Even if yours are just decorative and don't move, they must look like they would fit if you closed them. That means each shutter should be exactly half the width of the window.
If you are realizing you are a shutter criminal, take them down. To cover the egress holes in your siding, pick up a variety pack of nylon hole fillers/buttons. They are cheap, easy to paint, and infinitely less noticeable than a bad shutter.
The Siding & Trim Intervention
Did you know you can paint vinyl siding? As long as you soft-wash, deoxidize, and use a specialized, vinyl-rated paint, you can give your house a new color. The critical part is using paint that won't absorb the sun and melt your siding—if your siding can get up to "three hot," do not put "six hot" paint on it.
We also cover two sneaky exterior repairs that make a massive difference:
Vinyl Siding Patches: If a lawnmower spit a rock through your siding, don’t disassemble your wall. Use a "vinyl siding band-aid" (patch), paint over it, and move on.
Trade Wood for PVC: If you have rotted wood trim (common around doors), swap it for PVC/composite material (like Azek). It looks like wood (comes in smooth or rough sawn cedar textures), but it will never rot again.
Landscaping for People Who Love Neglect
Pick landscaping based on the person you are, not the person you wish you were on Pinterest.
If you know you aren’t an avid gardener, embrace the Hosta. They are drought-resistant, incredibly hardy, and they genuinely thrive on neglect. They won't climb into your siding and don’t require massive pruning. If that still feels too high maintenance, throw down some sunflower seeds—they are hardy once you get them past the "weed whacker stage."
Want the full, unfiltered breakdown (plus the terrifying story about fecal matter and handcuffs in a field investigation)?
🎧 Listen to Episode 21: 48-Hour Curb Appeal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
Have your own curb appeal success story? Drop a comment on our Instagram @howtohandymaam—we want to be besties and see what you are growing!
