ADVICE HG
AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 181
T
he shift to warmer weather heralds
long days and free time – so seizeth
opportunity to tackle those niggling
jobs around the house that you’ve been
putting off. And where better to start thanthe
front of your home, with a thorough tidy-up
and some fresh colour? Here, a panel of
home and garden experts reveal the most
important chores to focus on when getting
your property looking shipshape, and how
to go about achieving them.1
ENHANCE KERB APPEAL
A few small but well-chosen exterior
upgrades can reap big-scale results, says
Jasmine McClelland, interior designer and
principal at Jasmine McClelland Design. “A
smart new house number or letterbox is
a cheery, affordable new update. A sensor
light by the front door will help you find your
keys at night, or some soft garden lighting that
shows off your plants. Another tip is to paint a
faded driveway black – it will make the asphalt
look like it’s been freshly laid.”2
PAINT THE FRONT DOOR
Make a great first impression with a bold
front door, suggests Andrea Lucena-Orr,
Dulux’s colour planning and communications
manager. “A black or grey front door
looks classic and elegant against a white
facade. Consider some potted plants
or painting a bench in emerald green
for contrasting highlights near the
entrance,” she says. “Terracotta
accents on the front door
and verandah accessories
are also on-trend.”R FRONT GARDEN
plants and hedges,” says
director of Pepo Botanic
Design.“Whentrimming a hedge, use a string
lineora referencepoint on your house to keep
thefoliagelevel.”Also, remove spent flowers
or dead plants, clear out any build-up of leaves
and weeds, and prune foliage away from paths
and walkways, she advises.4
BOOST SOIL HEALTH
If you plan to refresh your plantings, first check
the pH level of your soil, says Cameron. “If it’s
too acidic, add lime and dolomite. Too alkaline
and you’ll need additional compost and
manures.” Spread compost over soil and
lightly turn it through, then layer 50mm of
mulch over the top, keeping both clear of
plant stems to avoid collar rot,” she says. >THE B&B ITALIA ‘SPRINGTIME’
CHAISE (BELOW) INJECTS
COLOUR, COMFORT AND
ATTITUDE TO OUTDOOR
AREAS. $10,017 FROM SPACE.NEATENNYY
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