When I bought my run-down 1950s bungalow four years ago, the interior was in such a sorry state that I had little time, money or energy to dedicate to the exterior. So bleak was the outside that I received a handwritten note saying my overgrown hedges and brambles were bringing down the standard of the street. Signed 'Concerned Neighbour'. It was harsh, but probably true.
After two years of renovations, the inside was looking lovely, which made the scruffy exterior even more at odds with how it felt inside. Coming home felt depressing rather than welcoming, so after an inspiring trip visiting family in an LA neighbourhood with stylish colourful homes, I decided to tackle the exterior. Over the course of a month in what I hoped would be a dry spring, I dedicated myself to giving the house a DIY budget glow-up, squeezing in hours here and there when I wasn’t working.
Eventually, I’d need to replace the charming but rotting, single-glazed windows, but until the renovation coffers were replenished, I’d have to make do with a more affordable solution. And since I’d prefer to replace them with windows as characterful as the current ones, saving up might take a while.
Living in a one-storey home meant I wouldn’t need scaffolding – a sturdy ladder would do. The first job was to clean the algae and mould from the render. I used a small amount of bleach in water and soft washed the walls with a sponge and soft brush, but there are fungicidal solutions you can buy (make sure to protect any plants). I then rinsed it with a normal hose, softer than a pressure washer, which can damage paintwork.
Once it was fully dry, I scraped off any flaking paint from the render and the wooden window frames. Then I brushed Ronseal’s wet rot wood hardener onto any rotting wood and filled damaged areas with exterior wood filler (I’ve since been told that car body filler, such as Big Boy, is excellent for this).
After sanding the dried filler, I used Zinsser peel stop on the frames to prevent further cracking and then selected an exterior paint in a colour that would bring me joy (I didn't use primer but you could). Despite being inspired by the bright hues in LA, I opted for fresh white on the masonry and a rich green on the windows, hoping I’d achieve the cottage look I was after. After deliberating over at least 20 very similar greens, I settled on Valspar’s Junebug. I painted the doorstep a brick red to complement the brick surrounding the front door and painted the doorframe itself in the same green as the windows. The metal door isn’t attractive, but replacing it will have to wait until I find one with character that won’t break the bank.
The front door was flanked by an overgrown passionflower, which I cut back hard. I created a trellis for the vine to climb up, using vine eyes and strong wire, and have since kept it in check with yearly trims. I favour a wild, scented garden, so I planted evergreens – a curry plant, Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ and lavender – by the entrance, next to a huge cardoon that came with the house, and whose changing blooms add interest almost all year long.
Next up is the garden itself, but the bungalow’s new glow puts a smile on my face (and hopefully that of the concerned neighbour) every time I walk up the garden path.
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