When Christy sent us photos of her curb appeal makeover, we couldn’t wait to share the transformation. Here’s the letter she sent:
First, I love the bathroom stripes! I was planning to stripe my laundry nook and seeing that project made me even more excited. But the reason I’m writing is to share our new and improved retaining wall in the front yard. When Erik and I moved into our townhouse, the property line on the unattached side was marked by a truly awful retaining wall: raw cinder block, two rows too short, and just plain ugly. Our builder promised to finish it with stucco to match the foundation, but as he hurried off to other projects, that never happened. We had to take matters into our own hands.
Our plan was simple and budget-friendly: 1) Add more rows of block to raise the wall. 2) Finish the exterior with paint. 3) Add a decorative planter box across the top. 4) Do it all affordably. We finished it the other day and couldn’t be happier. Here’s the price breakdown:
- Cinder blocks: free (found them)
- Mortar mix: $5
- Paint: $15
- Wood: $30
- Potting mix: $16
- Five begonias: $25
GRAND TOTAL: $91! We hope you like it — Christy & Erik
Here’s the icky before:
And the lush, lovely after:
This is a great example of using ingenuity rather than a big budget to turn an eyesore into a useful, attractive feature that improves curb appeal. The built-on planter box softens the hard edge of the retaining wall and adds color and life. Painting the cinder blocks transformed them from raw and unfinished to clean and cohesive, giving the entire front yard a finished look without spending a lot.
Thanks so much for sharing the before and after photos, Christy and Erik. The neighbors must be impressed — and maybe a little green with envy.