Looking for that wow factor! Need advice for landscape ideas and exterior paint ideas to add pop. I live near the beach in Santa Barbara.

Hi Diana, thanks for asking your question! You've certainly got a great blank canvas to work with here. Thanks for sharing your location to make it easier to provide advice. Because of your location, you'll probably want a drought-resistant/tolerant landscape. You can ask a local florist or landscape designer for their recommendations. A few that come to mind as good options for you are Butterfly Weed...



...Gaillardia...



...and Agastache...



A simple pathway meandering through a variety of colorful flowers and bushes would make for a nice look. I'd consider using decomposed granite and "path fines" for the pathway. I think it looks and feels much nicer than crushed rock. I wish you well! Would love to see the "after" photo when you wrap the project up! 
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Hi Diana, my recommendation depends on how much time/energy you're willing to invest in maintaining your landscape. If you want a low-maintenance front yard, then I echo Clayton's recommendations. You can do a graveled landscape with a winding walkway and native plants, similar to this home...

If you're willing to invest a bit more time energy and water (haha) into maintaining this space, then you could go with some lush grass in the front part of the yard and then include a gravel bed with native plants hugging along the front of the home, like this place...



Hope this helps! Please post your final project up here. I'd love to see the direction you ended up going in :) less

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