A little over a week ago, I shared some of our spring project plans and I thought I would flesh one of those ideas out a bit more. Specifically, let’s take a look at some trellis inspiration ideas I’m considering for the blank wall of siding on the front of the house. This year will likely involve prepping the beds and planting, but I’m not sure if building a trellis will get on the spring to-do list this year. I know I want some sort of vertical, wall-covering element so I would want to keep that in mind with any prepping and planting we start.
Here is how the house looked in the early fall, shortly after we finished painting the front. We painted the shutters, siding, and trim and, prior to that, had a new roof installed. All of that work has boosted the curb appeal of the house, but landscaping is what will really frame it out and bring it to life.
A few people have suggested adding windows to the wall of siding to balance out the windows on the brick “wing” of the U-shape of the house and I have considered that idea. I think it would visually balance the house and would look great from the exterior. Two main factors make that plan impractical. First of all is cost. I know just from making our kitchen window larger that windows are an expensive business, especially when new holes are being cut in the wall to accommodate them. There is still so much we need to do to the house (replace windows, renovate two bathrooms, add a half bath, work on the basement, etc.) that it feels like there are places to spend our budget that will have a greater impact.
The second reason is that behind that wall of siding is our garage. We have shelves for storage built all along that wall and adding windows would remove a lot of that storage. It feels more practical to have a wall of storage in the garage instead of windows that would almost always have the shades drawn to hide the yard tools, saws, and such.
A few people have also suggested adding shutters to create the illusion of windows. I also think that’s a good idea, but faux windows just aren’t for me. I think they can be effective when done well, but they can also look like a pair of shutters screwed into a wall. My guess is something like this is best done when the house is being built so the faux window can be integrated in a way that looks intentional and natural.
Anyway, the direction I want to go is to add a trellis, so let’s look at some trellis inspiration.
Here is a mock-up one of my Instagram followers designed and sent to me. I had mentioned a trellis a few times and so put one in the mock-up that is pretty close to what I was thinking, but I wanted to look for some more trellis inspiration ideas.
Something like this ornate lattice trellis from BHG would definitely provide a lot of interest. I think I would paint it the green of the shutters and would keep the lines straight instead of arched, thought. I could do two trellis “inserts” similar to this arched inspiration that balance out the size, shape, and placement of the windows, but it might be a little busy. I could sketch it out on a picture of the house, though, to see if that works and should be considered. The benefit of a trellis like this is it would be pretty simple to build and install. If I don’t use this idea on the front of the house, it would be great along the fence in our backyard. Hmmm…my wheels are turning. (I love how ideas for one space can lead to ideas for another that you weren’t even thinking about.)
As I was looking for trellis inspiration, I came along this wall trellis with an espalier tree in the middle in the same BHG article. This is the same idea are the one above, but it really goes all out covering the entire wall in a trellis framing out an espalier tree. While I love how this looks and would consider it for a shed or something, I feel like it might be a bit much for our house. I also am not sure if I have the gardening chops to grow and maintain an espalier. Maybe they are easier than they look…
I also came across this simple DIY crisscross wall trellis by Kate of Centsational Style. While my wall is much larger and needs a trellis that has more presence, I think this idea could work if I made it bigger and beefed up some elements. Again, this could also work along our backyard fence.
The restored trellises in Alice’s garden of the Longfellow House (you can read about that HERE) also caught my eye. While I don’t envision an arched trellis (or three trellises), I like that these have some depth and detail. Just imagine this idea with the top squared off.
The article even includes the original trellis plans, which I love!I think adding even about a foot of depth on a trellis would add a lot and help it be more of a feature instead of just a flat trellis against the wall.
The shape of is more what I had in mind. You can purchase it , but I think we would need to make one to get the size and proportions right. Again, I would consider adding some depth to it and perhaps some variety of the shapes in the trellis. I’d like to use or mix in some diamonds to break up the horizontal and vertical lines.
Actually, a peek at this trellis by @mwhitedesigns is almost exactly what I envision for our house. I think the style and shape would suit the house, and the space, and it would be a reasonably easy DIY build. I think I would paint it in the same white as the trim so it adds dimension but isn’t too noisy. I would want the climbing plant to be the star of the show.
Yep, I think that one is the winner, but it’s fun to think through other options.
I’ve always loved the looks of vining plants crawling up a trellis against a house. It takes something manmade and integrates it a bit more with the natural environment. I like the softness it brings to the hard edges of architecture.
One of my favorite things we did to the outside of our MN house was adding some trellis around the front porch to grow sweet autumn clematis. It added so much charm to a beige suburban neighborhood house.
While our current home has a lot of charm already, I look forward to adding more.
22 Responses
I’ve seen recommendations to build trellis out from the wall, even a couple of inches, because it gives the plants more space to wind round the trellis and have more air to grow.
Looking forward to seeing what you do here.
…and add hinges at the bottom of the trellis and hooks at the top (to hold the trellis in place) – making future house painting a breeze!
I love your trellis idea for this home. And I agree, the last photo shows one that would look fantastic!
I love your trellis idea for that wall. It’s really a wonderful solution to bringing attention to that wall. The photo in the last picture would be beautiful!
Trellises add so much to a house and yard, even when they are only decorative and have no plants on them. Yes, be sure to have the trellis at least 4″ away from the wall so that air can circulate and that the wall will not rot. Be sure to also choose plants that will not directly grip to the house (ivy is a gripper), as their grip pads will also rot the materials over time. If you can build the trellis yourself, the sky is the limit for your design! Most of the nicer designs are not available premade in the stores. That being said, even a plain swath of grid type trellises can look fantastic with roses and clematis. Another thought is that if you intend to paint the trellis, then you need to have plants that can be completely cut down to the ground every so often to facilitate painting.
I love the clean lines of the trellis you chose! Feel it will complement your lovely home not distract by being too ornate. Love your new home, and your kitchen is incredibly beautiful! You continue to inspire with you keen eye for design!
Have you considered a shallow pergola with some wisteria over the top and a trellis background for a secondary ivy to grow on? I can imagine it with a small bench or seating area underneath. I’m certain whatever you arrive at will be fantastic and we will all oooohhhh and aaaahh at LOL.
marian, did you consider using your fabulous artistic talent for a themed painting that incorporates a trellis?
When I saw the photo with the espalier tree, I was struck with how the trellis was a frame for the tree.
What if you centred a specimen or statement tree and then framed it with a trellis?
I love this idea! We are planning on getting an espalier tree in the next month, and, according to what I’ve learned, they are hardy. Our space doesn’t get enough sun for a fruit tree, but that would be lovely bonus.
I am wondering if two smaller trellises would look better than one large one. For instance, plant 3 pryamidal bushes, one at each end of the wall at the corners and one in the middle. Then place a trellis on the wall in each of the spaces between the bushes. That way the trellises would echo the window placement on the other side of the house and the pryamidal bushes would provide softening at the corners. So bush – trellis – bush – trellis – bush.
I keep thinking that living in Maryland maybe half the year the trellis would be devoid of plants, wouldn’t it ? Is there an evergreen plant that could go up there? With anything else it’s going to freeze for months so you have to love the look without any plants at all. If it were me, the thing that would work is paint the brick to have one cohesive look – but you like the brick and you don’t want to paint it. It’s a conundrum but you will figure it out to your satisfaction.
Once you decide on the trellis – and down the road, a simple slate patio in front, with some comfy seating and small tables would be a nice place to relax and watch the people and cars go by!
The last one that you like would forsure be my choice, nice and clean
I suggest seeking more unity instead of a wholly different idea. The house itself has lovely lines and thematic elements but the only one that is replicated on the right wall is the little arch which is actually too small for the space. How about using 2 trellises in a windowpane theme to duplicate the windows/shutters on the left side — not as faux windows but as design elements that say “garden”. Then plant an ornamental between on both sides and make it look like one continuing facade.
You are giving me so many fun ideas too! We just painted the exterior of our home, pressure washed the paved surfaces, and re-mulched. It looks so good and the wheels in my brain have been turning about other possibilities. I hadn’t thought of a trellis in our current space, but it could work!
Love the trellis idea especially with an espaliered tree or bush. That wall shows white on this post maybe paint it a beige/tan matching one of the bricks , might help it recede into the background
After scrolling through the pictures, as soon as I saw the one you chose I knew it. It’s also the one I would have chosen. I love it and agree that it’s the most cost effective way to dress up that wall.
on you tube – “dig, plant, water, repeat” she has espalier with wire no trellis
Perhaps a diamond ( or any pattern you like best) wire trellis on a frame(s) in front of the wall would work best for this area , no holes in the wall!
There are all kinds of examples on Pinterest and they are also very common to use in front of or attached to fencing.
I don’t know if anyone else has mentioned this, but I saw a show once where they put hinges on a trellis. They put two posts in the ground and connected the trellis by hinges to the posts. The trellis could be pulled away from the wall and laid down. The top of the trellis was connected to the house with a hook, so it. wouldn’t fall forward. That way if you need to paint or clean the house or clean up the back of the trellis it would be easy. I took note of it in case I ever have a trellis. I saw it years ago and still don’t have a trellis. However, I still think it is a genius idea.
Why don’t you paint the garage wall the color of the shutters! It would blend in with nature better.