Copy the Curb Appeal: Rhinebeck, New York

“My last house was a new build, the complete opposite of this 145-year-old home," says Beth Gershuny of her 2,000-square-foot house. "Because of its decorative trim, quaint shutters and dreamy yard, I now understand what character means.”

When Beth revamped her yard after purchasing the home in 2008, she planned it around the existing hydrangea bush and Japanese maple tree. “From the start, I loved the way they flank the house like pillars, welcoming everyone inside,” she says. Between them, she planted perennials and flowering bushes.

Decorative corbels are a classic element of Folk Victorian homes like this one. Beth painted the house a soft color to make these seem less formal.

Soleil

Mascarpone

Iron Ore