A gleaming mail slot and knocker add gloss to the front doorway and keep with the home's Colonial style.

Long-Lasting Layout Debbi and Randy Hoffman's 1922 house has all of its original features. They bought it in 1999, and say "besides the arbor and picket fences we included, it looks just as it did in the '20s."

Curved Walkway Dark red brick ties with the house's chimney and supplies the front lawn a clean, classic look. A lush flower bed bordering only 1 facet of the walkway makes it feel much less formal.

Over-the-Door Arbor Mounted in the front of this door, a simple arbor draped with 'Cecile Brunner' rising roses supplies a cottagey touch. Garden Treasures 51"W x 26"D 88 3/5"H resin semigloss snowy New England backyard arbor, $200 custom glass shower enclosures . lowes.com

Flower Beds Spanish lavender and daffodils lend colour to the green and white landscape. A camellia tree at the far right bed blooms fall through spring.

Paint Colors Siding: Agate Green by Dunn-Edwards; Trim: Swiss Coffee from Dunn-Edwards; Shutters and front door: Black by Dunn-Edwards

Ficus Tree Trimmed into a round shape, this tall tree adds an element of grandeur into the entry. In cooler regions, ficus trees are often stored indoors as houseplants, but they flourish outside in the warm California climate.

Roofline A steeply pitched gable gets the expansive feel of Tudor-style architecture. The roofline permits for 2 shed dormers, which bulge out of the roof, on the left. Their design mimics the windows on the house's remainder.

Shingle Siding The Hoffmans love the warm, weathered wood-shingle siding, though it requires more upkeep than brick or stucco, since it's prone to mould and chipping paint. Northwoods single 9" staggered rough-split shakes in sterling gray, $2.50 per square foot, certainteed.com for shops

True Craftsman Carrie and Eric Ancker bought their 1911 home a century later it was initially built, but you'd never know from its maintained exterior. "One of our first jobs was swapping front door," they state. "It captures the home's Craftsman style, but the color is a sudden twist."

Mailbox With its rugged appearance and hand-wrought metalwork, this antique-finish mailbox, to the remaining door, remains true to the house's Craftsman bungalow architecture. Harmon 17 1/8"-tall strong brass mailbox in burnished antique, $399, rejuvenation.com

Bench and Pillows The deep front porch means there's lots of space for a two-seater Adirondack bench cushioned with all-weather pillows. Polywood recycled vinyl Adirondack bench, $500, hayneedle.com; solid exterior 16" x 16" cushion in crimson, $29, and nautical outdoor 16" x 16" cushion in blue, $25, equally grandinroad.com

Flower Beds An all-white scheme always appears brand new. The porch is bordered by beds filled with 'Crown White' pansies, abandoned, and infant 'Iceberg' rose shrubs, both of which bloom from spring to fall.

Porch Light Hanging into the right of front doorway, this tiny mission-style porch light is really bright enough to light up the whole seating area.

Paint Colors Siding: Gray Pearl from Dunn-Edwards; Trim: White by Dunn-Edwards; Front door: Developed by Pratt & Lambert

Front Door A doorway with divided-lite dividers (this one has nine) is quintessential Craftsman. Simpson Bungalow Series exterior wood door, from $700, dykeslumber.com

Railings Less is more with this front porch rail. It's painted crisp white to match the trim, and the simple wood style echoes the front door's geometric multipane window.

Potted Plant A glowing red planter is poppier with white cyclamen, a perennial which grows in many climates. Self-watering 17" rolling planter in red, $45, gardeners.com

Vintage Colonial Michele and Michael Downing bought their 1923 home in 1999, but painted their front door a trendy shade of cranberry a few short years back. "It looks classic, just like the house's Colonial design," they state.

Pediments Over Windows Made from high-density urethane (aka foam), this decorative topper won't warp or crack. Half round sunburst 40" x 20" window pediment, $79, architecturaldepot.com

Camellia Shrub This pretty tree, at the far right of the flower bed, blossoms vivid fuchsia flowers from early autumn to late spring.

Brass Door Hardware A gleaming mail slot and knocker add gloss to the front doorway and keep with the home's Colonial style. Brass accents solid brass letter email slot with interior flap in polished brass, $30.50, build.com; Colonial knocker in lifetime polished brass, $74, baldwinhardware.com for shops

Flower Beds Crimson cyclamen border the beds. They're offset by white cyclamen and 'Iceberg' roses, which give off a light, sweet scent.

Columns The painted wood columns, that can be original to the house, make it look stately and striking. But they are functional, too: They support the portico.

Planter Understated cement planters hold juniper topiaries, which remain green year round. Smith & Hawken 18" x 18" reinforced concrete Danford outdoor square planter, $130, target.com

Paint Colors Siding: Bunglehouse Gray by Sherwin-Williams; Trim: Swiss Coffee by Dunn-Edwards; Shutters: Dark by Fine Paints of Europe; Front door: Rembrandt Red by Fine Paints of Europe

Doormat This scrolling layout seems fancy, but it's made from rubber, which may manage dirt just as well as coir can. Rubber-Cal Genoa 18" x 30" decorative cast iron rubber doormat, $29, overstock.com

Easy and Elegant Homeowners Roma and Terry Kiser purchased their 1923 California home in 1972. They state, "the tumbled stone path, which we included about three years back, gives our stucco house so much more personality."

Vine Over Doorway A 'Cecile Brunner' climbing rose no longer needs assistance. After years, it is trained to climb over the door.

Flowerpots Round terra-cotta planters are packed with light pink and fuchsia azaleas. Bacopa, a trailing plant with tiny white blooms, fills in the spaces between the stems. Umbria 11 1/2" x 21" cement and fiberglass bowl, $99, potterybarn.com

Front Door With its arched top and rich stain, the front door could be the entrance to a country cabin. Round top entrance door with V-groove panel $1,995, nicksbuilding.com

Post Lamp An old-fashioned fixture plus contemporary path lights equals light that's both charming and practical. Capital Lighting Fixture Company Brookwood black outdoor place, $192, lamp, $210, equally bellacor.com

Roof Shingles The roof is topped with cedar shakes. Not only can they survive upward of 30 years, but they also resist wind damage and have a textured appearance that increases the home's rustic appeal.

Pavers Tumbled stone in various colors makes the front walkway look like it is original to the home. City Stone III Parkway Series pavers, $2.50 per square foot, pavestone.com for shops

Paint Colors Stucco: Valley Forge Tan by Benjamin Moore; Trim: Glacier White by Benjamin Moore; Shutters: Smoky Mountain by Benjamin Moore