House numbers are a feature that rarely get attention
The address sign at the bottom of our driveway is in disrepair and our house numbers are fading away. As I think about what to do, the surprise is how much thought this update really requires.
Obviously, addresses range from home-improvement-store plain to stylish and personalized. But the basics are not very obvious. As a first step, take 10 minutes to explore the issue from the viewpoint of someone who needs to find houses fast: the pizza delivery guy. Sure, some of the advice is exaggerated – there’s enough neon in Times Square thank you very much – but many suggestions for ways of making the house more “findable” are valid.
In addition, here are some unusual ideas, beginning on the steps of a bungalow where a pair of concrete planters sport house numbers in mosaic.
Black enamel house numbers back-painted on the glass of Colonial revival lantern.
A rustic house-number wooden plaque made from glued and nailed-on twigs and branches is well-lit by the front door.
House numbers professionally cut into a country boulder and painted black.
A cottage screen door house number done in script and embellished by upholstery nail heads.
Large enameled-aluminum numbers hang from chains on a well-placed tree branch in a front yard.
Nita, from Mod Vintage Life, showed off the terrific house numbers on her 1931 Tudor in a classical style cartouche with putto (baby angel) and linked here. She explains: “I created this from a plaque I found in the garden stuff at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago. I have no idea what it was intended for originally, but when I saw it…I knew I could somehow add house numbers to it. I bought metal numbers at Ace Hardware and glued them on with all weather adhesive.”
