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When it comes to views of the water, we can’t get enough. Whether it is the ocean, the St. John’s River, a lake or even a retention pond, buyer will pay a premium for a water view.

But what about the views from the water? Unlike other homes, waterfront homes are often viewed from the rear. This means homeowners (should) invest a lot more into how the house looks from the back.

However, too often in this industry, we focus solely on the street-facing side of the house and to keep costs down, leave the rear looking pretty stark.

• Windows are plain without decorative grids or trim.
• For simplicity of construction, the houses are flat across the back keeping the foundation and roof costs down.
• If a patio was left uncovered, a variety of low budget and unsightly screen enclosures and shallow shed patio roofs get tacked on the back.

And what about the landscaping? Every landscape designer will tell you by the time buyers get around to focusing on their landscaping, they are over budget. Now, this stripped down plain exterior lacks the softening benefit of foundation planting, colorful annuals, and lush shade trees.

Perhaps some homeowners want to add a fence to keep children safe from the water or dogs from running away. But each homeowner has a different budget and taste, so an assortment of different fences start to sprinkle the edges of the water with different colors, materials, and heights.

If the water is boat-friendly, here comes the boat docks, boat houses, and boat lifts.

Not to mention the boats themselves. Some boat owners treat their boats like their own children (even better, in some cases).

However, not everyone takes care of their boat. And when exposed to the elements, they can quickly become unsightly.Okay – the example below is more user-error than neglect from the weather, but you get my point.

Personalization Gone Wrong

But wait! Let’s take this uninspired rear elevation and add an assortment of “stuff”. Throw in a kids’ red swing set, trampoline, a the Big Green Egg, an above ground pool, tool shed, and maybe a collection of plastic outdoor furniture. Look, everyone wants to personalize their outdoor space, but without some discipline of design, the backyard can become a hodge-podge of personalized junk.

Now, imagine the disappointment of a buyer who paid a premium for a water view. Yet across the water is a row of hideous, unadorned houses with backyards full of junk.

The Benefits of Architectural Review Boards

In new home communities, it is the job of the dreaded architectural review board to establish the rules upfront to protect the value of the community and individual’s property. During the development phase, high visibility lots are identified and come with a specific set of requirements – trim around the windows, some articulation in the roof, continuity of design from the front to the rear, a list of approved fences, and back yard sheds. Upgrades to rear landscaping is required and there is a restriction on backyard clutter.

Avoiding the “Tacked On” Look

During the pandemic lockdown in 2020 and 2021, many homeowners discovered they needed more covered outdoor living space. One community with lakefront lots was bombarded with requests for an assortment of covered pavilions and gazebos. New rules had to be established to limit the design of such structures, so the lake front was not cluttered with a hodgepodge of structures. In this case, covered detached backyard gazebos were not anticipated.

Therefore, the review board had to scramble to find solutions that were both aesthetically pleasing and within the budget of the buyers. It was not a fun time for the review board and the homeowners.

On Lake Keowee in South Carolina, one community not only has architectural review control over the rear of the homes, but they also have a pre-prescribed design requirements for the docks and boat house. They decided the continuity of design was vital since the structures might end up in closer proximity to other boat house than the homes they serve. Here, boats houses must have a green standing seam hip roof and heavy timber supports.

Boaters can express their individualism by adding cupolas and weathervanes – and showcase the boats themselves of course. This is opposed to the shallow pitched, gabled roofs with shiny metal supports.

In Jacksonville, you can find good examples of boathouses that draw inspiration from the house they serve.

While this more lassiez faire approach can inspire creativity, the reality is that most homes on the water don’t put as much effort into their boathouse designs – as long as it can house their boat. You hope homeowners and boaters will respect their neighbors and the community, but not everyone has the same taste or priorities.

When it comes to individual freedoms, no one wants to be told “no – you can’t do that”. This is especially true with something as personal as the place we call home. It is the thankless job of review board to be the bad guy. And if they happen to lessen the restrictions for a hardship – they get hell from community that they didn’t uphold their responsibility. It is a crazy no win job where they are hated for saying no and for not saying no.

What do you think? Should premium lots be held to a higher standard when it comes to the rear elevation? How do you feel about review boards? I know almost everyone has had a bad experience, but have they been helpful in keeping the peace or navigating a sensitive design topic?