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I voted left. With stairs in the middle, the upper deck gets chopped into two separate space. I'd rather have one large deck to play around with furnishing. Even if I were to separate the large deck into two different furnished zones, I'd still want it to be one big open space.

Thank you so much for the votes and the feedback. Your comment on the office size, PD, is valid for sure. Snip 3 might have better resale value.

Jan. the other rooms are labeled in image 1 and that is the most detailed image I have available.

Snip3 is not optimal obviously.

Snip2 not sure why the "vestibule" is forced to turn like that if it's an interior wall that can be altered, but still can see into Powder Room from Living.

Without knowing all the parameters of the existing house, a couple quick thought schemes since it appears there is leeway with plumbing moving. I also did a version with a tiny bathroom and sink setup which I see is familiar in non-U.S. locations, only if it brings up any creative juices.

This is the area in question, the other is on the side over the entry porch.

Hi Lyn- Thanks for your suggestion. This is a burgurdy version, not exactly the rich rust you mentioned. But embrace it :)

Thanks for highlighting these stormwater treatment landscapes! It's nice to see a variety of designs in different places around the US. I work in this field - although more with commercial and municipal clients. I can tell you that the use of rock in non-residential designs is much more limited than you've shown in the examples above. For some reason residential designs seem to use the "dry-creek bed" aesthetic a lot, which is unfortunate. Rock has several downsides compared with using soil, plants and wood mulch. Rock can heat up and dry out soils, stress plants and add to the urban heat island effect. When you get weeds growing up in the cracks between the rocks (which will happen eventually in all systems) you have to move the rocks out of the way, which can be a lot of work. So designers - please stop using so much rock in your systems!

Take a look at https://calscape.org which is a database of California native plants. There is a search function, cleverly labeled Advanced Search, for inputting your site’s assets and challenges. Might be helpful. And NO to cacti, yucca, agave, mangave, and others of that ilk. Even my sweet little aloe has grown into an spiny people-eater!). Good luck with your project.

Every spring I’ve divided one of the clumps I have by just taking my spade down its centre and removing the chunk, cutting that piece into smaller pieces and potting up. The potted divisions often start flowering within a few weeks. It’s one of the easier things to divide. Perhaps just divide it if you are scared to move the whole thing.

This is the plan. I like this idea! Thanks so much.

Yes, P.D. - I copied it from the dilemma posted a few days ago.

Including some native plants will give your garden more life by attracting pollinators. A serviceberry is a great front yard tree. Good size, no pests/diseases, flowers and berries. https://wildaboutsaskatoon.org/growing-with-native-plants/

Pretty house. First thing I think about is what’s going to be planted in them? Second is how will they be accessed for watering. Third is if they’ll leave muddy streaks down the house. After thinking about all that, my choice would be to place window boxes only on the two windows with the pediment on top of them next to the porch. The porch is such a focal point that I wouldn’t want to detract from it with window boxes at other windows. The windows on either side of porch already have some detail that makes them part of the porch statement & IMO, adding window boxes to those 2 windows only adds to the focal point & keeps the attention on the entry - where it should be.

Well, I finally was able to make a decision. I looked at the fake shake styles and also fake slate tile styles and I just didn't like the quality or the colors. Not enough to justify the large extra expense. After trying a gazillion mottled shingles that I guess were supposed to emulate weathered wood, I decided to go with a medium brown overall, not mottled. I felt that the mottled colors competed with my very mottled brick for attention since my house is half roof. I'm hoping a more solid colored medium tone roof will draw attention to the brick. Gonna wait on a siding redo. We are redoing the screened in porch and adding a wood stove also this year so gonna wait on a garage door/siding/trim redo until next summer. The shingles I chose will not fight with the white for now but look even better if we eventually go for more earth tones.

I will post "before and after" but it will be a while. Just so happy the shopping and hemming and hawing is over for now!

I would say it is contemporary. Really good looking house and landscaping.

1970s/1980s contemporary style home, which were somewhat of a modern-ish bridge between MCM and the shed style contemporary homes being built today. Your home is obviously brick, but if you were to look up “cedar contemporaries” you’d see some of your home’s peers from that era. Also google “the sea ranch” for some hoity-toity architect-designed homes and potential inspiration from the era.

Do you mean cover it from the sun? Get a retractable awning, No to artifical grass.

I echo the advice to try to see what is behind that paneling. Your next cheapest option would be paint.

When you choose wood-look floor, try to find one without too many knots or shadows, When installed, the knots and shadows can look too busy and patterned.

Bring samples of the floors home so you can see them in your space and your light.

I'll echo the ant-gray sentiments. It was a color trend that started long ago, it's very hard to pull off and it's way past peak.

There have been dozens of posts here from people asking for help because their rooms filled with gray look stark and unpleasant.

I would not paint the brick. Its nice just like it is. I wouldnt mind black windows, but, the dark bronze is pretty dark too, mentioned above by millworkman. Yes, white windows would also work well. What the house needs is a bit more light in the entry area, and some colorful furniture and pots. Make it a happy cheerful place to welcome visitors, and to spend time, sit in. Right now, that entry way, looks a bit drab and dreary. The front door looks very dark in the picture. I would want it a lighter brighter color, so it is more welcoming, and the gray garage door doesnt really go with anything. Once you pick exact windows, I would paint the garage door to match what you pick for windows.

For me this would a toatal rip out I usually like stome but that is the elephant in the room and the FP is not centered which just adds to the mess . Get a contractor to give you an estimate for removal sinc eit is hard yto tell how much of this is actully structursl . This is my FP it is acually part of the house stracture to remove would create no end of havoc since the base is in my basement to support this and a huge spce in the roof too.I love the stone so not an issue for us and this is a woodburning one with a very interesting metal venting system . It was built be a German mason and there are 5 in the town where I live all of wahich have been kept like we did. I think yours is is kind of col but just in a weird space . Have you checked out in the basement if this is supported down there somehow . Lava rock can sometimes be much lighter weight than other stone ..