Hi, I'm hoping to get some good ideas for a project I've had in mind for a long time. We'd like to soften and improve the look of the front, especially the section on the right as you look at the pictures, which is the entrance we use. The driveway you see is still used occasionally, although the car is usually parked in a detached garage further off on the right (not in the picture), and so we do want to keep it, but it could be reduced to something just long enough to be a temporary parking space for loading and unloading in winter, etc. The distance from the front deck to the street is about 26 ft. and since you need about 20 feet for the car, that leaves about 6 ft. for plantings (or something). Picture no. 2 includes a garden area on that side near the street. I'd like to keep that garden but wouldn't mind altering its shape if necessary. The four bushes on each side of the door on what we call the main house (picture no. 3) have seen better days and need to be replaced, but I'd like to keep the lilacs and the quince, which is the next-to-last one on the left that you can see in that pic. Pic no. 4 shows the lilacs that grow on two sides of a screened-in porch. As you can see, it's pretty informal and that's how we live too. I hope this is enough information to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. If anyone has ideas I'd love to hear them! Pics are at this link: http://s1002.photobucket.com/albums/af148/BarbaraNH/

I too would think rejuvenation rather than clean slate unless you are working with an expert and have budget for mature specimens. Start by identifying each of your shrubs and groundcovers. That helps you see what takes what kind of pruning and also what it would "cost" to replace mature shrubs. So you can get an idea of what would work well as backbones and where to integrate new shrubs--it's not that you can't rip some out, but need to be more knowledgable, if you can, on which give best bang as-is vs. what and where to replace or to build outward with another layer. For example, red or purple shrubs would fade away if just in front of the red brick, so if you rip all out, you still have to think what goes where; if you like gray or lime foliage, it stands out against dark green and can then mix other colors in front. some shrubs would fasat-growing and need to be pruned back each year and is a pain (for me) whereas others can be shaped and reduced and need less maintenance. Also, all "greens" are not equal--so look up close and see, do you LIKE the foliage on one type more than others--then don't rip that out only to replace with the same later. I'm assuming from what you said that these don't bloom, but again, I can't tell from photo whether there're any bonus features like blooms or berries. It would also be helpful for you to be informed about what types of "colorful" things do well in your zone--particularly hardy shrubs --because again, you'll want to do a little window shopping--other neighborhoods, nurseries-- and see what appeals to you & read about the growth and requirements..

no shutters,,,they're too close together. You pic is very dark. any chance of getting a few more, lightened, from a few different angles? are you wanting to keep the brick as is? You don't want the whole MCM look,,,,so, what look do you want? That current door you have doesn't fit any part of that house, so I would start there. If the storm door will be staying, painting the door really won't be noticeable. I do like your black windows on the one side, but the left looks completely different. How about trying to tie that part in w/the rest? keeping w/the black on the right side, how about painting the sunporch black? or, do the white in a cedar shake and add the black trim you could also do a dark gray. do you have enough room to build out a porch? change out that white post near the front door, to nice, square cedar post or painted one

A couple of notes: - You don’t actually want to plant as densely or as close to the walk as in Doug’s sketch or in three years you will need to do a lot of pruning and in 5 or 8 you will be ripping out plants and starting all over again with many of them. Add large pots or a birdbath or art or annuals while you wait for some of your woody plants to put on size. - Whatever you plant needs to be sized appropriately for it ultimate growth. Plant tags often give plant sizes at an unrealistic 5 years, so be sure to look up on a reputable website such as the Missouri Botanic Garden’s Plantfinder to find the actual expected size. - You have a big overhang that creates a rain shadow that will always be dry without irrigation. Be sure to plan on irrigation for anything within that rain shadow. Regardless, don’t plant anything so close that it will grow to within a foot or so of the house. - Wider steps are great to make a welcoming entry. - Notice in both sketches that the plants in front of the windows are lower with taller plants framing it or placed further down the slope to not block the windows. - Plan to have some of your plants evergreen for a winter presence and some with either colored foliage or flowers for interest. - Sod or hydro seed the lawn at the appropriate time of year for your area which may be now.