If you curve the walk out away from the house, it looks like you'll need to put in some kind of retaining wall to give you a flat area for it. If your budget will cover it, it would make a more interesting entrance walk. Pavers in a natural stone color that blends with the brick, or concrete, whether stamped or not, stained so it's not just a basic concrete off-white color, would work.

If it was mine, and I didn't want to put a lot of money into it, I'd widen the last section of walk to be as wide as the steps for about the last 8 feet or so. Plant evergreen groundcover between the house and walk, and keep your shrub/flower plantings to the other side of the walk, where there is more space. You can stain the existing concrete a darker color.

If I wanted to spend a lot of money, I'd have a retaining wall built of brick to match the house, to create a flat area for a broader walk. A curve would be nice, but not necessary, but the walk should be wider, 4 or 5 feet wide. The steps leading from the driveway to the walk should also be wider. I'd add some downlights to light the steps and walk while you've got it apart. At the porch, again, I'd make the walk as wide as the steps.

Keep in mind that you will probably not recover the cost of these improvements on resale.

We have to dig up the existing concrete since it is cracked. Not only does it look bad it is actually a slight hazard (someone could trip and then sue us) We are hoping to do most of the work ourself to save some money. How much would a typical sidewalk replacement cost? Would it really not be worth it on our overall home value? That surprises me!

Would a slight curve look ok? I really don't think we have the length to make a large curve anyway since the length we have to go is only about 34 feet long and we have to have the sidewalk come back close to the house for the porch as well as the driveway access. I am not even sure if a large curve would look right. I understand the need for a flat surface, but I was thinking we might have enought flat area to work with, however it may require moving some shrubs around.

How wide is the typical walkway? I am worried about widening the walkway to 4 or 5 feet, as we hardly have room for any flower bed against the house as it is now, and that would make just too much hard surface.

My husband and I saw a walkway the other day that seemed simple where the builder just layed large flagstones down as stepping stones in a large mulched bed with the plantings. We thought that might be something we could easily do and I really liked the look, however I didn't like walking on the stepstones as I felt like I was stareing at the ground trying to watch my step.

The thing about landscape improvements is that most people who buy a house expect it to have at least some landscaping, and certainly expect a sidewalk, so they will not pay extra for it. Kind of like a roof. They expect a serviceable roof, so while they may deduct for the cost of replacing a bad roof, it doesn't necessarily mean you can add the replacement cost to the sale price if you do it ahead of time.

In addition, a new owner will probably have her own ideas about what kind of landscaping is suitable, and tear out and replace much of what you've done, unless you are putting in a really spectacular, high end job that's so wonderful that they wouldn't want to change it.

You don't give any hints as to your location, but zone 6 gets snow, and you'll have to be able to clear the walk in winter. Stepping stones are OK for a casual secondary path through a garden, but the approach to the house, especially for strangers to the layout, should be as direct and clear as possible, and hazard free.

The minimum width for walkway should be 4 feet, IMO, and 5 is better if you have the space. It's unpleasant to have to go to the door in single file, and a problem if Aunt Bessie needs someone offer her an arm on the way in. You end up looking something like a conga line.

I would forget about a flower bed against the house, and either plant groundcover or a few annuals at most. Anything tall will fall over onto the walk, especially as it leans out for more light. Shrubs will require constant trimming and will end up looking nasty.

The cost of installing a new walkway depends on materials you choose, the size of the project, how much grading/prep work is required, demolition of the old walk, and the skill level of the installer. An experience artisan will cost more than a guy with a pickup truck and an account at Dome Heapo. Add the cost, if any, for dumping the waste you break up.

You must be young folks, because I wouldn't want to demolish a concrete walk and install a new one without outside help.

In late response...if anyone's still looking for help with redesigns, I know this great company in LA called Designers Call that works nationally helping people redesign their spaces at affordable prices. They have a very cool system and can work on a couple things to an entire home, exterior and interiors.

Here is a link that might be useful: designers call

Whoa, total nonsequitur.