If you had all the dementions I could draw you up a design.No charge just trying to help.I like to use alot of material in a uniformed wat

search for how to post a photo. it's been discussed many times.

Chuckorlando and Gottagarden, thank you for your interest. Here is a picture of my home that I managed to get posted to the web. I am open to all advice. Thank you so much.

http://pictures.aol.com/galleries/mrsgottln?backState=prevPage%3D/ap/myAlbums.do%26state%3DalbumId%253D23979.1807.1223237635499.1

I don't think the situation is as stark as you think it is. The large trees you have planted to either side of the driveway will eventually form a canopy over the drive that will compete with the driveway. Another quick fix might be to build a trellis for vines that extends over the garage doors, for something like Wisteria vines of Evergreen Clematis. It doesn't appear that there is enough room between the sets of garage doors to squeeze in a planter for something vertical between the doors, but this is a common trick used in monster California homes with a wall of garage doors. If cost is not an issue, (which in this economy, I doubt is the case), you could always reduce the visual impact of the concrete driveway by redoing a portion of it as bands with more decorative contrasting hardscape materials, or even use turfblock driveable paving suitable for growing grass to bridge the two sides of the driveway. This could also be done closer to the house to form a "lawn" within the "L" shape of your house, but wouldn't make much sense to do this if you typically leave parked cars on the driveway during the day.

I don't think it looks bad at all. I'm a plant/flower lover so what I'd do is plant more things close to the edge of the driveway that would spill over the edge a bit -enough to soften the look without narrowing the space too much for cars to use. My driveway is somewhat similar to yours - it fills the space where the house and garage form an L. Because of winter snow removal needs, it has to be clear space for winter - but at other times of year as much of it as possible is filled with large pots of plants and there is an abundant border on both sides and across the top that spills onto the pavement of the driveway. In the winter the pots are removed to make way for snow removal. Like you, I keep looking at it and trying to think of better ways to minimize the expanse of driveway but haven't been able to come up with anything better. Visitors appear not to find it an issue as there seems to be enough interest in the bordering gardens to distract them. I suspect that's true in your case too. Try asking guests for their opinions - I'll bet most of them don't find it an issue at al!

The lack of lawn space is becoming more common around New England, as odd shaped lots or lots with wetlands exclusions are being created to meet (or maybe were created...) the housing demand.

The lack of a lawn vista is not a dilema, and in your case is appears to be quite a lovely boon. It does provide a justification for less grass-lawn than any "keeping up with the Jones's lawn buddies" could relate to. Isabella_ma, if she is still around, has a similar lack of lawn space in her front-yard, maybe she can toss in?

Hi Rhodium, You seem to be rocking this staid house today!!

MrsGott, My house was placed on my lot with no front yard. The lack of a conventional suburban front lawn was a little unsettling to me at first. I also thought my driveway could land a 747 on it, as it seemed so expansive with no plantings around it. I guess I didnt know at the time or have the landscape vocubulary to state it as I would now, but the driveway is just as important to the house landscape as the front walk.

For houses without a front lawn, the driveway can take the place of the artisitic design functionality of lawn, as a flat expanse of negative space, to provide a serene counter-balance to the house and busy planting beds.

Embrace the driveway and look at in a new light, as an asset to the design and not a liability to be soften or hidden away. Having a something other than rectangular driveway with an organic shape and change in elevation does help this area become more than a functional pathway. Most drives are the obligatory square or rectagle of pavement, so you have good bones to work with.