Not sure if you have done anything yet, this is an older post(I just found this forum recently). But I would do most of your lanscaping on the left of your house, and a little on the right, maybe a couple of small trees also. If you have done something since this post, I would love to see it. Brat

sacto diane---The background information about haint blue porch ceilings was so interesting. I think SW Atmospheric would look good on our ceiling. moccasinlanding---LOL--I promise not to mix arsenic into the paint, no matter how historically Southern it might have been! We are slightly quirky here in the South, but I will settle on a safer approach to getting rid of spiders. I loved the story, however. slateberry51---Yes, definitely, by all means, I will hold onto the screen door. We know the importance of preserving the bits and pieces of our house. We may actually use that screen door on another exterior entrance to the house, or it might be used on the door to the guest house behind the main house. We bought a matched set of vintage porch furniture that we found on CL this week. The 3-seat metal glider and two metal chairs are in the piecrust pattern. They are rusty but not in bad structural condition. (The pictures are not of our actual set, but they show a set which is identical to ours in pre and post-restored condition.) We are having the set sandblasted and painted in white enamel paint. It will go on the left side of the porch, and the swing and rocking chairs will go on the right side. After all the painting is finished, I will start thinking about colorful cushions to go on the furniture. It has been raining off and on this week. DH did pressure wash the porch, so we will start painting soon. Here is a link that might be useful:

This is kind of the opposite of symmetry, but do you ever plan on eating out there or having children color or do projects? I have a small table and chairs on my front porch and I love it. Also have one on back porch so I can either follow the sun or avoid it depending on the time of year. I guess I'm suggesting think about how you will use it then choose the furniture. Have fun, Kathy

"I would hate to have learned the hard way" It can be expensive. Famous last words is"but we used tar at the junction". You will need an old school framer that understand's his framing square. There's no need for much demo work before starting new frame. First decision is wherether whole house will be re-roofed,only front will be re-roofed of if shingles are in good enough condition to weave in for new addition. You and your roofer will make that decision,here's what you need to start framing. Peel shingles to deck where "starter plate"will lay. 1x6 or 2x6 plates are nailed in a vee on top of old decking where valley will be. If rafers are on 2' centers and deck is 1x boards or 3/8ths-5/8ths plywood,1x plates are sufficient and actually better for valley. Wider rafter spacing and/or composite deck require's 2x plate. Toe of new rafters will overhang plate and new deck will meet old deck a few inches outside of plate, therefore unsupported . Try and have edge of deck rest on old deck or be shimmed for support. There will be a nasty edge in the valley but it's simple to handle. Before tar papering,rip a wedge to soften the edge or use strips of shingle to build it up. Roofing is straightforth from there. There's options as what to do about cavity between underside of new roof and deck of old roof.