I was surprised to see that you have a lovely house! Before I went to your link, I was thinking it was going to be terrible.

As a stranger looking at your house for the first time, the landscape wasn't what I first noticed. It was actually your front door. For me, there is a disconnect between your arched window and your stained front door. Don't get me wrong, both are very nice. But they look like they belong on 2 different houses.

I don't think I would go brown on your trim, but maybe a soft beige to warm it up. The white currently is very stark.

I keep laughing when I look at your picture- I have some boulders in my yard that match your brick. Have you thought about beefier hardscape? If there is one thing about gardening I have learned it is that I can't kill a rock.

Hi Paint Chips,
Thank you so much for your kind words. Although its not the McMansion style that are so common in our area, its very much my style and makes me happy. I love my home dearly, I think that is why it "kills" me to have failed it so in the outside design.
Yes, you are probably right in terms of the door and the rest of the house. You may not be able to tell from the zoomed out shot but the inset of the door has the arched pattern that I hoped would connect with the arched brick entryway and window.
Maybe not, it was my first attempt at upgrading the outside . Yes I think a landscape of more substance is in order. However, I am not sure how to execute that concept.

How does that translate to the flowerbeds and other elecments? What do you think would have the biggest impact in its appeal?

Thanks so much for your time,
Sharon

I like your idea to have a curved patio type entrance, easier to maintain also : ) You can use potted plants then. I really like to use night lighting so a yard looks just as nice at night as in the daytime too.
I also agree about a large boulder in front....takes up space, NO maintenance, looks nice with night lighting and you could have it made to have water flowing from the top for ambiance for the entrance : )
I'd add some small growing shrubs or perennials that flower to add some color. A bit of yellow maybe? Daylilies are nice and low maintenance. If you don't like to weed and water I go with mulch around the rock and perennials too. Not sure if it is common to add auto sprinklers in your area but it helps keep plants alive if you're very busy.
If you want ZERO maintenance along the side you could go with a colored stone from fence to sidewalk and put in a few shrubs there to break it up a bit.
I agree with toning down the white trim with a neutral color. Also I noticed the window to the right doesn't have shutters, so it looks a bit bare comparing to the other window.
Here is a quick mock up. I'm off to bed now, so hope this helps a bit : )
{{!gwi}}
Some visual ideas : )
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Thanks Saskatchewan_girl for the visual. I think the large boulder with running water sounds intriguing. I would love low to no maintenance but I am afraid that the rockscaping just wouldn't fly with my DH. I totally agree about the night lightly, we will definitely be adding that aspect.

In terms of the patio pavers, what made you create it off to the left side as opposed to the larger curved walkway coming off the door straight down to the sidewalk? I am trying to see the space with your eyes.

Shutters, I too have always found that odd to have them on one side only but that was how the builders set it up so I just thought it was me. I figured that I would do the shutters in a rustic style to pull in the door with a natural staining to match the fence (still need to do that one too).

Thanks for helping me brainstorm this project! Please keep all of the ideas coming.

Sharon

How about a fountain/water feature in the front? How about staining your concrete? If you look back a page or two we just had a thread about that, with pictures.

I'd definitely stain your fence a darker brown... you want the house to stand out, not the fence.

Can you either green up the grass or just replace it all with flower beds? Or is that just my monitor?

Hi oceanna,
The grass is actually quite healthy but right now its dormant so its brown. It will sooner be green. Also to clarify, we have automated sprinkler throughout the yard so that is not a problem. I just am struggling with a design that will work and add appeal. I just can't seem to figure out what to do with the design layout.

Yes I have told my husband that staining the cement would really soften up the look of the front of the house.

I was thinking a water feature to the left of the front door might be interesting.

Any more ideas? Would it be worth it to add a walkway down the front? I would stain this walkway.

I think the door and the shutters should be the same. The door is a pretty color but blends into the brick and doesnt stand out. How about a dark charcoal gray, there is a SW color called Wrought Iron. After changing the shutters and door, I would then determine if the trim should be a softer white. What is over the garage...do we see wood or is it brick, is the garage door super white? The landscaping does need some help. The fence needs some TLC. Maybe staining it a cedar or brown color, it has that faded gray look to it. Sometimes a local nursery will charge you a few bucks to come out and give you plans that you can do yourself. I think I would talk to someone who knows what grows best in your area. Maybe you need plants that are drought tolerant because you arent diligent in watering. I think the end corner of the house needs a more substantial shrub like a foster holly. I like the rock idea too.

I know that different areas have common ideas and I guess where I'm from it is NOT common to have the sidewalk straight from the front door to the road/sidewalk in the newer homes. The other reason is mostly because our friends and family (anyone who visits usually) park in the driveway and walk up that way........so I guess I put the walkway to the L side for convenience along the driveway. People rarely have the sidewalk straight to the door where I live.......don't know why though, convenience I assume. Another thing a lot of homeowners do is edge the landscape with stone, river rock or mulch so you don't have to edge the grass.
Hope that helps : )
Here are a couple other sites for ideas.....
http://kyleslawnservice.com/content/010.jpg
http://www.landscapingvideos.com/m_pictures/thumbs/front-yard-23.jpg
http://www.refsbo.us/house.jpg
http://www.webontario.com/wayneslandscaping/frontwalkway.jpg
This is what I'd do along the fence (LOL another lazy edger!!) http://www.kansascityhandyman.com/images/fence_wood.jpg
http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/landscaping2.html

Thanks for the ideas. I really appreciate them.

gk5040, I wouldn't dream of painting the door but I do agree there should be harmony between the two and the trim color. I will have to look at some different wood for the shutters and try to see what works with the door.

saskatchewan_girl,
Those links are great. My choices in decor always seem to lean towards an older era. Hence the door, I think thats why I graviate towards the traditional front walkway. However, those pictures you linked are very appealing and might be a good tie in.

Thanks so much everyone,
Sharon