Some shrubbery along the front of the porch about as high as that one bush to the left would do wonders.

Thanks -- we do have many flowers and the butterfly bushes are coming up. This picture was taken today and, being in the Northeast, the flowers are coming slowly. Maybe we should intermingle some bushes with the flowers so it is not so bare during the winter months.

I would make the porch posts larger. I think that would make a huge difference, but then I just can't stand spindly posts-could just be me. It is a pretty house except for the posts-:)

I would also put a simple bench under the window. An old arrowback bench would be nice-something long, but not overpowering. Then I would have several pots of varying sizes (not too many and not too small or they will just look like clutter and I think a clean look will be best) will at the end away from the door.

I love your tree!

I agree with cyn. Larger more substantial posts. A railing to make it more like a porch would be nice too. It seems unfinished the way it is now. Landscaping will help as well.

1. Beefier columns
2. Paint the front edge of the porch to match the trim & to make it look like an extenuation of the base trim on the left.
3. The porch needs a foundation so it doesn't float. If you face the foundation on the left with the same material, it could look very nice.
4. Widen the steps & walkway. Redoing the steps & walkway in stone or brick would be great.
5. You probably can't do a bench under the bay window because of the window projection, right?

I love awm03's suggestions. The only thing I can add is, if you don't have the money right now to do the foundation all the same, what they do down south is use lattice. That would at least solve your 'floating' problem. I would like either bigger posts, or leave them alone and add railing. Your house is really cute.

Thanks for all the ideas. awm03 -- all I can say is WOW. Great suggestion on the foundation. It makes a big difference. You are correct - I don't have enough room for a bench under the window. Jeane, we have been looking at lattice and if we don't go the route that awm03 suggested, we will do the lattice. I am thinking railings but, can't visualize how they would look or if they would cause a cluttered look to the house because the porch is no narrow. Again, thanks for all the suggestions.

Here is a link that might be useful:

A railing would look fine:

The only problem is, we had a 4 ft. wide porch too, and the railing was so confining. We couldn't really put chairs on the porch. Well, we could, but nobody enjoyed sitting in them. You felt caged. We expanded the porch a couple of years ago (& haven't put up a railing because we enjoy the unblocked view too much!).

I'm trying to think what you could do that would better preserve the porch as usable space. I've seen some decks that have steps the length of the deck -- so inviting & anchors the deck to the yard. But if you did that, you'd have to relocate the walk & relandscape the front yard into more of a terrace or patio space.

Are you wanting to use your porch or do you just want to improve the design?

I agree with awn about the railing. We built a very large porch a couple of years ago and planned on putting in a railing, but the more we used the porch we realized how confining it would be to have one.

They sure are pretty though, but if you plan to use the porch a lot, I'd just put in some pretty flowers and shrubs. :)

awm03 - We do not need the porch and only wanted to "improve the design." We have a large two tier deck on the back side of the house with a brick courtyard - we live on a corner lot so the breezeway and garage is on the side which makes the deck and courtyard very private. I actually like the look of the railing and it seems to finish it off. I can't thank you enough for helping me visualize this. We actually have just finished a reno on this home. We added 12 feet to the left side and added the second floor on that side that houses the master bedroom and master bath. There are two dormers on that side and one has the master closet and the other has the laundry room. It was a long project and over a year of living in a 28-ft trailer in the backyard and not to mention it was one of the coldest winters on record in Boston!! Again, thank you for all your ideas and the design work.

san37, it's a beautiful house -- great job! It must feel so luxurious to have all that space after living in a trailer, through a Northeast winter no less.

I really like the railing too. A railing would work well with the current porch posts & make them fit in better.

If only to prevent a raccoon or other critter from taking up housekeeping, cover the opening under the porch.

Lattice with window screening stapled to the back of it is traditional and it allows air circulation under there.

The thicker columns, railing and paint ideas are perfect - minimal changes and it gives the porch more substance.

I lived in Kittery, Maine for a couple of years and the neighbors got a family of skunks under their house. Since you don't plan to sit on the porch, I definitely would put up a railing. You could put a small backless bench under the window and put some pretty container plants on the bench. Maybe 3 or 5 pots of different heights. That would really be pretty.

Thanks again for the time you spent thinking of ideas for me. I really love the look of the railing so I think we will definitely go that route. We will put up lattice for now until we can build back our rainy day fund. Also, a special thanks to awm03 for the photoshop work as it really helped me make the railing decision an easy one.