That's a toughie, at least for me. I'd want to make the garage door and driveway recede into the background as much as possible, while emphasizing the front door.

Okay, here goes....

I'd paint the garage door and trim a flat, darker, color to try and make it recede. I'd try to create a landscaped bed that flows across the driveway from the area underneath the left window to the area in front of the driveway immediately left of the garage door. I'd make sure that the shrubbery/plantings to the left of the garage door, low to the ground (2 to 3 feet in height) so that the front door can still be seen from the street.

I would try to give the illusion of a planted bed flowing across the driveway using the same plants on both sides of the driveway. Possibly some kind of plant with banches/leaves that extend/arch onto/over the driveway.

Good luck.

Hope that's clear.

I would see if I could change the roof line or put up some kind of facade immediately above the 1st floor left window to mimic the low-angled roofline on the second floor. On the second floor, I think I see a white exhaust vent. I'd paint it the same color as the rest of the house, to try and get it to blend in.

Also on the second floor, immediately to the right of the vent, looks like some sort of small window or something. I can't tell what it is from the photo, but it looks like a dark hole. Perhaps this is a window or a window opening that has been boarded-up. I'd do something to draw this feature out, like installing a new window.

I'd replace that 1st floor left window with something more attractive, perhaps a couple of double-hung windows with multiple window panes.

I'd try to make the front door vestibule area pop by painting the rest of the house a darker color while painting the vestibule area a lighter color. I'd consider replacing the doow with a white door, or painting the old door white, or some similar color to make it pop. One alternative may be a nice 3/4 glass front door with an interior vestibule light. At least it would pop at night.

Hope that makes sense.

Stevie, thanks so much for your thoughts. Re: the 2nd floor....yes, that is a window just to the left of the chimney. In my own thoughts, I think I'd ask the architect to change the roofline of the main building to mimic the 2nd story. But remember, too, that he wants to add a long porch. A friend mentioned that adding a porch would darken the living room and the bedroom behind that front window on the left. He needs to redo his ceiling in the l/r anyway, so I thought perhaps adding skylights would be a nice idea.

I'd try to talk him out of adding the porch. If he does, he will have no front yard at all. From the street, all you will see is driveway and garage door. He may want it, but I think he will be hurting the curb appeal and resale value of the house.

I agree that adding a porch on the first floor would detract. It would be too claustrophbic, IMO. Not enough room to give someone a feeling they can breathe when they leave the garage to go in the front door.

But if that second floor addition is a master bedroom, what about putting a balcony/porch on the second floor as part of the new changes to the facade? I think it might add some nice interest if done right.

Thanks again, Stevie and to Elphaba, too (love the name....am reading Son of a Witch at the moment...lol). The 2nd floor addition is his office, and it does have a deck area, which faces the back. We live at the edge of a bluff, so the view is incredible back there. I think that he was thinking of a larger front porch to be able to sit and watch/talk with neighbors as they walk by.....but I hear what you're saying about it being too crowded. Perhaps
a more landscaped front with a cute seating area would be more appropriate.

That sounds like a plan, pogo....I like the idea of a patio area in front of the window! Some sort of water feature would be nice, I'll find out if he minds frog noise.....we get lots of wildlife where we're at.

I'd do a dormer over the front door to make it a little higher and much lighter, keep it from being so cave like, make it a feature.

I'd so something [anything] to make the windows in the second floor relate to the large window below.

So what's the deal with the chimney?.....what does it serve?....is it used?

The chimney appears to be too short when you consider the upstairs addition.........

What are the chances of moving the garage door to the front of the garage, just like the neighbor's garage to the right? Then he could chisel out all of that driveway and have a decent lawn. Perhaps the new driveway could be a joint driveway with the neighbor to the right?

I know, we're talking about a lot of money here... but if he could do this, then he might be able to make that outdoor seating area/porch work with the rest of his house/property.

Abnorm....great idea! That's definately a plan. Also a good idea about the windows. I'll show him this entire thread when it's finished, and let him make the decisions. The chimney is for the fireplace in the living room. Perhaps a taller copper thingee on the top and a weathervane would help with the porportion issue. Dunno about changing access to the garage, Stevie...there's a large magnolia planted in front near the sidewalk. Definately something to think about, though. Thanks all!