From a real estate perspective, if you are thinking of resale value, a lawn will probably be your best bet. It will hold appeal for more potential buyers than any alternatives. These days, there is a lot of emphasis on reducing the area dedicated to expanses of grass, as many people are eager to use less water, chemicals, and time on their lawn. That is a great goal, but whether it will add value to your home depends more on how well it is done, than whether you do it at all. You can sell a house with a large plain lawn more easily than a house with a bunch of shrub and perennial beds that are badly done or aren't tightly maintained so that they look like work waiting to greet a new owner. Also, I don't believe that the average lawn takes more work than perennials. Putting-green lawns, yes, but not average lawns. Both lawns and perennial beds take work to get established. Once they are in place, in my mind it is easier to mow the lawn in a routine way than to keep up with the ever-changing needs of perennials--deadheading, dividing, pruning, feeding, etc. Also, it's pretty easy to hire someone to cut your grass if you don't have time to do it yourself, whereas paying someone to fiddle around with your perennials to keep them looking their best is not so easy. I can get a neighborhood teen to cut and trim my grass for $20, but anyone with the know-how to deal with the shrubs and flowers is going to cost much more. To add to your home's value, look at the yards in your neighborhood, find one that looks attractive to you but also simple and very well maintained, and aim for that. It looks like a nice neighborhood and there are probably lots of ideas all around you :)

Marshall Frank took that picture possibly two years ago. whaas you can never have too many Alaskan cypress. Jubilee is my favorite green and narrow cultivar. You can see a choice photo and purchase one at Girard's for 20 bucks; plus they ship cheap. My plant was 2' tall when it arrived with a full gallon root-system. Couldn't have been better. I need to draw a plan. Right now I'm grafting 16 hours of 24 hours, however and it's not going to change for the next couple of weeks. Dax

Close Up Picture

Would you consider doing the stone run to the corner of the wall, no L. Then the other counters backsplash would start 2' in. There are a couple of issues though. If you are planning an L cab for the corner it won't work since obviously teh cab would be the consistent height as it rounds the corner. If you use a blind cab then it would work. Also... as to height of the run. For me, I'd put the cooktop/prep part of the L lower if I had to choose since I"m short. In that case you could have the fabricator do a granite/marble return down to the lower counter to give it a finished look.