I think it might look nice with the boxes on all three windows - it would give it a more balanced look. I would probably not do shutters since you don't have room for them on the other windows, plus your home is beautiful without and I don't think they would add to that. I also think your chimney is lovely as is. I know it's popular to grow something up them but your stone really makes a statement and I'd hate to see it covered up, which ND will do, plus it's a messy rose. I have a two story stone (river rock) chimney, too, and I considered growing a rose up it once. But I love seeing the stone against the soft yellow of my home without obstruction. Then there is the issue of training and upkeep of climbing roses, a chore one story tall let alone two. In addition, most climbers need to be trained laterally to really bloom well all over their canes, which can be tough to achieve on a narrow surface such as a chimney. A rambler would work better if you decide to grow a rose up it. Btw, love your roof line on the chimney wall. It lends an English cottage look to your home, perfect for a cottage garden backdrop. : ) Diana

Like most enduring architectural details, the Greeks invented the cornice return. It is a very elegant design that is well understood by experienced carpenters and architects but sadly not well know to homeowners or many home builders. A "mutton chop" is not a different kind of cornice return but the absence of a cornice return. The cornice simply ends and is covered up with a board in the shape of the severed cornice. Instead of allowing the cornice moulding to turn and continue for a short distance at the end of the eave, a mutton chop simply chops off the cornice and covers its profile with a flat board that looks a lot like a cornice return that has been removed and badly patched. The reason this issue is so poorly understood today is that the Greeks did not attach gutters to their cornices and therefore could use a very elegant wrap-around detail that is still copied today. Today the crown and fillet of a Greek eave is replaced with a flat board that supports a gutter. At the end of the eave a builder must choose to end it with a flat board (mutton-chop) or carry the gutter around the corner onto the rake. The gutter return costs more than the mutton-chop so there you have the justification of the ubiquitous mutton-chop. As for French Country Style, it is, in general, a style made up by American designers and cannot be found in the country side of France. An architectural historian will tell you that the French never used front facing gables like the English did and therefore did not develop a tradition of cornice return details. Until the English discovered the antiquities, they allowed the end wall of their gables to expand and cover the end of a cornice. This is seen in the Cotswold Cottage and the Tudor styles which are the basis of most American eclectic French and English house designs. The prototype of an American version of a French house is a steep hipped roof and a turret with a pointed roof at the entrance. You won't find them in France but they were wildly popular in America in the 20's and 30's. If you want a French inspired house build with masonry and avoid all cornice returns or mutton chops. This post was edited by Renovator8 on Tue, Apr 22, 14 at 20:03

I would make friends with your local nursery, take photos of the house with you and simply be honest with them. Tell them you are an very happy new home owner, overwhelmed, don't know anything about gardening/landscaping but you really could use some help to come up with a 3/5 year landscaping plan. A lot of nursery owners will come to your house free as long as you purchase a plant or two. (huge help) Start with a tree in between garage windows. Plant it at least 5 feet from house. (make it an anniversary gift so it starts memories/roots for the two of you) Plant other trees or more expensive special plants on important dates as they come, children, promotions, birthdays... Definitely go slow, but you will be amazed at how far a couple hundred dollars can go. Hang some plants on the porch it will fill in and soften the porch area. Don't forget winter color too, like red twig dogwoods, willows, --- Lastly, paint that front door a fun color that you love! ;-) Enjoy & Good luck!!

Unfortunately, krycek, everyone can't afford real shutters. It would be great if that were the case but those days are gone, really. Maybe in some parts of the country they're still used. But eliminating all shutters just because they're only decorative and lay flat on the house wouldn't make for a pretty landscape, imo. All homes do not look good that way. Nor does that particular style appeal to everyone. That is a good point on what type of shutters the poster has. Panels laid flat on the house would probably look too flat if done in the same color as the house. Louvers might work better because they're so textured. But without the added dimension of the old-fashioned shutters, like in the examples, it might be best to do a tone on tone rather than the exact or a barely different color. You can still create a beautiful, restrained palette. It also makes a big difference in the outcome whether or not you have the moldings and architectural features or details to make the facade interesting without the use of more pronounced or saturated color. The landscaping, too, can impact the effect. Enhancing your stonework this way is a great idea that could create a very charming and unique property.