hmm not sure why the picture isn't showing up. Lets try again!

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The house and the current colors are very classic -- in the future -- consider a deep rich khaki or tan or even a deep sage green (with a deep red door!)

Simply begin with a really good cleaning out of the old greenery between the windows -- and around the whole gardens.

Expand the gardens in front of the two windows (think of curvy lines of gardens) For now -- add and dig in a good layer of compost and soil and check to see that the gardens slope away from the foundation of the house.

Check the gutters to make that they are in good working order and cleaned out.

Then expand the gardens along the front path to the driveway -- again -- at this stage -- digging in compost and good soil really sets the stage for your future plantings. Check with your local garden centers for ideas on plants and shrubs that will work well in your planting zone, soil and sun/shade.

Depending on the width of the driveway -- consider adding a walkway on the right (and possibly left) side -- running up to the front walkway to the front door. Always nice for folks to have a path -- even if two cars are parked side-by-side. Is there a front walkway from the driveway around the yard and up to the front door?? Hard to tell from the photo .....

Thanks so much for those ideas! We will def be doing some clean up first and foremost!

The driveway is narrow and really only fits on car, so the idea of a path down the side of it is a good one. Right now the only access to the driveway is from the small covered "porch" in the front that goes to the front door. And I say porch loosely cause it's really just a covered walk...no room for porch like chairs or anything. :)

Nice house, rhapsdy :)

I would paint it a medium to darkish taupe and paint the shutters and front door black. Any trim would be a creamy white (but not off white) and when you have to replace your roof (which looks in great shape, btw) I would do black/charcoal shingles. If you decide to go the darker route for the house, I would select white and one other colour (red, probably) for any and all flowering plants, for impact.

Would love to see the changes you make.

Congratulations on your new house! This is really exciting.

We purchased this house last year and, like you, before closing we were already planning away on what we'd do to the front. This is a picture of our relandscaping I think the day it was completed; as it's nighttime now I cannot take a more lush photo (the plants have filled out amazingly in just one year!), but I'm including it because what I really want you to see is the curving front walk. (ours has steps but you can still do a curving flat or slightly sloped walk) Ours is brick pavers and Colorado rose flagstone, but I've seen beautiful stamped concrete and other foot-friendly materials. If you're in an area where you have to shovel snow, keep that in mind when choosing your material -- you don't want your shovel to get caught!

In this (planned) community, the houses only have paths to the front door from the tops of their driveways, which I find really unwelcoming! There are only a handful of us who've put in walkways but I'll tell you, driving around I always find I smile at the houses with dedicated walkways to the sidewalk (inc. ours!) because I just get a friendly feel from them.

I love and second teacats suggestions for undulating beds -- they are so attractive and lush! There are so many low-maintenance but showy plants out there -- but so much of the selection depends on your (micro) climate. I'd like to suggest you visit the Gardening forum for your area -- really knowledgeable, helpful people are there, and they can help you pick out the right plants for your garden, or at the least, give you a great list for when you go to your nursery!

I also love kswl's color suggestions, but that may be because we had ours painted with those v. colors last summer ....

Congratulations on your new home!

A charming house!

I would take off the shutters from the window by the door. They are way too narrow in proportion to the window, and actually crowd the door area. Leave the shutters on the side windows.

I think the house is tan brick, and the roof a black brown? I would change to deep olive green shutters and a rusty red or deep plum door.

I would take out the existing greenery by the windows and create a large undulating curved bed from the right front corner of the house to the right of the front door, then another bed in front of the window area to the left of the front door. Low plantings in both beds, except for a colorful accent bush of some kind on the right outside corner of the house as a visual anchor. Have those beds curve out just a bit by the entry area, to meet the sidewalk you put in, as mentioned next.

I would run a walk from the front porch to the sidewalk, that curved toward the center front yard, away from the drive.

Then, in the center of the right front yard (in line with the space between the two windows) I would plant a tree that will grow to be rather tall and full, a nice shade tree there.

Finally, I would see about beefing up the posts for the porch and carport. Keep the lines simple, but give them more visual substance. Would be nice if you could move the post on the far right end of the porch a bit further to the right, to really open up the entry area.

If the driveway holds a single car -- then I would certainly consider those pathways on each side. Look into larger concrete pavers -- set tight together on a bed of peagravel.

Also -- a true pathway (of the same pavers OR bricks or concrete) leading folks in a nice arc (or even just a good straight line across the front of the porch) across the top of the lawn to the front door would be wonderful!

Then you can add gardens (and pathway garden lights too!) around the pathway to add even more color and texture to the front of the house.

Well shoot shoot shoot -- I'm not sure why my photo didn't come through!

(fingers crossed) this is the curvy walkway I mentioned above:
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ohhhh! THanks for so many ideas and for the picture especially!

you are right - it's a tan brick. Right now the door and the shutters are painted black. We actually like the black and the tan brick isn't bad (although might be painted at a later date when we have more $$).

I love the curvy walkway! and the idea of moving over the post thats almost in front of the door! These are things I so hadn't thought of!

Here is a pictures that might give you a better idea of the place. This is two pictures I put together so sorry if it looks a little funny. :) It def. needs some attention but I think with some love can really be nice. :)

Thanks for all the help and suggestions! :)

-Kelly

Congratulations on your new house! I like the ideas above, but would add, make the columns square and a little larger. Also, although the screens are helping with energy consumption, I don't think they are adding to the curb appeal.

Thanks for the second photo -- I would most definitely add a wide pathway from the driveway over and up to the front door! The pathway could be as simple as plain concrete paver stones from Lowes or Home Depot --- on a bed of sand and peagravel. A pathway would help "define" the focal point of your new house -- which is the front door!

Then "fill" in the area around the pathway with garden plantings like shrubs and clumps of flowers or herbs.

Congrats! I like everything about the home as is!

The landscaping really needs some TLC though.

I highly recommend taking drives around the neighborhood and photographing any of the surrounding yards that have elements you like.

Joining the corresponding gardening forum is the next step so that you can post the photos and ask for specifics as to what type of tree/flower/plant something is, and then get advice on how to care for it, etc.

Best of luck with your new home!

Nat

Kelly, congratulations on the new house! It's a great time of year to be considering changes in the landscape and looks like you pretty much have a blank slate. I'd be thinking about planting a tree or 2 and creating a few beds. Any chance you live in BR?

Congrats!! You must be so excited! There is a show called Desparate Landscapers on HGTV, the guy on there always keeps the redo's simple and budget savy. One thing he always stresses is to use wavey shapes with your beds for interest and after looking at the different between a bed with a curve to it and a boxed bed, he was right!!! I totally saw what he was talking about. You may want to check out the show on the HGTV website or even watch it when it's on, I've found it to be very informative.