This is a general concept only. Part of making it successful would be adequate front-to-back depth of the planter. At the right side, I'm suggesting a rail between the post and house wall, if the planter doesn't extend that far. You might consider extending the planter back to the house and filling in that niche area between deck and bump-out and eliminating the need for the rail. If wide steps are flanked with cheekwalls their location will be obvious from a distance ... and they will look better. (I'm not suggesting the color red.)

The friend is a contractor, not a roofer but a framer with 40+ years of experience. He helped my boyfriend build the addition in the picture, we have another friend who is a roofer who did the roof on the addition in the picture. The gutters on the addition as well as the new gutters along the rest of the roof were installed by my boyfriend. I personally wouldn't have thought of removing that part of the roof, but the friend is so knowledgeable and experienced I felt like if he thought it was doable that it could be done.

Sorry, maybe my initial message wasn't clear enough. We are putting in an HMI front entry door, but the question is on patio doors. 3 patio door choices (outswing, hinged double doors): HMI Doors patio doors Andersen A-Series doors Pella Designer Series doors Pros/cons of each? experience with these doors? recommendations? Thanks

I guess it depends on how often you have overnight guests, But I would move the children to different rooms. When you do have guests, one of the children can bunk in with the other one, (sleeping bag on the floor works) We only had a three bedroom house and two children also and when one child wanted to be alone, he or she had a place of their own to retreat to.