damask, That is one thing I'd never heard of. Learning something every day. That's what I call cheating! :) I am starting to think that gardengal may really be onto something! If anything, I may have fertilized too much. It dawned on me that I indeed used less fertilizer in another container with pansies I have on the lower deck (pictures below). I have not reached out to that one as much because...well, further away. Out of reach. Lo and behold, that one is doing better! I am trying to post some pics but I am having trouble. I will try separately below. Just like last year, violas did much better ...to the point where I am not even sure I will bother with pansies anymore next year. Maybe a few - but I will rely on violas to get my bloom fix. These little things keep blooming their heads off throughout winter. That being said, even these I feel could have done better. Too much foliage. Maybe I am a bloom glutton because even when my plants perform decently, I still end up jelly of those commercial, picture perfect results where the plant is completely covered by a carpet of blooms to the point you can't even see any foliage. (I call it lettuce LOL). Probably must of those are Photoshopped or ...well, blooming hormone.I need to practice some bloom gratitude and be happy with what I have. And maybe lay off the fert. :)

Beth & Jan’s Navy would be beautiful! Bronze would be interesting! Can u do a bronze with out getting too “orangey”? Thinking that may go well with the nailheads on the leather chairs... So would either of those colors have to be in the stair runner? There’s not a bronze in the ARug. Would that be ok?

Since your other post says you don't want to put much more money into the house, plan to remove things rather than add them. Remove all yard and porch decor smaller than a half whiskey barrel. Remove the old shrubs. For staging and photos in the spring, clean everything off the porch, then add two kneehigh pots of colorful blooming flowers. If you can afford only some brown bark mulch, add that along the foundation. If budget is bigger, plant twenty or thirty gallon-size blooming flowers. If you have very nice porch furniture, use two chairs and a table with a pot of flowers. If porch furniture needs clean up and paint, you could do that now or in the spring. If your big star needs new paint, do it now or in the spring, or just take it down to pack with you for your next house. In some areas, fertilizer applied to the yard grass in fall gives a good start for spring growth. In other areas, it's a waste of money to apply in fall. Check at your local garden center to see if fertilizer is usually applied in fall, spring, or both.

I see no purpose for an odd portico added to this house it is already a bit off balancewise and IMO adding another element will not work unless you do a complete porch all across the front with supports , tied into the roof and done right.I do not see what would be better inside either . I agree work on the landscaping and save the huge $$$$ this will cost.