If you can't afford anything else, use what you have ,your roots will penetrate that compost easily and your Clay will absolutely love having all that Compost on it, besides, that Compost is going to shrink into and amend your clay soil so fast, it'll make your head spin. Put it down, keep it moist and plant in it, you'll be fine. No harm,no foul ;-) In the pics, do notice the rapid shrinkage,even on the tarp,the process of composting takes place as long as there is moisture. These beds are pure compost on top of Clay soil, I have harvested so much ,in so little time, even I am amazed ;-) Now , this "bed" is Pure compost on a tarp,no ground contact (it is my excess compost)

I think a rug either under the dining table or with the seating and coffee table would help. The biggest issue I see is that your wall hung items are too high. The 3 pieces at the dining area should have their center point 5' above the floor and should be one hand's width apart. The shelves are putting your displays above the lamps, so they need to be lowered as well. I also advise grouping items in threes, rather than marching them across the shelves like soldiers.

Agree with houssaon about removing the shutters. Keep the white fascia and trim and porch posts. Do you have a favorite bold color that you might want for your front entry door color rather than white? If so, you might also consider painting your white porch chair(s) that same color. You could add a post with a solar light and brackets for a pair of hanging baskets centered in front of the windows to the right beside your porch. You could add some plants around the post that will climb the post and provide colorful blooms. You might add a plain concrete bird bath to your yard. You could create a walkway to the bird bath with pavers with grass in between the pavers.

Hi- I think it would be very nice if you could have a covered porch on one side of your house, or even running the length of the entire front of your house. Who cares if it is not "the period" of your house? I don't think your house is some period masterpiece whose value will be lowered by the addition of the porch. Only you can decide if you have the money to pay for that sort of project, and if the months out of the year that you can sit outside with a cuppa and a book nad/or with a neighbor make it worth it to you to spend the money. Note, I don't even mention re-sale value. Because what is important is the pleasure it will give you, that is number one. (I am assuming that building a porch won't detract from the house's value.) Please be sure to use an experienced contractor, get three bids, etc. You can have one side with a porch swing if you like that, or a couple of rocking chairs and foot stools, and the other side with a table and chairs and a bar cart/tea cart. From the top you can hang several bushy hanging plants. If you do this sort of porch, you don't need a portico as the door will be covered by the porch.