I agree, the house is beautiful but it can’t be seen with so much overgrown foliage. I would call in a good landscaper and see what can be saved and what should be eliminated.

Most of the landscaping is quite nice, but some of it has been hacked with a buzz saw into weird shapes. Could use some selective pruning and editing.

I agree Mid-century or later modern, although it does have a hacienda vibe. Cool indeed. Do you own it or you contemplating buying it, or just curious?

I like The curb appeal very much, including the naturalistic landscaping

While this style of garden planting can be appealing, and in fact looks a bit like what surrounds my century and a half old farmhouse, it seems out of sync with what is typical for this more modern style of architecture. I would do a local consult with a landscape designer and then plan a garden that has more massed, simpler plantings for outside the walls. The advantage of a local consult is that you can have the current plants evaluated for potential reuse, and someone local will have a better handle on what is available and appropriate for your site.

Cool house with neglected plantings (see grass growing in the rose beds in the front entrance photo) that need some careful pruning. Hire a landscape architect whose work you have seen in real life. They will have referrals to licensed tree pruners who know how to prune in naturalistic style.

I think the entry can be improved. See image below with trellis above the gate. I might consider painting out the brick or suggest planting Creeping Fig to cover the structure. I have added lights to either side of the gate

The trellis can then continue on to the front door instead of just the current beams hanging over head. This will link the gate to the front door. This could be very charming at light with special landscape lighting.

The leaded glass sidelights seem really out of place at the entrance so I would at least change out the sidelights but might consider changing out the complete entry doors and sidelights like you see below

The strange shapes of the bushes should be abandoned to a shape more natural.

Looks like a contemporary architect-designed 1970's house in southern California. The decorative beams may have been brown originally.

Since there is a drive to the garage and plenty of parking at that end, I would consider removal of the huge swath of drive circling in front of the entrance. Is that garage door truly angled and hung with the windows at the bottom? What is your interest in learning about the property? Are you selling it, buying it or what? The courtyard certainly does not look usable, and everything is aging and overgrown. I'm not a fan of the walled up look, but with removal of the excessive, and bland concrete and the brick walls blocking it from the public, a new garden expanded to the street could add a good amount of privacy.

You have a contemporary home.............no picket fence. You already have a courtyard wall, I guess I'm not sure where you think a fence would even be appropriate.

tee hee, white picket fence.

You could retain the courtyard for adult entertaining and then bust out the concrete to make a grassy play area in front. Your lack of windows seems to be holding back the MCM vibe.

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No, this is not a white-picket-fence kind of house.

A "white picket fence with brick columns" does not sound like something that would with this style house. The plantings look busy, overwhelming and neglected. Some maintenance and re-do is in order. There are probably some plants you could reuse as a source. I would prefer the entrance path to be more courtyard-like than as a shrouded path.

what type of fence would be appropriate for this house

I would agree that there is too much foliage covering the actual view of the home!

Based on the pics you have posted, I have no idea where you think you need to install a fence. At the road when the driveway begins, you could install a fence and an electric gate.

Did you already buy it? Or are you considering it?

Right it would be on the road where it meets the driveway...would probably need 2 electric gates (one on each side of the circular driveway) and maybe a door in the middle for pedestrians to walk in

Very interesting home. I'm following to see the outcome.

First you suggested a white picket fence. Now it's a double gated fence with pedestrian opening. Sorry, but I'm not buying your sincerity. Bad me. Clean up the landscaping, then ask for fence ideas if you're a serious poster.

yikes why the gates

Congratulations! Looks like a cool house. What year was it built? The garage wall angle makes me think it's close to 1980 maybe?

do you NEED a fence? Gates? Seems extreme. They generally DETRACT curb appeal. If you needed it for safety I would match the stucco or whatever on the house, no new materials for sure. Live in the house for over a year before making major changes so you can learn to appreciate its unique style and how the plantings change with the seasons.

ETA: I would also never do TWO gates so lose the horseshoe for sure if you ne d gates

1965 house, I was hoping to match the brick wall by using brick as part of the fence as well but maybe something else goes with it better.

I have some questions concerning the fence which you want so the kids and the dog can play. My first concern is that there are no windows on the front for this house. I would want to be able to look out and see the kids and dog easily if I wanted or needed. But the orientation of the house is obviously to the back. Personally I would be super uncomfortable have them out front out of my sight and even more so because a brick wall would be between me and them - so in addition to not seeing them I might not hear them. Are there any windows in the entrance area behind the brick wall? Do you want the large circular driveway or would you consider to greatly reducing the drive?

Looks like my comment was deleted. This house is still listed for sale on one website, and a pending offer on another. The OP has not purchased the property.

that's a good point about not being able to b see the kids. There are no windows in the front other than a small bathroom or bedroom window. What about removing the concrete steps and make the grass area connect ( maybe fake grass?) is it worth keeping those two trees? would prefer keeping the circular driveway.

also for those curious im currently in escrow to buy the property

guest434 I'm so sorry for asking a question you already answered. That's annoying.

Do you not have a back yard for the kids and dog?

In my area, fencing usually has to be 30" or shorter in front of the house due to visibility/sight line for drivers. A 30" fence doesn't really do anything to provide privacy, keep soccer balls corralled, or keep a sizable dog confined.

Perhaps you could clear out the courtyard to create an outdoor play area?

I would not remove the two trees in the circle. See if they can be limbed up more and add a nice groundcover. One plant type in both tree beds.

I like fox tail ferns, flax lilies, or Rhoeo "sugar plum fairy" -- the plants in the foreground, but you would need to see what is available for your climate. (Looks warm.)

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This is a really sweet house. New homeowners often come in with guns blazing to fix what ain't broke. Give it time. Learn what works and doesn't. People really like that fake grass, huh? Don't sacrifice any real landscaping for it, ok? It will be crowding landfills in no time, I Suspect.

You have a "C" driveway to enable drivers to not need to do a lot of backing up to turn around and leave. If you chose a point -- such as where your garage meets your home so you can have a couple of parking spaces in front of the side of the garage closest to the road -- and cut apart and removed the part of the driveway in front of your home, you could fence in that entire left side of your front yard, adding a with a gate between your driveway and the left side of your yard at a new walkway that leads to your front door. Would choose a black metal (wrought iron) sturdy with plain simple lines -- like the fouth one on this page best

http://strongbowcider.us/10255-black-wrought-iron-fence-gates/ 

Building codes and budget permitting, of course, you could fence in your entire yard except for the paved driveway, giving you plenty of landscaping opportunity and giving your pets plenty of yard to enjoy.

You could plant a green privacy fence -- shrubs that keep their leaves year round and grow well in your planting zone -- just inside your new fence for privacy and to improve the view from your home -- see green rather than pavement.

You're going to have to do an inspection of the liquidamber (left side of drive) to make sure it isn't lifting the driveway. It seems rather close to the fence and the drive. Roots are invasive and aggressive.

You are coming up on Fall, so around November would be a good time to prune out the excess foliage on the olive trees.

I'd also take out that cement divider between the two olive trees and plant below the trees with mondo grass for a lush look.

I'd wait for December/January to trim back the bougainvillea. If you are lucky, you might get a frost and then the leaves will fall off. Frost is a good thing since the vine has about 3-4" thorns that are not forgiving, so you'll need to see what you are grabbing when you cut them. Wear leather gloves and you won't be punctured nearly as often as wearing cloth gloves. While the flowers are pretty, that plant is pretty aggressive on the skin and you will want to get rid of it if it is near anyway you sit, stand.

Already commented on are all the cubit bushes...they need to be pulled out.

Fence in front. You should look on-line to find out the set back from the property line for fences in the front. Your front wall might already be in that place; but you'll find out.

Already commented on above is turning the entry-way into a useable garden space. You might consider it since the rose bushes are right next to the walk way and those thorns can be aggressive. In addition, the entry-way is semi-shaded and the wrong place for full sun-loving rose bushes.

And...good luck. I like the house. You can turn it into something special.

There's another vote for removing a big chunk of the driveway, so you have part of your plan.

What about painting the house and the brick white and painting the trim black?