Why do you think you need to hang something in the middle of the portico? Could you post another photo taken straight on from the street?

If you have mulch, use mulch.

You can't see the house from the street..we are back about 300 ft. behind a gate-we are in the middle of renovating after hurricane Irma and want curb appeal for resale. I thought portico looked bare? Designer suggested white pebble rock to replace mulch..and we are staining front door dark and changing hardware to black..

PS I am currently in KS and can not take a photo..we have not been able to get back into the house for over a year. :-(

I spent two years digging out rock "mulch" so I could use a bed for actual plants. It had sunk down through the plastic liner to a depth of 8". Go with mulch so the next owner can use the area for planting if they wish.

I suggest mulch as it will degrade naturally and can be effortlessly replaced with whatever the next owner wishes. I'm not sure where you want to hang a decorative piece, but I'm thinking that the wall between the columns look better without adding to it and having a hanging piece will obstruct the view of the front door and may look like clutter.

ON the triangle between the columns..not hanging down. That section is also now painted the same as the body of the house-SW Tidewater..I just thought it needed something. Thanks. Good point on the mulch..designer suggested white rock.

I used to like mulch and very much disliked decorative rock, until the neighbors cats and leaves invaded the mulch. I got tired of cleaning it out and went to a white rock brown rock mixture. The cats don't come around and I can clean the leaves out of the rocks with a blower. My bushes will soon cover most of the rock and have not had any problems with the rocks mixing in with the soil and I did not even put down a liner. I have not had any weed problem either.

I am so sorry to hear about your misfortune.

I don't know what appeals to buyers in your area, but rock has to be more expensive than mulch. So that is another consideration.

As for the empty triangle, I think it looks just fine in your before the Hurricane picture when it was painted white. I would paint it white again along with the columns, if they are now Tidewater.

Good luck.

Rocks in Florida just fill up with organic mater and all kinds of everything will sprout. Also quite a bit more money than mulch.

The paint job was just done this week.. so all white columns and the triangle is still white but I did ask them to change to Tidewater..old color from previous owner was a dark yellow. thanks so much for your thoughts all!

I am not familiar with Geotextule fabric? Seashells wow a very good concept! Damn I love this site! Everything under one “roof”! Thank you for your time!

Oh OK looked it up! Thank you!

I like mulch because it breaks down and provides nutrients for your plants/trees. Plus it's much cheaper if you do end up selling you can replenish quickly and it looks great topped off. You could add two tall pots in front of the columns with some beautiful flowers and a trailing plant to add color. I would also recommend adding some color among your palms, I believe bromeliads do well in the Key's and there are so many varieties and they're so beautiful.

I can't imagine why you would prefer mulch or rocks over plants. Ground cover or lawn is what I would do.

Thanks. These are raised beds not sure about lawn...we will be adding some plants for sure!

What about nice big house numbers?

It is so annoying driving around and around and I can't figure out where the house is!

Yes I had thought about house numbers..if I could find a nice sun or we have a mermaid out back-bronze by the pool. Maybe a classy sassy mermaid!

Karen, both neighbors actually do have small lawns. We do miss the grass when we are there. I had the same opinion as you initially. The other side is ocean front and sand. So maybe some lawn on this side!

Well, it's a fine line between what looks appropriate to your location and kitsch.

And fun kitsch and dreadful.

Think pink flamingos.

I do love the seashells idea, I think they sell broken shells at construction stores.

Nothing hanging! Was never an option! Thank you!!

Rocks won't wash away in a hurricane.