Here's a pic of the front of the house (this is an old photo--the tree is dead and gone): I don't have a pic of the back of the house but right now it's just a narrow deck with an awning that is about 1/2 the length of the house. After we get the kitchen remodeled this is our next project. We plan on ripping the deck down and replacing it with a screened porch (our house overlooks a swath of public forest, which is beautiful, but buggy). The patio doors will open onto this porch. I think a nice dark color would be nice, but should the color of the door match the rest of the windows? If you click the link you can get to a set of inside pics. It's completely open now. Thinking about painting it Elephant's Breath by Farrow and Ball. Jen

Jessrae, What about moving the beverage refrig over where the 21 in drawers are next to the banquette. It could be a beverage center w wine bottles above and a small sink for the kids to hand wash before eating or a wet bar. The advantium oven is both a speed oven and a microwave. Use the glass turn table to microwave and it comes with the graphite trays for cooking. It would eliminate the micro drawers and free up some options. There are so many settings for all kind of foods to reheat /melt/etc , it would be a shame not to use it. It is preset w all the beverages and foods to reheat at the appropriate time less than 5 min., more like 30 sec. The prep area to the right of the dish machine with dirty dishes to the left realistically won't happen as people clear dishes from your table to the counter above the trash and dish machine. Revisit the prep area. The recent updated drawing with the undercounter refrig next to the refrig seems redundant. I was looking at my overhang and would not want to reach under it even for items not used often. With the banquette there, I would eliminate the overhang where it is and have an overhang to the right or left on lsland to be used not as a family eating area but for one to visit w you while you prep or for one to read paper w cup of coffee or use a lap top as an alternative to sitting at the banquette. It will all come together for you.

I would make the triple casements into paired 6/1 double-hungs and make the 2nd floor bathroom window an awning window the size of a double-hung upper sash adding some horizontal elements and saving money. Where the 3 roofs come together is a hot mess and needs to be studied with a 3D model. I would eliminate the clipped gable on the left side. The roof looks like a very late afterthought.

It is not completely clear to me what you are wanting advice on that is not "flat, lifeless, square." The hardscape in front of the house (sidewalk, some sort of area you were building, stoop)? So changes in plane of hardscape with some introduction of curves and integral plantings? Or the facade of the house itself addressing some pergola, applied deco, fenestration, balcony, porch? What was intended to be done and started? Future note: be careful when you don't crop pics of what is showing on your picture rolls.