Gorgeous home! What's wrong with the tree you already have by the chimney? Other than it seems kind of close to the house for when it matures.

Thank you, pinkmountain! I do love my home, yet know that a brighter tree would make a warmer statement. The one there now just feels nondescript and kinda not in sync, more filling space, yet not contributing anything to the character. It seems not to be growing anymore. Wish there was a mid-sized Firey Maple!

For landscaping, you need to show a complete scene of the house in its setting ... not pictures of just the house, Also show what is beyond each side/end of the house. The camera must be centrally located relative to the scene so that the view is square on ... not a sidelong look at the subject. In this case, the first picture is the correct distance from the house. If you could return to that distance and retake the pictures it would be helpful. But this time, line up with the center of the house (not with the door as it is far left.) Then take a series of slightly overlapping pictures that pan from the far left to far right -- 180* of view. (If there are neighboring houses, we would see the front of those houses in the first and last pictures.)

Then, if you could spell, not how you would achieve them, but only the objectives themselves and the benefits you expect to get by having them, it would be helpful for us in helping you get to them.

If you have a Windows computer, the Paint program, located in Accessories, is an excellent tool for manipulating photographs in order to show landscape changes. Drawing on any computer is difficult unless one has a touchscreen and stylus. In spite of that there are some tools that work fairly well. Select, copy, paste, line & shape tools, color selector (eyedropper) and paint bucket all work well with just a keyboard. But drawing with any of the brush tools is difficult.

First thing that comes to my mind is a shade tree of some size filling the void in what is the area to the right of the house in the two pictures provided. But you have listed enough concerns that it might be worthwhile to hire a consultant or designer to help you in person. Maybe using the Find Professionals tab at the top of the page - I do know for instance that a friend of mine that does quality (consultation, design, build) work here in our (Seattle) area is participating in this.

Wow! What an overview. You get to see all the rough edges now! Objectives/Overview: Additional retirement INCOME required as a result of exquisite, natural property rental. Single and semi-retired, currently I love sharing my special home/investment with 3-12 month professionals/tenants. I intend to live here forever, thus prefer to maximize income right here. On a double lot, I want to enhance as "sweetest in the city" into a natural, vibrant, well-kept property that might occasionally (also) serve as a place for alumni gatherings or even small wedding receptions. I may build a tiny house/cottage or multipurpose building for rental toward lower left side of expansive yard/lot. Simple walkway(s) and features close to the ground would allow visitors to enjoy strolling across the side yard, such as dry creek (ground is wet at all levels, thus need drainage solutions). Would love a driveway w/character of bricks or rocks for visitors to enjoy walking or even setting up tables. I could do that work! Here's a current broader shot, entire property (per your recommendation.)

Budget requires I do this in increments. I do 80% of my own digging, planting, mowing, gravel, rock placement and wood/furniture/painting/fixing. I also pick up free materials when possible. Since I hand-stained my rock-work, passersby are doing double-takes on my every tweak. Yard is scheduled for monthly treatments. Yes, I want my entire property to be able to function as a gathering place with very simple touches while I enjoy the visitors AND upkeep. Love my riding mower! Thanks for ANY assistance. Easily distracted, any advice for sequence of projects? (Below: Property from Left to Right)

Very wet...runoff from bluffs/yards across street. Make more "open park" feel for events.

Yard treatments scheduled! Built high, color-blending shelf & wire trellis, side of house, for climbing plants out of deer range.

Bench on right at edge of hedge/property line. Gate leads to steep, lush path to firepit, workshop, deer, maybe (coming) water feature.

Right side of property(hedge). Expansive yards on both sides of property feels so open.

Final... City will heighten drain and I will trim and level curb area.

Embothrium, I'd love a mid-sized, soft red shade tree. As you can see, I have some huge ones on the periphery. Thanks!

With the existing purple Norway maple on the other side of the house a second purple tree could be seen either as overkill or as providing some continuity - what to do depends on how you would see this yourself. Whatever you decide it should also be realized that a newly planted tree is probably going to take decades to become in scale with the house. With kinds of comparatively modest proportions - the popular 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple for instance - not shooting up quickly like an eventually quite tall (and probably overwhelming) tree would.

The new pictures are from much too far away. I mentioned that the very first picture of the thread "is the correct distance away from the house" for the camera to be. You've got to reestablish that distance and then take the pictures, panning the scene, following the other instructions.

Some idea

Celerygirl, Terrific "outside My box" ideas! Thank you for helping me step back and see the really big picture. I had nearly forgotten about how important is the median. I was almost ready to just level it and put plants on the corners of the yard. The large shrub on the left would probably need to be switched out for a shorter shrub due to obstructing vision of traffic. I love dappled willow and wonder if it can be trimmed to remain short. Research time! Did you use a Photoshop or Publisher to keep this mock-up simple? Cool.

Yardvaark, I used my "Pano" on my camera to capture the 180. Since I own 2 lots, the sequence after this should clarify sections/overlaps.

*Lot 1, left of tudor: Open space, potential "park-like" setting. Very damp, then sopping wet at bottom.

Front and Center...

To the right... Garden gate on right between pillars leads to steep sloping rock walk to firepit entertainment area in back. (Must enlarge to see.)

Just curious...Any way I could standardize with dappled willows somewhere and keep them short? Thanks for insights!

Yardvaark, It appears that my "pano" view must have been too large. Trying here once more. (Looks foggy, so likely is not going to show.) The other views will have to do. I'm overboard!

Yardvaark, Thanks so much for all your coaching. Funny how my goal and vision bring out such different options. You sparked quite a dramatically different idea that demonstrates a balance vs. anything I’d considered. Now, at least I have a better sense of options. Thanks for everything.

It's really not that far off from your vision already. The key thing is YV's tree is planted far enough away from the house that as it matures, it won't impede air flow and views of the house or fall on it, or hold moisture (you don't want that with stucco) plus it is given enough space around it so that it will not have to grow lopsided, but can show its full beautiful form. The tree you have looks to be some kind of weeping tree and looks OK but eventually will get crowded.

Those little shrubs you have now in front of the chimney look like they haven't been pruned very well and are ultimately going to outgrow that space. I'd save shrubs like that for outside the area in front of the house.

You sound like a gardener and plant enthusiast. You have room on your lot for some additional garden beds so don't try or feel like you have to crowd everything up around the house. I'd move that shrub hedge by the side walk to the other side of the driveway. Give your house some room to breathe and you some room to walk to the side door. If you plant a hedge on the other side of the driveway, it will still give you privacy but you'll be able to be a lot freer with the shrubs' growth and won't have to work as hard keeping them pruned and in line. Some but no where near as much.

Added green stick-tree to left of house would be redundant with Norway maple so close.

I use Photoshop.

Pink Mountain, 1. You're right on target w/air flow and view on right. Master bdrm is stunning w/2 corner windows and lovely view. ...even have sound machine with birds chirping, just in case real ones aren't "out!" :)

2. Weeping (wimping!) birch doesn't do a thing for me. Wish for red/orange,

3. Bloodgood Japanese Maple or Red Maple? ...or a tall, red shrub?

4. If I take away shrubs on driveway side, I really need to add some character to the side of the house. Thinking of a "living wall" with the grid away from the stucco, yet don't know what's reasonable in this Central NY climate.

PM, you do a great job of describing possibilities. Thank you!!!

Embothorium, I've been looking at Bloodgood. Stunning. It appears to be the color and appropriate size as I could plant enough away from structure so as not to interfere with master bedroom windows. I also like Orangeola, I suppose because it's orange vs. the purples or burgundys. For some reason I do not like the purpley versions of Japanese Maples. Yep...green stick tree to left of house is not a good option, however, if I limit driveway to front/top of property I could turn the rest into a nice path.

Your input is so appreciated. ...gotta love reading through visions!!! I think this is Bloodgood, right?

Dig Doug, ...to the curb! I keep fearing closing off my expansive yards, yet an actual walkway vs. driveway entrance is sorely needed Cool. Originally there was a winding stone walkway through the yard (from lower right). I dug down and found the center stone. It appears they are about 6" below ground. ...Lots of growth and build-up over the years.

*I love that you added my bricks, red tree and seating. I'm using mostly Adirondacks right now so when neighbors walk by we can sit comfortably with a little sip on the side. :)

Yay! You added a shrub to front corner of my driveway. It took me a couple of evenings to dig that section away to begin defining it.

The stonework throughout is something I would like not to hide. I have (and am finishing) hand-staining every stone then using shiny sealer. Neighbors are stopping, cars are slowing down, and everyone wants to know my formula. :) I'm tickled...and want to make the reds, golds and red-oranges come out.

Thanks again. Love the balance of your design ideas.

Is it possible for the sitting area to be under the large trees to the left of the house? The canopies there make it feel sheltered, more like under a porch roof.

I find the Adirondacks incongruous with Tudor architecture. Adirondacks are rustic/camp style, could go in a wooded backyard, but not in the front of an urban, more formal Tudor house.

emmarene9, You are on top of it! I moved my Adirondacks w/arts and crafts stencil just where you recommended. (The interior of my home carries a bit of that style.)

Yes, Adirondacks Are meant for a separate spot...under a woodsy canopy! Thanks so much. BTW, next week my yard is being beautified with real grass to take over.

Kitasei, you are so right! I posted photos where I moved them, as not only do I need a casual flair (a little eclectic play), but I recognize how I can "have it all" by moving them to the more casual side of my property.

One of my top priorities is connecting with people. My street is known to be one of the top most-walked, friendly streets in the city. Since I absolutely love connecting, I strike up conversations with those walking by and sometimes they linger. When I had benches (and once tried a patio table, chairs and umbrella), seldom would anyone join me. When I switched them out for my Adirondacks and a little table (above), they started to sit down and chat. There's something to be said for breaking the mold! In this case I have enough room to place them on the far side of my property (above). ...AND I DO like to be as true to architectural character as reasonable. I always want to know if something stands out...out of character! Thank you so much.

Nice hammock. Is that your property too?

@kate2carey, I LOVE your idea of chairs to invite strolling neighbors to sit & chat. We can hang out so much in our back yards that we don’t see our neighbors as they walk through the neighborhood

Love the chairs and the painted design. I have a bench down at creekside on my property. Folks fish along there anyway, might as well give them a bench to sit on. I wish I could keep them off my creekside though, they are not always considerate of my plantings. But riparian law says they can walk along my creek to fish, so I just try to encourage good citizenship on their part.

If this wasn't mentioned earlier the leaves on the chairs are those of the ginkgo tree. If you planted one of those there (typical species slow and big, but multiple dwarf cultivars are on the market; avoid seed-raised stock as the fruits of females stink of carrion) it would tie in with the chairs.

Pink Mountain...You must have a lovely place. I'd love to be by the water. Very cool. Thanks for all your comments!

Embothrium, What a great idea! I'll be sure to ask about "seed-raised stock" as I am not familiar with that. ...You have me on a roll. Kate