I might do two columns, both echoing the fluted door surround. Just butt one up against the house on the left so that there are two. It's a little weird but it might look less weird...? Not sure. I am dealing with a similar problem and may fix it by adding faux columns at the back of the porch to balance the ones on the front. I love the punch of a red door, especially with the brass. I would look for two large square planters in the same red and place one on either side of the entryway. They could be where the blue one is now, or up on the step, but they should match and they both need to be in the same location. You can go pretty big,too. The alternative, if you don't want to do a second column, is to get four planters, two that match and two that don't. I'd put a large one with tall plants along the wall where the second column might go. That will help balance the space. Then put another pot to the side of it. In front put one of the two matching pots and place the other one on the opposite side of the walkway. That way, you have the two matching/balancing pots on either side, with taller/filler pots behind where you need the height. (Did that make any sense? :-) I had a wrought iron bench on my front porch and it filled the space in a pleasing way in addition to providing a landing place for people and packages. I think that would look nice there. Keep your eye out for a more distinctive lantern, perhaps in brass. What you have now is fine, but maybe you could find something that is a bit unexpected. Same with the door knocker. Nothing wrong with it, it's just kind of predictable. Something clever that you feel a connection with would be interesting....like a brass sunflower or something. I wouldn't get too cutesie, just find something interesting. Check out eBay for a dizzying selection. All in all, the house and entry are quite pretty. Welcome to the board!

Jenny_alabama So DSS removed the 14 yr old 3yrs ago because he told them what she had done. (physical and emotional abuse) Unfortunatly, the other son would not cooperate, and they would not remove him. He stood his ground with Mom. (she threatened him that she would hurt herself if he left). You are right, she is controling, and we've done all we can to please her, but we're done now. He is going to do the same as your husband. He did have a talk with his son this afternoon, and let him know that he expects that when his son has practice, or needs to change things, that he will call him, and not go thru his mother, since it's their relationship that is effected by it. Sweeby I really see where you're coming from on this. I also agree with what you are saying, in priciple. The thing is, we've discussed this with a therapist, and they feel that to force the visiation would give the son more resentments on top of the one's he already has, and would create a more hostile environment during visitation. In turn, making visitation a negative experience for him altogether. My initial reaction was *internally* "you don't want to? Too bad, you're coming", but from what I've read, and discussed with the therapist, giving them some space gives them the opportunity to realize that they have made a mistake. My husband has discussed this with him, and told him that family comes first, and that friends will come and go, but try getting a teenager to believe that is a miracle in itself. They are more concerned with their peer group than their parents. Recently his best friend ditched him. We don't know why, and I don't know if he knows why, but that really upset him, and he feels like he's missing out on stuff with his friends when he comes to our place. My husband did tell him that we love him, and that we would love to see him more regularly, and that we'll always be here for him. He did recently get a cell phone, which should make communication easier without having to call his Mom's house or her cell phone. He only calls him after school, and no later than 9pm as to not disrupt her home and be respectful. We'll have to see how things go with the visits. If the pattern continues, then we'll have to pull back a little and let him know that he's being rude, and that's not OK.

Regarding the shutters - it's not the color of the shutters - it's that the windows are too wide. Shutters are supposed to look functional even if they aren't functional. They are supposed to look like they can cover the window on which they are placed. They never go on bay windows or triple windows unless they are Bahama type shutters which would be inappropriate for your area and inappropriate for your house. Please read this short article on shutters: https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/ As to the front door, that oval window is what makes it a Victorian style door. Your house isn't Victorian and would look so much better with an MCM type door or a solid door. The reason others are suggesting a light color for your door is that a brown door creates the "black hole" effect on the face of your house. It's hard to visualize if you are accustomed to seeing the brown, brown, brown that you currently show. There are other neutral, but lighter paints so your front door becomes visible. I agree that the landscaping you have now buries the house and doesn't bring out it's features. I hope you end up with a good landscape plan. Reach out to the landscape forum here too. They can provide suggestions, for free, to enhance your landscaping.

Kswl, on my phone, I can click on a rug and scroll through photos that include close-ups. You don't have that option? Once you click on a rug, there should be arrows that allow for scrolling. Here's what it looks like on my phone: But I did use my laptop screen when I sat down to seriously look around the site. What I found especially helpful were customer images that were included with some of the rugs. That above is true to what my rug looks like. The patterns are printed on the rugs, obviously, but they seem to be stronger and more defined than similar rugs I've seen at Home Goods, etc. I'm pleased with what the rugs look like, for a washable rug.