Hello,

Here's an article on "20 Ways to Add Curb Appeal" that may give you some ideas:

https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/exteriors/curb-appeal/ways-to-add-curb-appeal/

You need flowering bushes in an island out in the yard.

Here are additional pictures of the house

It's a nice looking house, but the pergola over the garage and the little row of bushes by the walkway aren't doing it any favors. You might do something welcoming with hardscape and landscape in that area where you have the bench. The row of bushes acts like a barrier there instead.

That electrical conduit looks like a tripping hazard. I can't imagine they couldn't have ground out a channel for it in the concrete. Maybe you still can.

Geez don't screw this up!!

Maybe you can successful include a stepped wood deck in the front, but I would not include anymore roof with that.

Something wrong with that electric cable on the ground....Wow! Could it go in conduit overhead?

You could do a flagstone or bluestone walkway and arrange the conduit between the stones.

I like your house pretty well "as is", but agree it could use just a little tweaking to pull attention to the front door.

I like the pergola over your garage doors -- it looks well built. I'd leave it for now, and put your energy into other changes first.

I very much like Beverly's depiction of a large two-stage deck sort of structure -- it does give weight and importance and ease to the entry. It looks fairly easy to accomplish, so (hopefully) isn't a budget buster. A large colorful pot of flowers or greenery at the doorway, as well as painting the front door a lighter/brighter color, would be nice.

The large beds at the entry need work. To balance the large rocks on the far side, could you get more rocks and put a "stream" of them on the near side (3 or 4 foot wide max, NOT on filling the whole space) up against the new enlarged deck? That way the eye would find the picture more balanced. Then some sort of larger shrub in the corner of the mulched bed, and a lower groundcover to fill the rest of the mulched bed. Take care to not disturb the roots of that tree too much.

Oh and that nice bench you already have, I'd place on the enlarged entry against the wall under the light fixture. To me a nice bench says, "come and rest here" and it would be easily accessible, a logical place to sit.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to give me your opinion and especially those images. They're amazing! I love that there's three really different but great variations of the front.

I think if you saved up to create a beautiful series of steps & terraces that led to a forecourt in front of your house, that would be stunning. Use stone or large concrete pavers, add great landscape lighting. Would be gorgeous at night too. Look at midcentury modern landscaping to see how entries are showcased with beautiful landcaped walkways.

Or some variation of this would be nice. Make a cut out for the tree trunk.

Create a landscaped terrace or patio that complements your home's architecture. Extending the entrance sequence out from the house will draw visitors toward the front door, while creating a new place to entertain guests and enjoy your beautiful yard!

Northbrook, IL Residence (A) · More Info

See more terraces and patios on our Photo Gallery.