In the bed to the right of the front door (as you're facing the door) a small tree in the middle of that bed would really be nice. Maybe something 10-12' tall and wide. It would add needed height and anchor the bed. Then, plant things that provide seasonal display, some amount of fragrance, and bring color to that area. Google Monrovia, click on your zone and look at their suggestions for plants in your zone. Look on the web for examples of front yard landscaping and just copy those ideas. Nice house!

The most recent photo makes it look closer to city walk than first pictures alludes to. If you would, take the foundation planting pictures from the front/center position while standing on the city walk. All pictures must be taken from exact same location, pivoting camera. Do not change the camera position between photos. Please give a full 180* sweep of slightly overlapping photos (street will show in first and last photo.) And then also take the separate distance picture from across the street.

Well, I managed to build an entryway table this weekend...so there's no going back now - no more couch on the wall! Oh and those unsightly sidelight curtains found their final resting place in the trash too. Whoever came up with these window films is genius! Thinking maybe chalk painting the table, sanding a few edges to expose the wood and some storage baskets below for blankets and such.

I agree that in order for the house to look welcoming, the way to the front door must appear visible. There needs to be a spacious landing the full width of the porch. The walk needs to be least 4' wide, and 5' is OK. Walks can be widened and decorated at the same time by adding a border of brick (an 8" strip) running along each side. (If the walk is too close to the home, I would not add a strip of brick on the side that makes it even closer.) If there is too much to be changed, it might be better to demolish the old walk and create a new one. I would not run a second walk straight out unless there is NEED for it. As far as making the scene look cozy, there needs to be no spaces that should be filled with plants, left empty. The obvious one is along the wall with two windows. There should be some shrubs growing below the windows. The next place is below the purple-leaved tree. A circular bed of groundcover would enhance the scene. If we had a wider view, we might see something similar is needed at the right half of the yard. Achieving coziness is not helped by letting things become untidy. The lower branches on the trees are impeding the view of the house and the canopies need to be lifted and tidied up. I think the house would become very plain looking without the shutters. They're an important trim piece. With modern windows, we all know no one actually uses shutters for storms, and that they're just decorative. So they don't need to close -- or even look like it -- in order to be valid.