With the house on one side and the privacy fence on the other side of the strip, you may not be getting enough sun to grow a rose. But I might try something like flowering shrubs that are low maintenance. If it does get adequate sun, I'd say go for it and do a meandering path with alternating beds of roses, phlox, four o'clocks, hollyhocks or whatever you really like. We've been doing paths from salvaged bricks recently and they're really nice once they're done. It's backbreaking work to build a path from brick though. One of my favorite path materials is small pine bark mulch. It's easy to walk on, and breaks down to luscious compost in about three years. You just shovel it into the garden beds and throw down fresh bark chips. Our next path project we plan to use some old salvaged roofing shingles as a base and top that with cedar mulch or pea-gravel. It will be edged with concrete edging stones. We're still fighting over gravel or mulch. Oh, I should mention we got the shingles (and many of our salvaged bricks too) at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They are new shingles, but we got them at a fraction of retail for another project. And we have enough for the path. The reason for using roofing shingles is that they will stop all kinds of grass and weeds from growing in the path. Cheryl

I like the combination of stone and wood. I would do horizontal wood on the wood areas. You could possibly add some awnings over the large windows on the left stone portion. Something in black like the covered walkway. I wouldn't do too much or you end up cluttering the look of the facade. I'm sure you're probably going to do so but landscaping along the base of the front of the house should also be done.

Hi, some thoughts out loud as I iterate a bit more. The current house aside from the front is D5 high-quality vinyl siding and 5" trim which we are not replacing at this time. And plenty of fixed and casement around the bottom. We've enjoyed the Dryvit on the front but it's in need of repair. We're not rebuilding the existing roof, except to add in the porch roof and addition connection. So the white trim and belt with crown are used elsewhere. And the bow window will be deep under the porch but we think a porch is what we've been waiting for for 20 years. Good southern exposure anyway. But good points by everyone so far, so thanks very much! So, Kristin S, regarding the mixed siding materials... Here in NW Ohio anyway, I have 25+ photos of well-built homes that break all these rules with mashup of straight, stone, shake, vertical, some with all four. (Not to mention an insane number and complexity of gables, varying levels of stone heights.) Plus white trim, siding-colored trim, black exterior window frames, and everyone is nuts for standing seam porch (but only the porch). And one house with a crazy wide eyebrow roof VENT. So, I recognized as well what many on Houzz say, which is using so many materials don't make any "vernacular" or I guess I mean "functional" sense. But they give a little variety here and there. And people can do what they want, so I see how it happens. It seems to me that what pros such as yourselves are saying when it comes to mixing materials is that stone as a foundation makes sense. And maybe that one material per floor makes sense (like layers on top of each other). But of course our home is some interpretation of Craftsman, Prairie, Coastal, and look at a bit of each, but still wanting to stay on the simpler side. But we're also trying to push it a little on this addition, give it a little more flair. I'm cringing now at the first ideas, and pleased with everyone's comments helping us iterate again. So lyfia, I guess as we kept looking at this and many other photos, and trying many shapes, we just want something nice to happen, while including the belt. But maybe the proportion needs work. cpartist, our returns are actually flush, thanks for noticing because they shouldn't be "pork chop". But since I'm not changing everything all around, PPF, while I like the closed angled eave, I guess that seems out. (My flat soffits are beadboard look). PPF, going to look at the columns. Will try double in the center again. Trying to not block the door, or the bow, and the bow wall span is 15'ish, while the door span is 13'ish. In any case, will probably make them robust and with a little trim accents. RES 3d Sketches, shake is so beautiful, I'm planning to use fiber cement shake, which can be weaved, but I have white trim so much elsewhere. I do love the flaring though, going to look at that some more. I'm surprised no one mentioned the stone planter boxes in front of the porch! (Just trying it on for an idea). Actually, maybe there shouldn't be stone in front of the porch deck, since a porch doesn't sit on a foundation? Will post again soon.

Your house is much older than it looks at first glance, right? I would definitely remove the shutters. If you want to keep them paint them white. Paint the shakes a much darker grey or white. Keep the pebble detail. I know it is a bit funky, but it is part of the history of the house. I would be surprised if the stones didn't come from the property. It dresses up the foundation and is much more honest than the fake stone you see today. I like all the trim in white. It is crisp.