Hello, You have such a beautiful home! I dug up my entire yard last year to turn the entire yard into a garden. Have you given thought to the style you prefer? Formal? Xeric? I've done a ton of research and would love to not only help with ideas, but to see the progress! Have you thought of window boxes in front to soften the look? Geraniums and marigolds with sweet potato vine, etc. would give a flowing effect and color that would be easily seen from the street. I strongly recommend against keeping dandelions. They are weeds and aside from your neighbors consternation, I'm sure you'd end up regretting. I've put echinacea (just ordered some more, as they come in so many colors now. I've also started some from seed that are coming along. They take about 28 days to germinate). I have purple, white swan, tomato soup, tiki torch and more, mixed with shasta daisies, various colored rudebekia, liatris, mini roses, various penstemon, red, blue and purple salvia. These are all perennial, so I just divide every few years. Daylillies are an easy addition. They come in many colors and textures, are tough, grow in pretty much any soil, and are low maintenance. They are easy to divide and flower the first year. You can buy them bare root, which is cheaper than buying the plants themselves. I've ordered from new websites this year, along with those I've trusted over the years. Once they arrive, I'd be happy to share my experiences. The cheapest I've found is bulbsdirect.com, which are shipping from Holland. They should arrive this week. I'll watch for your post! Good luck!

@Flo - thanks for being so helpful. I have posted the pic for your reference below. I have even gotten a copy of the house plan but it's pretty torturous to see :/. So...Past the initial gates, there are those pillars that might be holding up the balcony above. But I don't know what the need was for part of the balcony to come forward. I wish the entire balcony was just straight instead of a part being extended. Could those front pillars be taken out and balcony pushed back? Also, You will see a set of windows past the pillar. That window looks into the foyer (the dome structure) as attached in the pic below. The wall/set of windows was what I thought can be removed to add the french doors. i would probably want to bring the doors out a bit more. so it's not so far in. And those doors would be the entry point into the house and the right side door would get filled in. Hmmm I think that could work?! @suezbell - Thanks so much for your ideas. So just to clarify, there are 2 garages. One of either side (side entrances, one garage is for guest and the other side is a 3 car garage). Also I don't really mind losing any of the courtyard. In fact i was thinking we can even break down part of the wall and remove the gates to make it more open as opposed to being so enclosed. And add an extended pavement (i think that is what it's called) to create a better curb appeal. Can you please explain how the pillar can be something else other than pillars? And also do you have any pics of how a square roof can look on a rounded structure? Because right now the dome roof is on a round structure. Please see photo of where the entrance door leads to. The entry door. To the right passage, you will see 3 windows. That whole can be broken down to put in french doors. I would want to bring the doors as forward as I can. In this pic below, you can see the balcony brought forward with the pillars. Those can't be removed and balcony be pushed back to align and look like a straight balcony? You can see the entry door to the right.

I take it there is no brick under that ?

I don't like the heavy wood 'eyebrows' the same color as the window trim. And I don't like the extra trim pieces with them. For the space above the upper window trim and over the porch, paint it a slightly lighter color than the siding. Simplify and unify the facade and downplay the dated detail by painting out the eyebrows and up. Paint over the front wood posts and header with white, cream or the garage color. Get a handrail for the steps. It's hard for me to tell on my screen what the colors are, so this rendering is just mock-up of my ideas.