You all are so kind Mary- that huge shrub is a rhody.. starting to bloom right now- let's pray all this rain doesnt dash it all to bits this year! I hate that. Gotta Garden.. yes- I am goign to try the larger rocks when i get a chance :) You all can notice the difference? I look at these pics and think- gosh for all that work- it doenst show much of a change! :( Msscarlet- thank you for thinking my home is pretty. It's a little hosue- but i think it's kinda cute.. and i hope i get the cottagey feel across. I hear what you're saying about that blue spruce that blocks the view. it will only get bigger too... but here's the thing.. getting rid of that ONE might not make a difference- as you cna see in the pic- there is a HUGE one next to it and and even bigger one next to that one!!! haha. at first i hated them but I am rather attached to them now.. and this small one is the only one i can attempt to decorate for christmas. haha PLUS- there is actually a VAST amount of space betwee that spruce and the first corner bed by the house.. the angle the photo was taken at it straight one.. but coming from the other direction yu can actually see th ewhoel house.. i'll try to take different shtos for you guys and you can tell me what you think. Now Gladno1.. yours is the silliest question..hahahakeep bermuda grass out of my beds? You make me laugh!are you kidding me? what do you think i do all spring- march to may!! I dig out all the bermuda grass and re-edge my gardens.. it's horrendous. if anyone knows any trick- please tell me.. but i'm with you gladno.. this stuff is eveil. the only good thing is that it requires no water and stays short in summer and crowds out the weeds. however- it is EATING my driveway too.. can you believe it??!!! now you know why i need hired help right? all my energy goes into keepig bermuda grass out of my beds. haha

Your backyard looks like my back yard did a half dozen years ago. Working it gradually, I selected the trees that were worth while, cut some out, and trimmed a lot. I also used a lot of poison ivy spray. With each opportunity I spent a half hour or so in the area with the first tool I saw from the list of tools mentioned above. In doing this I discovered that I had ground cedar, some wild lilies, and some other interesting plants. One of the first trips into the area I found a very young holly with about 6 leaves, I marked it and now it has a couple of dozen leaves and is about 13" high. I also found a beautiful young oak that I have been trimming and encouraging by heavily trimming the surrounding trees. One of the first things I did was take an axe into the area and cut every poison ivy vine I could find, yet taking care not to cut the Virginia creeper. I had been collecting all of the brush on a pile in the very back. My wife got a chipper shredder for me for my birthday, and now I my brush pile has become wood chip paths through the area. I also found that pine cones and gum balls make a good cover base for paths. One of the things we have is many different animals and birds in the area. Squirrels, rabbits, deer, and birds from humming birds to vultures, and dozens of different ones in between. You don't get that if you make your yard look like a golf course.

Defiantly call a bank. First. Then decide if you like the mix of veneer recessed panel and solid stiles and rails that would be the cheap way to go. I don't like the clash of graining patterns. But solid all the way around a room will cost as much as a car. A more modern take would be veneer panels separated with something like stainless Schulter strips. But modern my not be your thing.

+1 Architect Below is our experience. YMMV... This is our second time using an architect. The first was for our previous 1917 home. We wanted to renovate the kitchen and add a powder room. We started off with design-build, but found them to be very cookie cutter. They wanted to add the “box” to an already large space and have the powder room open directly into the kitchen. We were presented with a design we felt didn’t work (we had lived in the house a few years already), but were told we would love it once it was done. We disagreed and started looking elsewhere. It was an architect who came up with the design to create a butler type pantry separating the kitchen from the powder room as well as utilizing an area (where the previous owners had removed the back staircase) to create a mud room. We have since moved to an even older home and are once again using an architect — this time for a larger multi phase project. Different architects, but each time we have enjoyed the process (even over Zoom). Before committing to plans, we have collaborative sessions with the architect. They take out their yellow tracing paper and scale ruler to draw out ideas so we can quickly run through a number of iterations. The architect can then easily sketch an elevation or detail so we can quickly see if it works. Nothing is designed in a vacuum. While there is certainly an additional cost from using an architect, they add value in a myriad of ways. We definitely don’t have an unlimited budget, but have found that employing an architect saves us from making expensive mistakes. As for an architect being out of touch with regards to pricing, we haven’t found that to be the case. A hands on architect is talking to contractors and seeing the bids coming back on their plans. Communication is key. Be clear about your budget.