Despite the original posters overly extensive post, with certain questionable content, the central point is still quite vaild. We as a nation spend more money on grass than on any other crop. That by itself should be reason enough. Read up on the history of lawns and you'll find that they were orginally created as a means of demonstrating wealth (aka, I have this big area and I can afford to do nothing with it except grow grass I can't eat) Regarding the comments of junegem13 and zachslc, you might want to read up on the legal history of this movement. As it turns out, most weed laws (ones based on hight, not on noxious weeds) are unconstitutional. Nonetheless, if you are in a city or subdivision and decide to do a wildflower meadow where there is not an reasonable ordinance, then you should notify your neighbors and the city about why you are doing and the legal preceedants. The EPA has all this information. Regarding property values, that was the original complaint neighbors made against one landowner when she converted her lawn into meadow. When they were unable to demonstrate an actual decrease in property values, the city ordinance was ruled unconstitutional. Afterwards, the neighbors decided if they couldn't beat her that they'd join her and replace their own yards with meadows. Property values in that one neighborhood are now some of the highest in the city (Specific names and places, are available if you want them). Time and time again, lawn alternatives done correctly have shown to raise values, not lower them. In Charlottesville, VA local government is working on an ammendment to exclude native meadows from our weed ordinance. Other cities are doing the same very quicky, especially since the weed ordinance as written by many localites constitutes a legal liability to local governments.

mikeyvon, we had another fire sprinkler bid that came in at $40k, so go figure! :) robin0919 and juniork, just an FYI that the $100k includes everything the city requires, permit fees and what I like to call "junk fees" as well. The two biggies were $35k for low-income housing and an impervious surface fee of $0.70/sq. ft. The clincher is that they consider pavers to be impervious, so we had to pay for a lot of sq. ft. that we thought was "wrong" (driveway, auto court, courtyard, our entire rear loggia). In the end, our bill with the city totaled $100k, which "technically" wasn't all for the "building permit" but it's what we needed to pay to start building, so that's why I classify it as "permit fees".

Details Details Details and finishes. I think well thought out lighting makes a huge difference. Go into a very swanky expensive bar and look at how well the lighting was designed - with the accents and thought to what is being highlighted. I can tell a cheap house by the lighting. Also flooring makes a big difference. Keep a photo scrapbook of things you like and get them included. When you stay in nice hotels pick out little things that make it nice (wall switched right by the bedside etc.). Make small rooms like guest baths have big impact (small spaces are cheaper to do luxury details to). I would rather live in a 3K sqft home that is finished to a very high level and designed perfectly than live in a 9k sqft home that is a "big box". Speaking of boxes - a box is the least expensive way to construct anything. Homes that break this mold are usually more expensive in general. A great builder is so obsessed with details he drives his people to produce the best product they can (and speaks that he has a great relationship to get those results).

nice score! Can't imagine that being a Tudor. But man, did someone love 1992! sheesh. I'd strip down to it's bare bones and start over. Are they any other homes in the neighborhood built at the same time that you could go off of? what about the older neighbors? maybe they remember what it used to look like before the 90's came to be! I love Sabrina's idea. just go for the Spanish revival. check out this 1929 manhatten beach home that underwent a beautiful transformation. only two exterior pics, but if you need ideas for the inside, it's really nice! It has a similar garage door and exterior facade like yours. I like what they did here. https://whitesandsdesignbuild.com/portfolio/eclectic-spanish-beach-bungalow/ First thing I'd do for your home is paint the stucco a brighter white (like that one above), and pick out a trim color that you like. This one is similar to yours. (house-wise) the brighter white and blue accent is very pretty. redo the garage door (wood, wood look w/iron hardware, or that verdi gris color) AND, I would absolutely do your stairs w/the mexican talavera tile See how this one has the tile on the risers? Except I would do diff tiles on each riser. or a solid and a print like this one I gave you that patina green color on your garage. along w/the white stucco you could trim our your windows or roof fascia w/this gree/blue color. I gave the gate a coat of black paint and added a few inset tiles below the bougainvillea Do your steps w/this tile, or something similar. (if you need a contact for this tile, I have a source that's cheap. And if you need a color consult, I'm in NoOrange county and would be glad to assist!) or, maybe more of a denim blue here's how a wood door would look this is the stucco color you want and the style garage door. Here's a spanish revival. I like this stucco white better than yours. notice the wood garage door (see last picture if you're on a budget but want that wood look) and wrought iron railings Notice the more modern balcony railing w/wood trim. Or this Newport Beach makeover. If you like the warmer tones, go for this stucco color and something like Urbane Bronze for the trim. (and windows if you're getting new windows) Found one at the beach that is more mediterranean and has those heavy balusters like you do if you have the budget, remove the heavy lake como look and do something like this balcony railing youre at the beach. go for the blues and greens