Misti, what you had before looked very inviting. The path behind the sofas is just that, the route to open the windows without walking through the conversation or sitting on someone to reach the window hardware :) You used a lovely table behind the large piece for decorative things exactly right. That's what I noticed, not the back of the couch. I think if you just move the sofa forward to the rug edge then the loveseat in a bit it will connect them without having the larger pathway around the grouping. You can put the sofa table tight between the couch and wall and use that as another surface for lamps. That said, I do like the cozier arrangement since it lets you enjoy the fireplace better and it's easier to talk to the person across from you. It all depends on what works and feels best for you and your family. Your DH probably didn't like those corners with nothing to take up the space. You can use plants, artwork or bookcases to fill in over time if that's the case.

It's definitely a tudor. It's just lost a bit of it's character through the various additions. And the wacky thing on the front definitely has to go. The thing is, there might have originally been nothing there at all. Like this: While other tudors had something more pronounced at the entry, all that brickwork might be cost-prohibitive: This one is simple, but only works if the entry is on the side, rather than on the gable end: You might look at doing something like this:

Wow! Wow! Thanks to all of you for taking the time to post such kind and generous compliments. I couldn't believe it when I just checked this post again! Les, well noted about the step. We had the walkway put in when we did the driveway about 5 years ago. It is stamped concrete and that step is horrible. The guy made it way too narrow and it is too big of a drop from the porch, and he screwed up the stamping. Hopefully, next Spring we will have the walk replaced. I want the man who did our patio to come back and fill in our front yard (we have a lot of areas that need dirt) and do a new walkway. It is almost 12 feet between the pillars. are you thinking a step that wide?? It would be pavers. I haven't even thought that far ahead as to what type, but know I want it done. Squirrel, the iron was on the garage doors. Actually, we are probably going to need a new door one of these days. I had seen a PS you did for someone recently with garage doors. There are so many choices. I bought the bench and then stained it. I hadn't yet thought about something above the bench. Hmmm.

Hi lazy-g, I miss the tree too! (But not the little crab apples.) We had about 18 years of beautiful blossoms, then a few years of diminishing blooms and finally a year of nothing (no leaves or blooms), so it had to go. At least the front room is nice and sunny now, and there's a small hydrangea tree now planted near there. The hydrangea will never be the same as the previous tree, but I'm hoping to sell in a couple of years so maybe the next family will plant another big blossoming tree.