I like your idea to have a curved patio type entrance, easier to maintain also : ) You can use potted plants then. I really like to use night lighting so a yard looks just as nice at night as in the daytime too. I also agree about a large boulder in front....takes up space, NO maintenance, looks nice with night lighting and you could have it made to have water flowing from the top for ambiance for the entrance : ) I'd add some small growing shrubs or perennials that flower to add some color. A bit of yellow maybe? Daylilies are nice and low maintenance. If you don't like to weed and water I go with mulch around the rock and perennials too. Not sure if it is common to add auto sprinklers in your area but it helps keep plants alive if you're very busy. If you want ZERO maintenance along the side you could go with a colored stone from fence to sidewalk and put in a few shrubs there to break it up a bit. I agree with toning down the white trim with a neutral color. Also I noticed the window to the right doesn't have shutters, so it looks a bit bare comparing to the other window. Here is a quick mock up. I'm off to bed now, so hope this helps a bit : ) Some visual ideas : )

First, you are so luck to have such a wonderful getaway vacation home! It is on a beautiful lot. I agree with missymoo as well, and also what Olychick said. Something about that table smack dab in the middle of the room seems to block entry into the screened porch. I love the idea of a sofa against the wall, something like what robo posted with some comfy cushions and arms, and a chair for reading with a footstool that could also double as an extra seat. Add a small cocktail table you can also use for a tray of snack food. The bar cart is also a great idea. Encourages people to gravitate to where the food and drinks are. You could also string up some lighting along the perimeter and it would look very inviting. Do you get a lot of sun on the deck? It looks shady so I would think a new round table with chairs for seating would be fine and then move your grill & the pub table out there. You can get some pretty nice chairs that swivel and rock. I have also seen some benches that double as storage for the cushions so that might be an option if there is room. That would keep cushion maintenance down for you when you aren't there.

Thanks for all the comments, this is great. It looks like the garage door is still solid and can be scraped and painted, so I will likely look at doing that instead of replacement and try to save it from the landfill, it's just starting to get rough cosmetically. I agree, the next garage door would likely be better with windows. I will post some photos of the porch concrete issue and the well pump head for suggestions. I wonder about tiling the concrete step or doing some sort of stamped concrete. I also wonder how that would stage -- do it before or after the post work?? -- Thanks again!

I would need to see a better close up of the rug that is staying, but to give you an idea of updates that would help. Paint in the lighter blue color, or the ivory, cabinets, walls and ceiling. You can leave the center ones darker, and if that blue matches the one in the rug, then that works. For the backs of the cabinets, put a nice ivory/light blue damask wallpaper that matches the cabinet paint color and ivory in the room and rugs. Replace the mirror with one like pictured below. Update all the pulls with crystal ones like pictured here. Update the lamp to a crystal one, and replace the fan with a crystal chandlier. I created Ideabook Dressing room feminine blue if you wanted to see any of these in more detail. Hope that helps and let me know if there are more questions.