We have a front porch and used the white plastic lattice around it. We put up black landscape fabric behind the lattice to hide what was behind it (in our case that included the structure of an old porch that was there before the renovation...) The skirting board is low to the ground. The porch deck is a pale gray and the framing around the lattice is painted pale gray too. On one side of the front steps the driveway comes right up to the porch skirt so it is all visible; pots give some additional screening in the summer: On the other side of the steps, there is a very narrow bed under the overhang of the porch roof. It is dry and shaded except for a few hours in the morning. It is planted with Emerald Gaiety euonymus, rodgersia and, on the corner that gets sun, a clematis. The green and white euonymus blends well with the white lattice and, of course, is evergreen for a year-round look. The big leaves and white flowers of the rodgersia add additional summer interest. The clematis is a bit over-the-top when it blooms and, would not be an option if your area is entirely shaded but it might be worth trying a more shade tolerant one like Ramona. Emerald Gaiety and Rodgersia (very dense screening - you can barely see the lattice in some places): The flashy mid-summer bit:

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.

I would center the post on the windows and front door... however they come out. Look at the big pictuure from the road/front of the house. Think of how you will landscape the front yard. will you be installing a railing? built in planters, etc. something on either side of the door/steps? as for the blank wall ...I'd find some interesting outdoor friendly art ... like a flush metal piece for example. lots of options, I'd search for front porch ideas.

I don't think that's the walk, at least I hope not! It looks more like temporary plywood put down so one can navigate the sea of mud. But in any event, the walk needs to be centered on the door. That not only looks better it provides a planting area to soften the long stretch of wall. Here's the same thing going along a garage wall.