Actually...the more I look at it...the walk wants to be as wide as the brick drainage runnels. I think Ink might be right about the gravel bit...but you DON'T want a gravel walk. They are a PITA unless one has a gardening staff. I did a little research, many houses of this era had brick walks in a herringbone pattern. Not certain if you want to/can invest in that. Wish I were better at mock ups. I'd do a picture for you. Are you wedded to the existing driveway? Perhaps what you REALLY need to do is step back and rethink the whole front yard. You've done such a lovely job with the house...it would be worth the time and trouble to get it right. It's getting late to be planting shrubs and such in zone 8...I'm getting anxious about people planting them here in zone 7b...fall is really the better time to plant here in the south. (I'm up in North Cackalacky.) If you could sketch a rough overview of your plat...where the house sits etc...we MIGHT be able to help you come up with something. Or at least figure out dimensions and such. In the meantime...I'd finish pulling back the sod to the driveway area. I'd plant annuals in the earth you've exposed and mulch it. Then it will look intentional, and you'll be happier. ARE deer an issue? It will make a difference as to what annuals you plant. I work in a garden center. I'm no designer...but I DO know how to help people make things "pretty" until they get their bones in place. If you came in "my" gc the first thing I'd suggest is hiring a landscape designer or architect...and then I'd help you figure out a way to live with it until you could get your plan in place. melanie

Your house is LOVELY! Really, it has so much curb appeal. The cat is a nice touch in the photos as well :) I agree that the big green ball-looking shrubs are not doing the house any favors. There are much nicer things you can put in that spot. First things first, I would layout beds so that your mowing/edging work is as easy as possible. I always think it's easy to lay mulch down in an unusual shape compared to mowing an unusual shape. So I agree with the person who said to add plants along the retaining walls. I would use something pretty low growing that will die back in the winter because I'm assuming you have a snow blower that will toss snow onto that area. So, avoid shrubs. Suggestions for the areas alongside the retaining wall: Heuchera (many varieties like part shade) - for really great foliage color all summer and fall Brunnera for contrast with the Heuchera. As a bonus, deer are less likely to eat both of these plants. I understand the deer population on Long Island can be hard on plants Daffodils - also deer-resistant, lots of spring color, and they live forever. For in front of the house, where the green globes are, it depends on if you spend time on the porch or not. If you do then I'd look for something that smells good interplanted with some evergreens. If you don't spend time out there, then I'd use boxwood and something to contrast with it. If you have 4 hours of sun, then pieris floribunda is a shorter version of Andromeda that would contrast with boxwood. It can tolerate partial shade but it can grow to 6' so you may have to prune it back (I had this & it survived pruning quite well, I had to keep it to 4' tall or less). This is getting long, so my last suggestion will be related to the bed with the weeping cherry. Right now there is a tongue of grass that you have to mow between that bed and the edge of the walkway. I think that area would be better used with some plants in there. And it would make your mowing pattern easier :) Pick something that is not thorny and not a big bee magnet since you'll walk by it all the time. Maybe a hydrangea (though they like morning sun better than afternoon, they will do fine in afternoon sun - mine are HUGE). Just look for a smallish one since they can become huge. I would suggest peonies there, since they die back 100% and you can pile snow from the walkway over them in the winter, but I don't know if you have enough sun that close to the house. Seriously though, that is a really pretty house. You don't have to get super-cute on the landscape because the house is already stunning. Think of it like a gorgeous gown at the Oscars - just some classic jewelry, hair, and makeup is all you need to enhance it without distracting from it (as opposed to the "plain black dress" that needs lots of jewelry to make it red-carpet worthy).

don't stagger the lights on the pathway. It will look better if they're all on one side. Can't actually see the walk, but lights would likely look better on the landscape bed side, than on the lawn side. However, (and I agree with the low intensity downlighting suggestion) I'm thinking that with downlighting the front, you very likely would not need path lights. Less clutter and a cleaner look. I would focus on lighting the steps area very well. With that and downlighting on the house, it may be all you need. Take a shop light on a long extension cord out at night and explore the different effects of light shined on various things.

SEE PICTURE STORY @: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaOHDlm4bNWbw I am new to this site, and my interested was tugged at by conversation here about modular home building. We had a "system built" home built on our land almost 2 years ago. I have heard good things about Excel Modular Homes and will look into using them if I did this again. We used NationWide (builder) and Plantation Homes (local dealer). My experience with Nationwide was HORRIBLE! Lots of fauxs on our house! Electrical mishaps, placing electrical boxes too low on front porch, sconces light boxes crooked in the home... the list goes on and on! (see link above for a picture story!) Here is a link that might be useful: Modular Home Building PICTURE Story!