My first thought on reading your question was that you'd precluded the one thing I immediately thought of, which was to remove the camellia near the door. It unfortunately does not appear to be the dying plant you have your eye on. So I had to think about this one a bit. This forum is a little different from Home Dec, and some of the differences cause us to move a little slower! Obviously the front of your house had the same effect on me as on Rhodium. I've included a link to a question recently posted here with similar problems although the house style is very different. You may be able to appreciate the effect of a blocking plant and a dark door if you see something similar on someone else's house. You may still decide not to change it, of course! The palm by the driveway gives a little character in what seems to be a cookie cutter neighbourhood, so more power to you for keeping it. Given that you don't have much time, the prime part of the look you're after - manicured - may be best achievable just by pruning those boxwoods. But for the colour objective, you either have the wrong plants in, or not enough plants. To add plants you pretty much have to add beds, which means adding work. You see again how your parameters have somewhat precluded helping you get what you want :-) So I'm going to go around your parameters to make suggestions, and let you sort out which ones you do want to flex on if any. I would take out the camellia and put your decorative pot under your house number, not in the doorway. I would also paint the front door a brighter colour. Then I'd use the area next to the front door for your colour bed; it's small, but I think you'd enjoy it coming and going. Prune the boxwoods as well as the bushes to the left which are getting a bit shapeless, and maybe replace those grassy things in front of them with annuals or perennials that you like. Light coloured hostas would work in my zone and provide longer term interest than plants that have only flower interest. If you really want more planting beds, I would add them out further in the yard, something like an island bed out toward the left corner. KarinL Here is a link that might be useful: wanting a welcoming entry

Thank you ladies : ) but these last images of the house are Jay's vision for his place. Awm, I especially appreciate your acknowledging my input and ideas, as the photoshopping is simply a design and communication tool. I always wonder if anyone notices, or appreciates more than the shopping! The creativity and challenges are where my heart is, aside from loving to help people solve their problems or achieve their vision. And, of course, I want to be good at that, too! I'm glad you always learn something. So do I! One always needs to learn more, and it makes the process all the more fun. So, thank you, again, for your compliments and encouragement on projects : ) It is very much appreciated.

Yes, congratulations! It is so exciting to be in a new home with so many possibilities open to you. I had a few thoughts that you can certainly take or leave... I would limb up the front tree some. Then, if you enjoy gardening, I would create a curved bed from the step at the front all the way to the little bed all by itself out front and running along the sidewalk and driveway. I would begin by adding shrubs in that bed along with perennials. That would give you something pretty outside the lower level windows, but nothing that would block too much light. Hard to tell, but you might even have room for a small flowering tree or two out front as well. Don't know your zone, but crape myrtles flower when most things are starting to fade-a nice pop of color during the hot days of summer. We still have some blooming now. I would paint the garage doors the same color as the siding. You might also consider painting the screen/storm door to match the front door. Several of our neighbors have done that just recently and it looks great. I would have to look at more split foyers to decide on shutters for the lower windows. I am not sure whether I think that would be too busy or not. Maybe someone will photoshop different ideas for you! We do have neighbors with one, but their lower windows are full-sized and there is more space from them to the upper windows. Like lukkiirish, I like the idea of black or gray shutters with a black door, but others may have a better idea.

Not sure how much you want to spend on this but if you are re teracing the yard and stairs, consider curving or angling them toward the driveway. it would add convenience and visual interest. I would cover the cinderblock wall with a stone veneer or a faux stone paint job and let vines grow all down it. You could even add cast stone tracery and grow ivy over the wall to fake castle walls or paint a mural :-) For safety I would keep the lampoles (sprayed hammer black metal ) or replace with lights on the stair walls to illuminate the steps. I would also spray the stair rail black and maybe add black shutters a classic red brick, white trim and black shutters. Then a couple black urns with bright flowers could flank entry steps. (Those Rustoleum textured metal spray paints work magic on cheap plastic pots as well as metal light fixtures) If you want a awning or a small gable over the front door add post to stair rails to support a metal roof. You have a nice house with intersting design challenges just clean and add some colorful plants while you plan any big structural changes to the wall.