Thank you for your thoughts. The large tree to the right of the walk, right up against the house is some sort of contorted pine. White pine maybe? It is right in front of a window, and could probably stand to be pruned, but I don't think my husband would go for removing it even though it does block the window. For some reason he really likes it. I like it, too, but I think the house could look so much better with it having a hard prune or removed altogether. On the right of that, there are three yews under the other window. They look terrible this year - I was just out pruning and they have lots of brown patches. Yews have never done much for me, so I probably will look at removing those, too, and I agree we need a master plan for doing this over the course of a couple of years vs trying to plan each section individually. Yes, the front entry is cave like! We are also looking to make some improvements there and are exploring the idea of lightening the paint in that area, along with trim and garage doors so the whole thing looks less dingy. I like the idea of lowering the shrubbery and adding brighter vegetation in an effort to make it less cavey. The mulch was something added last year, by the previous owner's mulch man. We have not been happy with the performance or looks. We were thinking to remove it and use a cedar mulch, but I do like the idea of a ground cover instead, so we will explore that, too. I like the idea of just a few taller plants around the light post, but am not opposed to getting rid of that post and eliminating that bed altogether. There is enough lighting on the house at night when we need it, that we don't need the lamp for nighttime lighting. This is the area to the left of the garage. The weigela need to go, and the flowering tree needs some pruning at the top to remove dead branches. Black-eyed Susans fill in at th base of the flowering tree. The yew to the left of the garage door can be removed. I probably should have mentioned this left side of the garage in my original post but didn't want to seem greedy for your time!! Our lot runs to the pine trees. The blacktop driveway you see is for the next house over - it's kind of close, but we have lots of privacy in the back and on the other side. The two tall pine trees in the center of the pic are coming out in June. There was a 3rd one in the forefront until a huge windstorm recently knocked it over. Those trees are in terrible shape and can't be saved. We had a lawn guy here last night who said that the patchy grass up against our driveway is actually golf course grass. It looks bad and very different front the adjoining neighbor's grass so we are going to replace that. Lawn guy said the easiest way to go is "solar radiation." ;) The pine trees gave us quite a bit of privacy but we are losing that. We can't put up a fence, but I'd love to find something else that would give us at least a little privacy screen on that side. This is another view of the side of the garage from last August, I think. Love the hydrangea! At the back of the hydrangea is a small, no-so-private-anymore deck tucked in there. Thanks again for the ideas. I really appreciate it!

Hi Danielle, congrats on your new house! The kitchen's main challenge as I see it is a layout(say I'd be bothered by a very close position of the fridge next to the entrance, cooktop in the peninsula with eating space next to it) and lack of storage. It looks nice, at least on the pictures. I wouldn't do anything cosmetic, (including putting heavier countertops on older cabinets, or painting cabinets that from aestheticall point of view look fine and appropriate to the house..unless they're very worn and I can't see that, etc) until I'm in the house, maybe minimum half a year, studying how I want it to function, considering how layout can be changed(if you decide to go for it) and how it will impact the space as a whole. Changing the layout in 60's house..I don't know where the house is but here wouldn't be 20 K. Even with a small kitchen. Would be almost twice the cost. You touch walls, plumbing, electrical, you might need to abate asbestos, etc..drives the prices up, even if you keep the materials etc very reasonable. And it takes lot of careful planning, thought put into it, weighting pros and cons, your own preferences (say I'd be tempted to enclose the kitchen some, or move it a bit, to create the better sense of entrance, and increase storage..maybe I'd shorten it on the entrance door side, but encroach more toward the hallway so to say...I'd consider whether a pantry can be put in, or free-standing hutch would work better on the opposite side..I would give up seating there..and hundred other things) You will know all that better when living in the house. What bothers you the most, what bothers you the least..what are you ready to sacrifice and what you plan to gain. I'm waiting with interest to read other responses-there are some very talented people here, with better eye for layouts and spatial thinking than me..they might have great suggestions for you to consider. If you can upload even a simple plan with dimensions, that would be helpful too. If you want to paint meanwhile-your preferences will work nice with the kitchen as is. So you'll already feel more at home while thinking about bigger picture of a remodel.

went to a color consultant today at our local preferred benjamin moore. basically came away saying beige. she liked the last one we arrived at as well with the new garage door and gray, said it works because it blends with the roof color well. she also mentioned that removing some of the front landscaping and the front tree might help the house from "disappearing" with all that gray. partner isn't onboard with the gray though.

I need to start learning diy! With a 15 month old and full time job it’s challenging but I’m sure super doable if i stop making excuses! He has agreed to move the curtain up and tv down so that’s a start!!! (Not sure when we’ll get this done but hopefully soon) I still don’t have decor ideas. I got rid of all the other decor we were dragging from place to place and just want to start fresh. I want modern farmhouse but coastal if that makes sense. Someone said our house looks boho style as is? Which i wasn’t going for. I like those side tables since we clearly need some in the living room those would probably be our best bet. I think we need a different/bigger rug? And maybe change the tv stand?