The "party" concept and "perennials" don't mix, in my view. It may be that I don't understand your commission, and/or maybe you might need to clarify it yourself. For example, does he want to impress folks that he has permanent perennial borders like something he's seen in magazine photos? That would be a major landscape job itself, and would be highly unlikely to come together in great form and bloom a month after planting. Getting shade perennials to look "festive" is even harder, as typically they are more reserved or bloom for short period. So, I would go there only if you are ready for a big job AND he mostly wants to re-design his garden and is not really so focused on the graduation thing. On the other hand, if it's really for the celebration, party, and such, the annuals thing are the sure deal for color, pretty, festive and all thatif you choose things for your region. Does he just have a kind of vague idea that perennials are cool? YOu may have to educate him about what plants do and do not do on demand/command. That said, it is still possible to include some things other than annuals as part of a plan for drama or form such as to dress up a deck or patio--some tallish evergreens in containers, or something. You should come up with a plan that seems likely to work, and offer it, or bail out. Let them express some color preferences. Then be sure they agree with the plan and are not going to say later, but I thought we said you would use.....

I don't think the table will work. It sits in a traffic lane. In the overhead rendering, it seems to make going around the island or going out the sliding doors a chore. Mopping may require divine intervention. The other rendering is (ahem) a bit distorted. Could you live with a table height island? Add a foot or so to the island width, but have the entire island on legs instead of on cabinets. It could be moved. Alternately, the person who wants the chairs, could they live with counter height chairs and you use a counterheight table as an island? Last alternate - use one of those flip open tables normally flipped closed and parked against the back of the island. If you need more seating or table space, flip it open and move it out from the island. Otherwise, it would be a nice perching spot.

Thanks! I am starting to think the same thing. Put in a double French door with sidelights centered on the wall and get rid of those windows over the radiators. Wide folding doors were my original vision but cost and radiators made me revise that.

I would take the shutters off. They are part of a style, but IMO they don't really work well on your house. My top choice of things to do would be to add a front porch where the front door is. I would also do some bright landscaping near the house to disguise the fact that the windows (oddly) don't line up. It would be good to have at least one big tree in the front lawn. They look to be a hallmark of the neighborhood. Mature trees help with house value. If it were me, I'd do a cream siding with maybe black detailing at the windows.