Iesp, to truly work out all the issues in front of you .... you must have a base plan. We've been dealing with aspects of the problem not knowing EXACTLY where the parking, driveway and obstructions along the way, are, if any. We don't know the exact elevation difference (to the inch) from the front porch deck to a fixed, relevant point near the parking destination. One could make estimated guesses about what could be done, but they could be wrong because, at this point, the base information is vague. I feel quite certain, though, that the solution to a pleasant walk from the parking area to house is going to involve regrading with some specific goals in mind. Presently, the steps are concentrated at two areas: the porch and at the bank. The steps at the porch seem reasonably acceptable. But the steps at the bank are too many to create a pleasant experience. Ideally, you'd want to have banks of few steps (usually 2-4) separated by runs of a few feet. The runs, instead of being perfectly level, would be "slopes" so that they're also instrumental in lowering the elevation as the walk travels on toward the lower destination. It is the combination of steps and sloped walk that allows one to have the overall best walk experience ... not too far ... not too steep ... no wasted energy. (I put "slopes" in quote marks because they cannot be perceived as slopes. They must be subtle enough that they pose no danger or difficulty. Yet they must be doing some grade change work.) We haven't seen the porch yet. For the sake of argument I'm going to guess there are 4 steps there. At the bank there are six legitimate steps. With a total of ten steps and a total drop of 11' (averaging the estimate) .... it's a hugely unpleasant walk!! I would consider seeing if the parking area can be raised a bit. Every amount that the overall 11' elevation difference can be shrunk helps a lot. It's a lot easier to step on a gas pedal and get the car to do the work, than it is to get out and hoof up a bigger hill. It wouldn't make sense to lower the elevation near the house/porch/steps. But it would make sense to begin reducing it earlier than it presently begins (at the bank). I don't think there is a reason you must keep all of the plateau that the house rests on. If you walked a few feet from the porch and then stepped down 18" and kept repeating this scenario, the overall walk would be much friendlier. You could pull this off with an elevation drop of, for example, 2.5' for 10' or so of run. Since the overall run looks to be easily greater than 40', it should be no problem to get from the porch to the parking in a very pleasant way. BTW, an 8" step riser is HUGE. You'd want it to be more like 6". Bouncing back to a covering-over-the-porch issue, without a MAJOR architectural remodel I don't see a permanent porch roof as a possibility. But it might be possible to have an independent awning, not attached to the roof in any way, that covered the porch as an independent "roof." Two forms I could see exploring are the pyramid and shed roof shape. It would be something one would have custom made by an awning manufacturer. Since they may have already dealt with your exact problem, I would contact a local outfit and inquire if they have solutions already in mind that would work for you. It won't be seen from the back side so the fact that it wouldn't be architecturally kosher from that view wouldn't matter.

Hello! I’m submitting some inspiration pics to show you the shades of soft wood which would look great in your home! It’s a hard choice choosing between the table and the bench, I think a wooden bench would add more to the effect of rustic and help take the whole place away from the so formal structure it has, but then your entry does have that great art lighting fixture to highlight a piece really nice above a table. With a high gloss paint white on the doors, it could offer your home that nice shine look we all strive for, if your keeping them white. You have the setup for a nice piece of art with the light but I think a small gallery wall would look better, black frame, matted, black and white photo.

I'd consider landscape architects who are especially interested in the hard-scape aspects of design. In a city neighborhood near me, there's a small house and yard that handled the issue beautifully. The walk from the street divides. Straight ahead, the walk continues level to a couple of steps up to a porch that is perhaps 8 feet deep. The path to the right curves through the plantings. The ground has been sloped so that it is at the same level as the porch at the right end of the porch. When I first saw it, I was more interested in the porch roof and plantings. It took a moment to realize that the path was for accessibility.

Thank you for your comments! The house is painted brick. And I live in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. I love perennial gardens and would have no problem doing the whole front and back yards...I will remove the bushes at the front of the house and get the trees trimmed to start. I am thinking wider steps myself as well.