Hi, Kari,

I think you'll be well served to hire a local architect to develop a couple of alternative concepts. That said, a couple of thoughts:

The existing approach to your home's entry isn't particularly welcoming. It reminds me of Dorothy and the gang in the Wizard of Oz walking down the corridor to the doors which lead to their audience with the Wizard of Oz. I suggest a garden gate or similar feature where the driveway meets the sidewalk to enhance a "sense or arrival." The gate can be capped with a small roof which echos the shape of whatever roof you add at the front entry of the home. You might also warm up the "corridor" with a pergola or similar feature between the two wings to give a sense of what the authors of Patterns of Home refer to as a "sheltering roof." And use landscaping as a tool to make the entire area more welcoming.

Good luck.

I completely agree with getting an architect. You need a profeessional to do it correctly. This could be beautiful!

For changes in your home’s structure, I agree you need the services of an architect.

The approach to your house looks complicated. Seems to me you need about half of those features/plantings. “Welcoming” is open, not enclosing barriers.

I think a good architect could design a very ncie foyer in the courtyard area and IMO an entry door should always be visible to guests yours is really hidden. so rework of that whole entry space would be a good idea. BTW if you want to have a foyer maybe post some pics of the interior where the entry door is.

Thank you for your thoughts. We’ve worked with three and come up mostly empty handed. Was hoping to get some ideas generated here.

And yes, we plan to redo the landscaping when we figure out a plan.

You just need a more creative team. I don’t know where you are but you need the right combo of landscape architect and designer/ architect to come up with a plan. You look like you’re in the SE?

I'm not a pro, but makes sense to me to ask if your vision is deep down quite different than the teams you've had? has that seemed possible... you are doing well to investigate different house styles near home, anywhere, and ask questions.

I'm not at all trying to slow your discussion - it would help if you share here what's in your ideabooks, and post photos...

Thoughts:

Remove the crepe myrtles....

Perhaps consider shifting the gate entrance & changing the pathway to make it curvier....I added a dwarf Japanese maple for year -round color and interest in the front.

Jean, what a great idea! The brick wall used to be full height and had an archway. We just took it down halfway and it was much better, but this is a great idea! Thank you!

If we did that, we would have more room on the right side of the courtyard for a seating area.

Everdebz, inspiration has been limited, but here is one I keep coming back to over and over. We have plenty of brick to make it blend into the existing structure.

We had this drawing done, but the windows at the top turned me off. I think I’d like to combine all three of these designs?

I have an idea book call “courtyard sketch” but I can’t get the image to load here.

Also, Patricia the existing foyer is tiny. You open the front door into a 4 foot wide hallway that has been extended approximately 18 inches deep to form the “foyer”.

Inside foyer pics

Figured out a way to pull the sketch into this thread for convenience. Apologies about the image quality.

A different front door (and color) makes a big difference. I was trying for the metal roof hue; didn't quite get there.

I do like that gray color! Once we get a new roof gray would be perfect.

Our biggest functional issue is that we have no space in the foyer and no ability to move interior walls to accommodate such. We will have to do some exterior construction to get a foyer.

I would look into doing a larger Hollywood Regency style portico over the front door.

Attempting the sun-room kind of foyer per the drawing above.

You have a very shallow dutch gable hipped roof. So I think you might want to try something with a bit of a mansard type or pyramidal form that is as high as the main roof, something a little imposing.

These are all highly exaggerated because they are John Elgin Woolf, but something in this spirit that really helps signify the entry could work

That’s a new idea, palimpsest!

Jean, it’s hard not to imagine moving the opening in the wall to align with the door!

Thank you.

Quite welcome