Thanks again everyone... I have done a scale drawing of the front yard and mapped the existing plantings. I'm definitely a planner. I actually did a scale drawing of the front yard, driveway and house (bird's eye view) and then did a larger scale drawing of the existing front bed. It doesn't look like much and is a little hard to see in this scanned image, but I put a good bit of time into it. I spent a lot of time with my tape measure, pencil and eraser! 1 square = 5 ft I have read (cover to cover)the Southern Living Landscape Book, Southeast Home Landscaping from the Creative Homeowner Series and The Complete Idiots Guide to Landscaping (did I just admit that?). I have the Better Homes and Gardens Landscape and Deck Designer software, but it is not user friendly enough for me and I have all but given up on that. Pencil and paper seem to be quicker and easier for me to work with. I also played around with the standard Windows paint program and the photo of the house from the curb. I wanted to get an idea of how the symmetrical beds would sort of look. Here is what I came up with I know I need different heights, etc. in the beds. I think the symmetrically placed beds make a big difference. Thanks again for pointing that out. I know it seems obvious, but when you've been living with something for a while it can be tough to see the obvious. I will try your "3x3 block here, low and spreading here" approach. Maybe that is my hang-up. I keep trying to figure out what plants should go where and I need to think first in terms of size, height, etc. The hostas and sedum we put in were ones that I bought last year in a moment of weakness and needed to get out of their pots. I think they'll look nice where they are for now and I told my husband that they are temporary in that location. We are definitely getting estimates on having the walk re-done. I think broad deep steps that curve farther out toward the driveway would be nice and I had already thought that incorporating bricks would tie in nicely with the house. We need to have a new driveway installed, so that would probably be done at the same time. My husband and I already had the "hardscape comes first" discussion. I agree that it will make a significant difference. Not to mention the fact that I would prefer to plant once and not move things if I can avoid it. Have I mentioned the roots in our front yard? The 40 foot pine tree we removed had such a massive root system. I have talked to a designer in our area to get an idea of how she works and we also have a landscaper in the neighborhood that we will get estimates from on the walk and possibly the front yard layout. I wanted to try to do it myself first. If I don't feel confident enough with whatever I come up with, we will hire the designer to draft a plan that we can implement over time. Gottagarden, I linked that retaining retaining in my favorites the other day after seeing it on another post. I saw several walls on that site that I like. My husband and I have been talking about doing exactly what you say. The expense of that would be the only drawback for us. The drawing I did in Paint doesn't show it well, but that is what I had in mind when I did that drawing. Thanks again everyone. I really value your input.

Thanks Yardvaark. The original pic at top of thread was in mid construction so of course it was not welcoming -- very ugly it was (or perhaps you were referring to the original house with white siding that had overgrown burning bush that obscured the circle pavers). Either way the result is an improvement for sure. I am very glad we decided from the good advice on this thread not to do plantings around the circle entry courtyard as I like how open it is now with just a garden around the birch (future garden that is). emmarene, We are definitely still doing the glass railing around the deck over the garage. We just have not got that done yet. That will really finish off the outside.

I wonder how many won't enter because of the US flag. People are nuts over such things today, and they would probably never say that it was an issue for them, but it might be. Work with the color of the drive and the cobblestones out front. Stain the brick charcoal, paint the shingles lighter gray and then pick up white for the trim and windows. Landscaping is a big issue for me, especially around the pool. Remove the tired pool furniture, umbrella and awnings. Buy some replacements now while the end of season sales are on. Hydrangeas are a typical Nantucket bloom but it is too late for them this year. You can put some out for spring though. Hopefully, you won't be there to see them bloom.

"Is hiring a landscape designer worth it?" Yes and no. There's got to be a certain level of landscape expenditure that a plan directs, or it's not going to be worth it. Your yard is small. Do you plan on DIYing the work, or paying someone to install it? How much $ is planned for making improvements? If you're going to spend only a few hundred dollars on plants, it's not likely going to be worth it to spend 2 or 3-hundred dollars on a planting plan. If DIY, I'd milk this thread and possibly other forums for what you can get out of them, wade through the advice, and put it together to the best of your ability. You can get advice on making the plan as well as advice on landscape design itself. If you're going to hire out the installation, whoever installs the plants can possibly do the design work for you as part of the installation fee. Insofar as what to do in the yard, I'd begin with an improved walkway system. It can make a huge difference in a small yard like this. It should start with a landing that is the full width of the stoop. The other suggestions that follow are about general shapes, sizes and layout. Not about specific colors or plants. (The small tree at foreground would be made from a large shrub.) What's up with what look to be 2 new trees that are only 3 or 4 feet apart, at the left side? It seems like one must go away. The tree immediately left of the front door must definitely go away as it's far too close to the house.