"we are ... trying to at least get the front of the house looking good." If that's true, then those things that make the house not look good must be changed. Making the lilac and weigela part of the permanent plan seem to be a contradiction to the overall goal. If the quality of "being inviting" is part of the goal of "looking good" one must extend a visual invitation to those who are at the street. Impeding this are many visual and physical obstructions to the house entrance area. Even if visual enticements were present, they could not be well seen. Tree limbs that shroud the entrance area should be removed. Shrubs that serve much as barricades should be removed. Shrubs that are too large for their positions will not serve well as visual enticements and should be removed. Plants that create disharmony should be removed. All of these things must be dealt with before attempting to rebuild.

YES! Limbing up is exactly what I'm looking for. We're having some horribly expensive brickwork done next summer and the house will be looking even spiffier (blew our minimal budget on leveling the foundation this summer), but even with the somewhat wonky brickwork it's still a pretty house and deserves to be seen from the road. After taking down the chainlink I was so happy when we pulled into the driveway and saw the front of the house. I didn't realize how much that fence was detracting from the curb appeal. I also remembered the little brick ledges on the house under the windows. I think they're intended for flower pots, at least that's what my neighbor uses hers for. I will definitely be doing that. Question: almost all houses in my neighborhood only have rectangular flower beds in front. I figured it was an era thing. Should I still go for a lima bean shape? I'm going to drive with my friend through similar-era neighborhoods in Houston and take pictures of front gardens for inspiration. (I live on the east side near U of H, but the Heights, River Oaks, Eastwood, West University and other (much more upscale) neighborhoods were all built with brick bungalows in the 1930s.) Thanks to all of you all for your advice! You've def got the ball rolling in my head.

I would think chickens would peck at and eat some of the things you're growing in the GH. I grew up on a farm and for several years, when I was a little tike, we raised chickens and sold eggs. We would throw all of our scraps to either the dog or the chickens including vegetable waste. They ate it all. I'd like some chickens but all I'd be doing here is feeding the coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions. Two years ago a lion killed a calf elk about 75 yards from the house. Mark

Here's the linen color headboard and variations on a theme :) I switched over to a damask on the valance, tried the light curtains around the inner windows and on the outside of the nook (like the height better in virtual), tried dark panels around the bed, and! dark panels around the bed, lights around the windows and also framing the nook. Sheers are over the windows and the simplicity is soft and perfect (can put inexp rollers behind them for nightime privacy). Doesn't take away from the bed at all :) (I hope you don't have dust allergies with all this fabric!) #1 Linen colored headboard, silver sage all ceilings, wood floors. New silver finish ceiling fan from RH. #2 Linen colored headboard, silver sage all ceilings, wood floors. Damask on headboard valance. New chandy from RH. #3 Darker panels around the bed, with green in them -- offset with a lighter color in the bay. #4 Darker panels around the bed, with green in them -- offset with a lighter color in the bay. Closed. #5 Darker panels around the bed -- offset with a lighter color in the bay. Closed, grayer panels. #6 Darker panels around the bed, with green in them -- offset with a lighter color in the bay. Closed, darker panels. #7 Light curtains around side bay windows, dark panels around the center window. #8 Light curtains around side bay windows, dark panels around the center window, and light panels framing bay. Wall color lighter and more silver sage.