[...] much better than the current look, don’t you think? Here’s a [...]

I just want to give you a little snippet of caution, the fern you are considering to plant… DON’T! When I was growing up we had a couple of those lining the walk up to the family house, and every single year that fern would sprout randomly in the lawn. It would grow so wildly and take over EVERYTHING! Yearly my mother and I would dig half way to China trying to pull that stupid thing out, and it would come back, EVEYTIME!

So unless you want that to be your personal gardening battle for the rest of your like, I would opt against it.

Britt

In addition to your great landscape ideas, stuccoing the top floor to match the bottom, and painting… This is a really big fantasy suggestion: the window in the peak is too large and heavy and takes the focal point. I would replace it with a small one that matches the cute craftsman one on the right of the door.

i LOVE your blog, your ideas and the inspiration you give here. Your mockup is totally cute. we have hanging baskets on the front of our home and i am thrilled each spring/summer when I get to fill them. They add a lovely touch to the home. I’m unsure on the pink’ish bush things in your mockup, did not notice what those were. I completely agree with you on the rhododendron. We tore ours out when we moved into our home (in CT). Oh, I now saw your other photo of the tall green evergreen things behind the pink’ish bush/plant; liking that. I do like boxwoods, we added quite a few of those on our front property when we re-did things. Unsure how your tree would do so close to the home, as they need room for the roots, more than I expected as I think they are beautiful, but feel it’s better to allow the tree to grow as it needs. I also like your first paint color selection. Hmm, looking @ all your photos in the mockup- i do like your last one, but think you could do either the hanging baskets or the plant boxes, you might have played around with that to see ‘em both already. I would not do the topiary things, we did those on either side of our stairway and we’re tearing them out this spring/summer. I HATE them. Have fun and looking forward to seeing what comes of this project. Don’t overdo it though with a wee one.

On the subject of refinishing your exterior — choose something really tough and long lasting. Be aware that some options (like a wood exterior) might require yearly maintenance. Vinyl siding, on the other hand, is considered by some people to be environmentally toxic. (Both in production, disposal, AND as a siding on your house.) I’m Canadian so my options for what I put on the outside of my house are more limited (because they have to be very hard wearing) but you’re a little freer in what you choose.

Definitely do a lot of research and look for the inside story on what works for your region!

Good Luck!!