All great comments. Lots of food for thought.

In general, my opinion is that the major beauty as you approach the house is that beautiful room and window that come forward toward the visitor and says "Welcome to my home".

The front walk does not require steps. Tear out the entire front walk and bring the guest in toward that front window and have your little welcoming area there and then to the front door.

The walk now looks like the red carpet that you rolled out the front door to the street. The visitor will want to run down the walk to the front door. When leaving, they want to run out to their car at the curb. There is no sense of welcome or pleasure to have arrived at your beautiful home, they are busy following the concrete pathway, not looking around.

When your guests leave, you want to sit with them briefly before they return to their car for the final farewells and thank you for coming.

You may want to plant some street trees, perhaps with some shrub plantings beneath, so the view from your front terrace, and from your front windows to the street is enhanced and personalized, as you reduce the views of the street and the homes beyond your walkway.

The same treatment would do well along your driveway, to separate your cars and service area from your entry and welcoming area.

In the morning, you will sit out there for your morning coffee with the morning paper, and perhaps a neighbor stops by. What a great spot - the outdoor room in the front yard, with that great window and room projection as a wall of your outdoor room. I love it. Enjoy.

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