Just saw this thread....my! what a difference! It just goes to show that a little paint can make a big change. The ornamental kale referred to above would be beautiful in your front planter....there is a version that is creamy white centers and grayed green leaves. That would look terrific. A nursery generally would sell the big versions (about 12" or more across), so it wouldn't take too many to make a statement. If the kale lasts long enough in your area, you could infill with some bright red oversized outdoor ornaments for the holidays! One more thing I think would be great is a brand spanking new American flag. Good work. You are right to be proud!

A mirror over the sideboard would look good, for sure. I like the round one you show, but wonder if it will be too busy and might take away from the sideboard, which is a work of art in itself. A round mirror would be a good choice though. As we discussed on your FR thread, the bird sculpture might be a better fit than the medallion pics. But, the medallion art is pretty.....would be nice to use it somewhere. What other choices might you have? Bedroom? A hallway anywhere? Sorry to take so long responding on this thread! I didn't get notifications of your two comments above - I just happened to be scrolling through Houzz out of boredom lol.

A few different things to consider! First, WHERE IS this house? this makes a lot of difference as to plantings; some of the plant suggestions are dependent on this like camellias that someone suggested and even rhododendrons that are area specific, though there azaleas of different varieties suitable for different climates. HOWEVER...we are not talking about a large area here! In fact it's rather small so relandscaping should not cost that much. Those bushes are really old and tired and cannot just be 'trimmed' since the branches are too fat by now and would look terrible when cut back. They served their purpose already! I gather funds available for now are limited so I'd guess the house Color must stay the same for now but using one of the paint company's plans to choose colors on line is excellent for planning ahead. They also have 'collections' preplanned and they are a great help. I like the general house color but think it could be lightened up some but must work with the prominent roof color as it does so well now. My next question is this: What happens INSIDE that door? Does it go into an entry way and if so, what color IS that area? IT is a good idea to coordinate the inside/outside colors. Most seem to like something in the red/orange hues but even going to the blues could be a good thing...a light blue or a light turquoise would work well with the house color...but it should stay light since the covered entry is dark. A light green would work too but I'd prefer the blue. OF course I already like the orange! I Can't tell what happens on either side of the house; is there any room? A driveway or lot line limiting what can be planted? IF not, a dwarf blue spruce on one end would bring some color to the front and give some needed height, or if staying with the orange/red idea, what about one of the Japanese maples that have red leaves some turning beautiful oranges in the fall? Someone mentioned hydrangeas which I love and have many of, but they go dormant in the winter and leave a 'hole'. Layering the planting is always a good idea too, using myrtle or pachysandra in front of shrubs is always good and a gentle way to graduate from the grass up to the bushes. There are many dwarf shrubs available rather than things that will outgrow the plan. Keep us informed! Good luck!

I hear ya. I don't mind baking, but it takes much more time and equipment than cooking. I hardly ever follow recipes for cooking. Everything I seem to want to try has some obscure spice that requires a trip to the Asian market or the back-woods mushroom hut for some weird oil. And if I ever bring home kale or chick-peas again, I think my husband will ban me from the kitchen! (He doesn't like either. I made the mistake of wanting to make hummus and kale chips, lol). I had to hide the last can of chick-peas in soup, lol. He's onto my "throw it together" tricks, he, he.