Nice home. I'm impressed the two of you were able to do it yourselves.

I don't know much at all about landscaping, so I'm looking forward to those that do chiming in. Does your daughter want to create privacy from the road? In my development, some people have planted pine trees near the perimeter of their lot to shield/partially shield their home from the road. I envy this not only for the privacy, but living in Ohio, I would enjoy looking out at green trees year round instead of bare branches half the year.

If you say in what part of the country this home is located, folks familiar with the climate may be able to offer suggestions for the most suitable trees, shrubs, flowers, etc.

Really cute house. I second the pine trees if it is favorable growing conditions for them. My yard from total scratch evolved over the 8 years I have been here and maybe some of it not in a good way so I am not going to give much advice. I tend to over plant and make a mess of things.

I would make the house driveway more defined like the shop drive way is and a path to the front door. From there decide what you would want growing close to the house. I like to look out my windows at pretty things growing in the yard.

Congratulations on building this house just the two of you. Well done.

Wow, with that wonderful view, I would expand the front porch to be able to enjoy it fully! Maybe make it wrap around to incorporate the area with the double doors to the outside. I agree that without knowing what part of the country this is, it is difficult to recommend plantings.

That is a wonderful accomplishment and looks like you did a great job. Wishing you many years of happiness in your new home!

I'd love to see rows of pretty trees with flowers, if you're in the zone some cherry blossom trees are the best. I personally hate pine trees, but I live in Orlando so maybe our pine trees are different. If I could have a nice long drive either the flowering trees lining it to the house, or some nice ones with fall coloring leaves... Sorry we don't get much color down here :)

Such a cute house! It reminds me of my in-laws house. Always so warm and cozy inside too.

Thanks to all for comments and kind words.

My apologies for taking so long to reply; sometimes life gets in the way.

We live in northern Wisconsin, zone 4, maybe 50 miles to zone 3, so she is limited to some extent compared to more southern locales.

I REALLY like the idea about expanding the front porch...it would take a bit of effort (and money), but it is definitely something to think about!

She does have 10, 2' tall pines that will be going in this coming weekend if the weather doesn't turn too bad (our first snow is predicted for Saturday, weeks behind normal, but not complaining.

Also a few dwarf cherries currently in pots but ready to transplant.

Her soil is very heavy clay, great if you are into pottery, less so for planting things, so she will need to do some serious soil work to make the transplants thrive.

I have included a rough draft of the current pack leader for the front of the house. The fence would be decorative, possibly split-rail. The walk might be crushed gravel or possibly a board walk. Not concrete though.

And the porch columns need to be finished, of course. Probably something craftsman?

Garden ares would be raised beds since her soil is so bad.

Comments/suggestions/recommendations still absolutely welcome!!

Oberon476: This is not a reply to this post. Saw your reply to someone else's post 72 months ago - March 10, 2013. About superspacer versus Cardinal window seal system. That was a great discussion. Perhaps copy and paste it and then start it as a new post that you initiate? Any updates to your discussion from that post? I am in the same boat as others. Trying to decide between a local manufacturer or IG Units with superspacer and a provider that orders the IG Units from Cardinal in Oregon. I am much much more concerned about failure rates than a little more thermal leakage at the edges. Warranties offered only include the labour for the first or maybe 2nd year. After that, the sealed unit may be free but the labour is not. I would much rather never have a failure - avoiding the labour cost and potentially avoiding the cost of a new unit (if my supplier goes out of business or for some other reason the warranty on the part proves unavailable.).