Is this an area that you will be entertaining in? If it's just passing through to the front door, or just a stop to enjoy the fountain, I would do a just a bench.

I have never seen a table and umbrella and a "room" of outdoor seating in a front yard.

Is this what they do where you are?

Beautiful home, BTW.

I envision two topiaries, round tops, on either side of the window on the terrace, then a couple of stone benches or substantial contemporary wood with metal backs benches. Then stone planters, shaped like window boxes, on the front edge of the terrace with reds, blues, and white flowers, some spilling down the sides.

lovely property!

If it's a space where you enjoy sitting, then I'd look for some comfy furniture, maybe with a little more visual weight, as the iron looks a little wimpy next to your beautiful home. Check out this furniture another poster just selected for her space - go to the end of the post to see it. I think the softness of the upholstered pieces and faux wicker would be nice for your area. Patio redo thread

Your plantings look very nice, too, and the fountain looks good, but honestly, I would lose the flagstone edging. I don't think it really adds to the beds standing on edge like that (maybe laid flat?) and will probably be difficult to trim because the grass will grow up between them.

If you don't actually USE the space, then I might think about moving the fountain into that space and adding some quite large pots with flowers to add some color.

Lovely and very welcoming home. I do see what you mean though. Not knowing what area you live to me, the front patio area seems hot. Short of putting in a pergola I think you could cool it down by planting creeping fig or Asian jasmine on the wall around your center arched window. I would also move your concrete bench to the garage widow closer to the fountain to cluster your statuary. I might suggest moving your large flower pots to each side of your front door in front of the side lights. (They should be the same color and size). Are you opposed to painting your porch and patio area? I think it would amp it up to darken those areas in a brown or dark grey. BTW you posted some lovely pics. Great space.

What great advice! You all actually hit on each and every complaint we've had about the space, the biggest being that it's HOT, HOT, HOT! I can't wait to start making changes! Thank you!

As suggested above, I would start by removing the bench and placing two pots or urns in front of the sidelights. The stone edging doesn't really complement the style of the house, so I would remove them as well. I think a boxwood hedge would bring a bit of formality to the patio and serve to finish off the area.

Right now the space need some height and some visual weight. How about a pergola over the big window or a free standing pergola on the patio?

You could put in a pergola (I suggest a wooden one) with either big planters at the four corners with vines growing in and up the sides of the pergola to cover or sailcloth to cover the pergola. But if you're not into that much work, get one of those big offset patio umbrellas. They need to be bolted in place and you can't leave them open on a windy day. Sooner or later your little tree (birch maybe?) will get bigger and shade the patio. And I agree, you've got the big pots, go for topiaries in them. Keep it simple. Or just alberta spruces that don't need to be pruned. Or any type of narrow evergreen that you like. I have a recliner in my front yard, I have a walled area in the front, kind of a courtyard like you, and I enjoy it. En lieu of a porch, why not. Nice place to sip your afternoon tea and keep track of the neighbors!

You could, if you wanted, construct a low brick wall in front of your patio to make it more like a real courtyard. Or a hedge of something small.

Yeah, I've always liked the idea of enclosing that area like a real courtyard. As far as all the stuff currently on the patio and porch I plan for ALL that to be gone unless by some crazy chance it works with the new furniture/decor, but no I don't plan to leave the bench where it is, etc. LOL

Well, for now, they sell big planters and you could put trellises in them for a screen and grow things on them. I did purple hyacinth bean vine one year, (it's annual) and butterflies loved them! They were pretty. However, big planters would be expensive, so if you want something permanent, either go for a hedge or wall. Hedge might be cheaper, I dunno, depends on how fast you want it to grow in. Hedge would take yearly maintenance.