Cute! For starters, I'd say get rid of the tall skinny evergreen nearest the front porch that is blocking windows (at least) and the bushes by the stairs. I'd also remove the "set" of shutters at that front window! Do you have a picture of the house straight on-from the street?

Hi- Husband not too keen on cutting down a tree. For now we will have to work with it. Can't get everything I want! Here is a pic from street. Thanks for reply.

You might look into dwarf azaleas and/or hydrangeas as foundation plantings to enhance the long prospect of the house.

Thanks for the other picture so quick, audupnorth! IMO, the pointy evergreen and bushes are hiding your front porch. The examples deco posted are fabulous-Do you like them?? At this point I'd say paint the steps and porch white so they will show up better. Behr makes a product that is quite thick for painting concrete that has gotten good reviews.

If you want to keep the evergreen shrub to the left of the steps, you'll want to cut it away from the steps. The good news is that the shrub is a yew, and you can cut it back very severely, right to bare wood, and in a few months it will sprout back to cover the cut areas, and look just fine. This is the time of year to do it.

Cut back the square corners so it's rounded on the top, and looks more natural. And cut it away from the pathway so the pathway can be used. You'll be cutting right to bare stems, and it will look odd at first, but will fill right in.

I'd also cut the growing top (the top foot or so) off the tall shrub to the right of the porch. that will limit its height. If it gets taller it will be higher than the house, and look odd.

You have a charming cottage and you might want to concentrate on enhancing the cottage appearance, Modernizing this home would not be appropriate.

There is nothing sacred about those wrongly placed plants. Cut the evergreens & yews down.

Look at the difference taking the one evergreen out makes. Imagine the difference with the other one gone. They are too close to the house and past their prime.

Thanks for all the input. Love the pics and examples given. I agree with the he advice of taking trees down ! ( or for now, just trimming as it is just not my decision) I will work on that. The place has a lot of potential. Any suggestions on color of cushion for rocker and planters or a rug perhaps? Thanks again everyone. This site is so helpful. Have a great day.

A length of chain and a vehicle can take those bushes out in a heartbeat!

I'd suggest any cheerful color that you like for your cushions. And a rug would be your preference too. What styles do you like? This would go with a lot of different colors!

Orian Veranda Indoor/Outdoor Connect the Dots Area Rug, Multi, 5'2"x7'6" · More Info

Some rustic looking numbers:

Log House Number 3, Antique Copper · More Info

Clematis would be nice on the new porch post. I'd remove the shrub next to the steps.

Maybe keep the current wrought iron "post" and paint it white.