Hello! Where are you located and can you add a code to connect your post to the garden/landscape category? (I don't know how, or I would tell you.)

Hi! I'm Illinois and my first post was in the "garden" category and also had a tag for "entry" but only received comments from 2 people, so I thought perhaps those tags limited the exposure.

I see. Is the big tree to the left still there? I'll give this some thought tonight and try to bring is some folks I've see bring in great ideas.

Thanks tqtqtnb! Yes, the big tree in the left foreground is still there. :-) I'm just standing farther away in the picture with the big bushes, so you see the whole yard from the curb in that shot.

Yes! Distressing the red brick would remove the odd distraction and let the eye focus on the whole house.

A curved awning for your door.

Thanks for the thoughts on distressing the brick chimney and for the pictures giving an idea of how that could change overall appearance!

Thanks too for the possible idea of adding an awning to the mix! Based on budget and other projects that would likely be down the road; but is an interesting design and function idea to consider.

Will be putting in a french drain this spring to help with water issue. Not sexy but necessary. Will be working on front door this summer to stop open path of frigid winter air around its perimeter. Will consider color at that time, as it will be stripped. Chimney getting some efficiency and safety attention too. Again, not sexy but necessary. Old houses have long lists. :-)

Thanks!! Grateful for your eye and ideas!!

Looking at Beverly’s photos, I think I like something like the second one, where the brick over the door and windows is what appears to be white washed.

The bottom 2/3 of chimney is not painted. Those sections are covered in stucco. So, the white-wash effect would only be done where red is visible now. At this juncture, with many other “to-do” items on the list, I would not want to take on removing the stucco. According to previous owners and neighbors, house got fresh stucco layer within last 5-8 years.

I wouldn't remove the stucco and agree on the whitewash you like. Plus, that is more cost effective. You just want to reduce the contrast on the red brick.

I am not good on landscaping ideas myself but I just wanted to say your home is adorable and already feels very inviting - love your bright & cheery door! I do agree white washing the red brick will really tie it in better, rather than be acting as a competing focal point.

Agree that shade of yellow is not the most attractive.....if you want to stay with yellows, try a deeper tone...more mustard, please! Whitewash the top of chimney definitely. Some coppery or bronze planters with an occasional pop of a yellow flower will help tie the door into the overall visual. Darling cottage!!

Thank you for the kind remarks about my home! I'm glad you find it cheery, welcoming and darling. I do too!! :-) It was love at first sight! <3 Thanks too for the various suggestions on the door, brick and an awning over the door.

I was out front measuring today and looking at pics the prior owner had posted when they were selling the home, trying to decide on height and scale for planters on either side of the door. Do you think the top of the planters should be at the bottom of the glass or at the top of the square insert design in the wood panel below the glass?

I like the feng shui idea of having balance at my entrance with both sides being the same...that being said, I also like asymmetry in other places in my home. Last fall my neighbor brought over her tall iron planter and I had an old concrete urn that we used to stage my front door. She had hosted an autumn party and had lots of decorations in her back yard. Since nobody was enjoying them there after the party, she brought them to my front yard. So kind! It looked pretty! Since I only have the one light fixture and it is on the one side, I could consider not having both sides match. Although...I really think matching is my preference.

Hi. Cute house. Are the black metal things under your windows window boxes? If yes your house would look fantastic with planted window boxes under your windows.

Yes!! They are window boxes!! Last fall was the first time they were exposed! In the autumn I dressed them with mums and pumpkins and in the winter with they were filled with varied greens, pinecones and a bit of red. Looking forward to summer blooms! The other day a robin was picking from the liner for nesting material. :-)

BeverlyFLADeziner, thanks for your inspiration pics of other cottages and the idea to whitewash the brick on my chimney. That idea had never even entered my mind. Exploring and connecting on Houzz is sure helpful for opening the doors to new thinking! :-) Thanks everyone else for your thoughts too on planters and door colors.

Gotta crash soon...so tired...but was just looking at some dark planters. What do you think of any of these? They would all come 1-4 inches under the bottom of the glass in the door. It's about 30" to the glass in the door. The last one is actually the tallest. It's hard to tell in pics, which is why I like when they're either in doorways or next to other things for reference. I've started scoping out houses as I drive around, checking size and scale of various planters. Of course there's a wide range! Some seem too big and some seem too small...the elusive "just right" is tricky. :-)

Would also love ideas for new light fixture using the same spot where the current light sits to the upper right of the door. I'm thinking something that perhaps hangs down toward the door and mailbox. So many pretty options!

tqtqtbw, I love the tall copper planters you suggested with the black ring! I worry a little that the taller of the two is too tall, and that perhaps with their narrow scale they will easily blow over on our windy days. Sometimes the wind would topple the small trees I had on either side of the door this winter season.

Hi I also live in Illinois. Can I ask what direction your house faces. That will determine also what goes in your pots.

Hello Yellow Door. I too live in IL and your house is adorable as it is, however, I can see the further potential in it. It sounds like you want to keep it charming and not too formal. First, your front door is adorable. If you love the yellow, keep it and punctuate your landscaping with yellow and bright green plantings, like Sombrero Yellow Coneflower and Award Winning Hosta Collection (both from Spring Hill Nursery which we always used in our Zone 5 gardens and found them extremely helpful and reliable). You can also use different varieties of Hydrangeas to keep with the romantic feel of your cottage without getting too formal. Lavender punctuating the walkway from the driveway in the summer is a sweet way to welcome your guests and you can space it out to begin with, and add more as the years go on. In between the lavender you can plant tulips and crocus for springtime blooms. Russian sage with roses in the garden will keep that flow-y romantic feel. Add a bird bath in there for the birds to enjoy the flowers and frolic.

As for the light fixture, the current location is off-center and should really be over the door, or off to the side, symmetrically located with the mailbox and address plaque (btw, you can coordinate to have the light fixture, mailbox and address plaque all the same finish - I'm thinking copper to go with the red brick). But keep the location in mind if you do plan on adding an awning in the future. There are vintage light fixtures that you can pick up and have re-wired (if needed) at flea markets (Kane County Flea Market is good for antiques if you're in the area) or estate sales/demo sales. A gas lamp fixture would be darling!! There are artificial gas lamp fixtures too! For a coach light on the side of the door see: https://www.lampsplus.com/products/emelita-15-and-one-half-inch-high-bronze-box-outdoor-wall-light__34n18.html  OR this one... https://www.lampsplus.com/products/minka-irvington-manor-16-and-three-quarter-inch-high-bronze-outdoor-wall-light__2n103.html https://www.lightingdirect.com/quoizel-ccr8410-chancellor-3-light-23-1-2-high-outdoor-wall-sconce-with-clear-glass-shade/p2243330 (not sure I'm linking these correctly). Personally I would do one over the door like this: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&ccid=XhU25bLK&id=BD106AFD0388135FAE5A7F510E65D8F2BCF8918D&thid=OIP.XhU25bLK0F5pOuTIJVoAMAHaFb&mediaurl=http%3a%2f%2fcarolinalanterns.com%2fimages%2fcontent_28.jpg&exph=1125&expw=1536&q=vintage+over+door+light+fixtures&simid=608045913953009723&selectedIndex=33&ajaxhist=0

Now to your planters... depending on your overall landscaping plan (how big your plants by your front stoop will be, will they be evergreens or perennials, annuals etc) depends on the scale and weight of your planters. Example, if you have a tree or bush that will grow into your walkway space you don't want to get a large or oversized planter. You also want to leave space for your guests to stand if you do get a canopy. I would suggest going to HomeGoods or Hobby Lobby and look at their lawn decor. I have found some adorable Wire planters that match your window boxes and you can line them with cocoa liners for texture and an informal look and swap out seasonal plantings to coordinate with your window boxes. You also have the wrought iron furniture, I would just go with that and keep it light and charming. Do a trellis with purple morning glory behind your bistro set to keep the colors popping and let it climb up the chimney. Speaking of the chimney, if you're going to paint it, you may want to paint the horizontal red brick grey like the shutters to keep the eye moving. Agree the top portion should be painted white like the rest of the chimney. If you do change the front door or shutters color, consider a bold blue as in: [https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-blue-door-traditional-landscape-bridgeport-phvw-vp~770733[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-blue-door-traditional-landscape-bridgeport-phvw-vp~770733) - This blue with copper accents is just stunning!!

If you're needing higher scale, you can always add a shepherd's hook to side or behind planters...

You can use this 'cart' to change out seasonal decor and make as high or low a setting as you like...

Good luck and keep us posted! :)

The front door faces west

I've included some planter links below, they're not quite as traditional as those suggested below but I think they will compliment your design without being too austere or modern.

https://www.urbilis.com/athena-floor-and-table-planter/ - love the gloss cobalt to play up your interior colors and contrast against the yellow door.

https://www.urbilis.com/daniel-tall-planter/ - neutral in tone, the texture adds interest and you can vary the sizes. The black finish would add some additional contrast

https://www.urbilis.com/search.php?search_query_adv=fairfield&section=product - the most traditional of my three suggestions and easy compliment the home's style.

Wow!!! Thanks so much rini6401!! I am so grateful for many ideas and positive thoughts regarding my house!!! You touched on all my questions and the links and pictures are awesome!!! I did a quick look at the links when I just got home after evening meeting and look forward to really looking at all the details and specs for different options tomorrow. I so appreciate you!

Thank you Urbillis!! I greatly appreciate and the links to the various planters you suggested! Thanks so much for helping me strike a balance of unique with the style of my home. Thanks too for giving me some different ideas to consider. That blue or even deeper was the type of blue I was thinking if I didn't go with a dark charcoal, vintage stone, iron, or copper/metal of some sort. Thank you!

A few of you have suggested moving the light fixture over the center of the door away from it's current spot to the right of the door. I'm nervous about doing that because I worry I wouldn't be able to patch and match the stucco to cover the hole where the current light fixture is attached. Suggestions?

While rini6401 admitted a first preference of having a centered fixture over the door, she also shared a few great links with ideas for a larger light fixture that could perhaps replace the current fixture in the same spot, while visually pulling the eye lower toward the mailbox area. I'm leaning toward that type of plan.

And rini6401, I do know all about Kane County Flea Market!! I've gone on many vintage hunting excursions there throughout my life. I started going there as a young girl with my mom...who loved hunting for old stuff!

Glad to help! :) Sounds like you may be in my neck of the woods locally. Don't be too concerned with relocating the light fixture. There are ways around not being able to match paint (ie: add a climbing vine; hang another decor element/plaque etc; paint a faux 'trim' in contrasting color all-together around entire door...) lots of little 'creative' tricks. But a good painter should be able to match the stucco technique. If you need one, I have an excellent guy.

In my opinion, most houses have light fixtures that are way too small for the homes. Usually that's just budget driven and that's understandable, but the right size light fixture can make such a huge difference and impact, it's one of the first things I look at when 'fixing' a home.

That's awesome that you like KCFM!!! Great fun there!

The bush by the door has to go too.

Agree, too intrusive to the entry. Although I think she mentioned in her initial post that it only stayed to have something there over the winter but will be relocated.

Thank you for the ideas for lighting by my door. While I can appreciate a single light over my door might be the "best" solution, I will likely keep my light off-set to the right and simply update the fixture. As I consider the many projects on my house lists, at this point I would rather not pay an electrician, a painter and possibly other professionals to create a new hole, wire the spot, patch the old hole and repaint. While it's "small", I have many other "small" and large projects and I'd rather be efficient with the budget so that I can check some other things off the list as well.