years ago I lived in San Mateo Ca..I hated the lack of "green"..when I visited family in Indianapolis it was so leafy and green..I wouldn't touch those trees..I don't care for "lollipop" and "broccoli" trees..I do like clean lines and modern homes and gardens..but I personally would hate a yard full of rock..others here can give you better advice about plants in your area..my neighbors recently added rock to a sideyard and all across the back where their property meets mine..NONE of the neighbors like it..pic 3 is my yard..a woodland..peaceful and shady..I made this comment to try to prevent a tree trimmer from butchering your trees..good luck with your landscape..love your house..

Take out those trees. I'd seriously consider a Palm Springs-like drought-resistant landscape. You don't have to do it all at once to keep the costs in check, but do a phased in approach. Your home just screams for this kind of treatment and I think it would look fab in your So Cal locale. Signed, your NorCal designer pal. :-)

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Not a pro. I am, however, a tree-hugging environmentalist. As such, my vote would be as follows: Leave the trees as they are, but go for drought-resistant with the rest.

I'm not a pro..but I would miss those trees..the pro's photos are attractive but look like commercial spaces to me..if you spend any time outside I'd rather be at my house enjoying the shade of my trees..

Thanks!

@nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis, funny. I have been spending hours each day fantasy home shopping in places that have lots of TREES. I adore trees; my dream is to live in a forest, yet here I am still living in desert-dry SoCal after all these years. So...yeah. No need to worry about our tree trimmer, though. He is a botanist-arborist and fantastic (we just let the trees go during the year of remodeling).

@Sabrina Alfin Interiors, thanks pal! :) I hear you, I do! We live in a neighborhood of many modern-style homes, where the P.S. look is quite popular (partly because our city required all new building to have drought-tolerant landscape starting 20 years ago). I just crave a bit more softness, though. I guess I could do some soft, leafy things in pots?

Or, maybe something like this?

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Mittens Cat..sharing some pics from my forest..I don't like winter (you're lucky!)..but I love my setting with owls, eagles and foxes..last thought..I'd get some tropicals if I were you..

OK @nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis, you know you're killing me. We do have coyotes, rabbits and raccoons but not FOXES. I'm sure you've heard of our drought conditions out here, though, so it's very unlikely we'll ever go "tropical" without moving far, far away!

p.s. you mention San Mateo having a lack of green? Bay Area is way more green as here. Granted, we have a lot of blue (ocean) where I'm at, which is nice.

The objective is usually to create a clear and obvious path to your front door and make your front door the focal point of your yard.

Would use a parallel row of pavers -- tops ground level -- a couple feet apart to create a planting area along the right side of your property line.

You have a sidewalk from your driveway to your front stoop. Continue that path with pavers over to your planting area on the right of your property line. Then turn that paver path toward the front sidewalk by the road. At the end of the paver path by the sidewalk, add a post on each side with a solar light atop it -- with or without a gate.

From the left post plant a row of shrubs that look attractive year round alongside the front sidewalk ) alongside the road) all the way from the post to your driveway and then alongside your driveway to your sidewalk. You've now encircled your new front yard patio.

(You might be able to move shrubs you now have alongside your current sidewalk between driveway and front porch to outline and provide privacy for your new front yard patio -- or choose a different shrub: Aucuba bushes keep their leaves and look good year round -- would they grow in your planting zone.

Would definitely keep the tall shade trees but, aside from the plants in your planter (if you keep it) and any potted plants, would move ALL the rest of the plants and shrubs now in your front yard patio space to the back or side yard so you have a clean slate to begin placing pavers .

Protect your tree roots as you place your pavers for your patio.

No such thing as too many squirrels!!! :-D

Keep the trees.

I think you should have the trees pruned by an arborist. There is no need to remove them.

I am more bothered by the hedge that hides the walk to the house. I also do not like the taller shrub in front of the planter.

I made a very rough image of the house better exposed.

I think you should add trailing plants to fill in.

Keep the trees. Shade is a PREMIUM. Drought resistant for the rest makes the most sense as far as maintenance and success over time.

I like the trees! You have two chairs on your front porch, but your view is completely blocked by that shrub. Remove that shrub. So now what are you looking at? Do you want to keep that view, or would it be more relaxing to put up a privacy fence and have nice landscaping to look at? Will you actually sit out there, or just pass through the space?

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I vote to keep trees

I’m with the tree keepers but they need to be pruned to a more natural form. Like any of these for inspiration?