Would need to know what the flagstones are set in before even knowing that they can be kept and reused. Also need a better quality pictures of the flagstones. I highly doubt if pebbles between two slabs would be considered to be ADA compliant.

TY @maifleur03 . Ref. existing flagstones: I thought about reusing them (see "Why we need to rethink how we build homes"). Ref pics: sorry for the quality -aerial is taken from google, and close-up is from my phone files. I’ll update tomorrow. Ref ADA compliant: good point, thank you. I am improving the entrance with a future selling in mind.

From the picture I can not tell if they are natural flagstones or not. If natural flagstones set in concrete/cement it will be difficult to remove them without breaking unless the material surrounding them can be chipped away.

A suggestion if you are improving the entrance would be to move the entrance unless it is cost prohibitive. The walkway was probably installed because that was where people would cut across the lawn.

As long as you have one path on a public property that is ADA compliant I don’t think others need to be and I’m assuming this is private property so don’t think you need to be ADA compliant at all. Why do you wan the paths to match?

I think you've done a great thing adding this path - I like the shape that you used, and the step mid-way. I do not see a need to match the color to the concrete, the flagstone color looks great as is. Concrete color is fine, but the flagstone is rich and looks wonderful with the colors in the front yard. Maybe plant some low growers (e.g. creeping thyme, etc) on the sides that will creep up over the edge to soften it a bit, and give it more interest as you walk from car to house. I guess I don't even know whether you're in to gardening, but if you are then you have a great hard scape to make a visually beautiful area. Basically the hard work is done, and now you get to have fun.

Thank you all, @function_first, @lyfia, and @maifleur03. A bit of background: we bought the house 3 years ago. The location allowed us to enjoy and recuperate the back and side yards for wildlife habitat. However, things changed, and we are selling in about 6 months (Summer 2021), so now we must concentrate on beautifying the front for real estate photos (curb appeal).

The flagstone path was added by the prior owner. I think this additional path does not show well for the real estate photos, because of its shape, materials, and colors that contrast with the original concrete path. So, my dilemma is how to integrate both paths for a better front walkway?

<EDITED: I am trying to add the photos, but they are not loading onto the original body, nor on the icons for the poll.>

The original two photos (all I can see at this time) aren't great but suggest to me that you just need to soften path (a), perhaps with some more plantings and maybe a boulder to match the flagstones or something like that.

I agree with Fori, add some plantings. I doubt you would recoup the cost for any of the other options when you sell.

@lyfia Matching paths: I want the front walkway to look inviting and suitable for all, and I thought a way to achieve that was material homogeneity and ADA compliance.

@maifleur03 Front walkway: The added path is natural flagstones set in concrete. The front is xeriscaped, there is no lawn, but pebbles. I think now that reusing the flagstone in a different pattern/ shape would be difficult. Moving the front entrance forward (as with an added pergola?) would be cost-prohibitive.

@function_first Materials and plantings: I like flagstone better than concrete too, but now that we are not keeping the house but selling it, I thought it was more cost-effective (a) to keep the original concrete path, and (b) repair/modify the added flagstone path. Today, you got me thinking that I might need to focus on connecting both paths with plantings all along, instead of changing one path to match the other. We are on USDA Zone 8, so creeping thyme might do 😉.

@Fori and @jrb451 thank you for your comments, so you also agree that plantings are the way to go in both softening the original path and integrating to the flagstone path (xeriscaped for USDA Zone 8).

I think you've come to the right conclusion. Add plantings. The flag stone path looks very nice to me and I don't think matching it will do much. It is hard to see in the pictures because it matches the mulch in color so putting some plants around it to offset it would help or change the color mulch and do nothing else (but that is a lot of mulch). A flagstone path is generally viewed upon as more upscale than plain concrete anyways.

Here is a drawing of the front walkway and porch with measurements. <Edited: there is no lawn, but gravel and xeriscaped for USDA Zone 8>

My "houzz" · More Info

@lyfia It is not mulch, what you see is gravel. It is a desert here and the wind blows ;)

lobo gravel used as it is here is mulch. While not common in the US my garden friends in Sweden use gravel to surround their peonies.

Mulch includes rocks. Not knowing the material it is a generic name for something that covers the ground. ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulch)

Anyways the path is now blending into the mulch so to make it more visible if that’s what you want you need something that separates it visually. If you don’t want to plant or change the mulch out then you could line the edges of it with pavers in the color of your concrete to tie it into the concrete path and it will be more visible too.

@lyfia @maifleur03 Here are the pictures of the path and mulch ;) I call mulch everything but gravel (bark chips, grass & leaves clippings); thanks for letting me know.

-Concrete path (view from the house):

My "houzz" · More Info

-3-way path (view from the house):

My "houzz" · More Info

-3-way path (view from the street):

My "houzz" · More Info

In this area an entryway like that would turn off many people. While good for hiding packages it would also be good to hide people.

This looks so much nicer in these closeup photos. I'd like a big rock right where the stone meets the concrete, on the outer corner. I'm not sure why. :) A plant would work as well.

Something that might help but I don't know how well it works and if it adds maintenance is staining the concrete slightly. It's just so white. If it were a tad sandy colored (but not enough to disappear)...but you'd have to do the drive as well.

But ya know, it's really quite pleasant close up.

@Fori Thank you for your suggestions. A boulder or plants at the “3-way corner” is something that I can do. As for staining the concrete, I would have to think about it. Maybe just the concrete porch and path to match the flagstone path (not the driveway)?

@maifleur03 There are 2 windows, and a glass door looking at the porch, so no hiding creatures there 😉.

One issue though is that the porch is to the left of the house and recessed. So, it is not obvious to the visitors that the front door is there. That is why I thought improving the front walkway to the front door was key. Still working on the ideas. Thank you all.

lobo while you may be able to see out and see anyone standing/hiding there if you look at the picture you can only see part of the door. There is an area that is hidden if you approach the house from the outside. People do still use the front entrance rather than the garage if they go walking.

Something interesting about this thread. I received notification that there was a new reply while I was in Gardenweb but this whole topic was missing there. When I clicked on the notification it took me to the Houzz side where I had to change my password to sign in and post this.

How about a well-placed lamppost to direct people to the door?

@Fori Yes, lighting must be in the mix. TY. @maifleur03 I checked GardenWeb and “liked” some comments there too, maybe we ended in the same thread there? Anyway, the next step is to check my plant list.

I just looked and am currently signed into both Gardenweb and Houzz and this thread does not show for me in Gardenweb. Will live with it until Gardenweb goes bye.

Please help me find an outdoor bench for the front porch: I like this casual/ rustic/ natural (just enough, not too chunky)...but it is "sold out", and not sure it can be used outdoors:

https://www.houzz.com/products/arturo-accent-bench-prvw-vr~157894303

or something similar to this one, but for outdoor usage and max $250? Rustic Reclaimed Wood Bench

Thank you.

Casual Bench in Natural Amber Finish · More Info

I think that type of bench would be great!

I'm sure neither could handle the weather but you could probably build something similar to the second one without too high a skill level out of outdoorsy wood.

I do like the shape of the Arturo though. It's not that expensive; it might be worth topcoating with a heavy duty varnish and seeing how it holds up.

@Fori, thanks for the encouragement. I really need to finish this one, so I can focus on the next project.

Update: Spring is finally here and I received all the items ordered! Now that the weather got better, I can resume this project. :0

Dear Houzzer Friends,

We finally listed the house for sale this Friday. We bought this house because of its unobstructed views, and we have enjoyed the outdoor connection like never before. I am not sure that the listing photos would ever convey the beauty of this site. But I know that your suggestions and details for the entrance made a difference. Thank you all and cheers!

what an inviting entry, congrats on the sale, and thank you for posting updates :-)

@beesneeds @partim @Denita @Fori @function_first @jrb451 @lyfia @maifleur03 @User

Happy New Year to all ! Just revisiting some ideas. I am finally getting around to starting a front-yard redesign for our new house. I would appreciate your input, if you have time, here it is: https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6214208/how-to-make-my-home-fit-into-the-landscape-close-by-the-lake