The two shots are before and after garden!

Aarge shrub on big blank first story wall. Paint is good as is.

A large shrub.

It looks like a very cute beach cottage. Very clean and simple.

Was reluctant to put a shrub close to the house. I was thinking the front porch needed something a red bench? The pistacthe trees will also grow in and when I have more shade there plan on putting a Japanese maple in the spot you referred to!

I like the clean and simple also but just feels like it needs a little pop!

landscape and accent lighting may help? a porch swing would be lovely if you have the room and maybe some potted plants otherwise i think your cottage is close to perfection, really cute as a button!

It's close! But when you look at it everyday, coming and going from down the street, it needs something, I thought about painting the trim around the windows either red or turquoise just to add interest but am terrified I won't like it.

PS the Japanese Barberries in the front will become a 5-6' hedge......

I like your plantings and paint color. Very nice and clean looking. Begonias in pink/reds colors to accent the door could be very nice; they are very sturdy and overwinter here in my north Texas garden. A couple of large red door-color pots at base of steps can work too with red and yellow flowers. Introduce black as a third color with an eye catching door lantern and black vases at base of stairs with red geraniums and taller grasses. Even a little picket fence just at the corners, if not all around, could add some additional charm and interest. Good luck. It looks great.

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How about a water feature in the right front yard with a seating area? I'd avoid a hedge - it is already a square house and landscape needs to counter that with curves and open feeling.

Like the idea of a water feature? Didn't think of that.....need the hedge for privacy. Planned on leaving the Barberries untrimmed so they have a rounded look!

alwaysdesigning - great pics love the hidden hills cottage. ameyc2 what do you think about the picket fence, arbor, stone path and window grids? sorry not feeling the colored trim and I love color

I will try the black accents to introduce a third color I was considering a small black iron patio set! Love the pics you sent very helpful and exactly what I'm talking about as far as pop factor. But still want to have simple clean look trying to find that balance.

just wanted to say it is apparent you have a great eye...trust your instincts. there was a reason you were hesitating on the trim. cant wait to see what you come up with, please post pics when completed. best of luck and follow your heart :)

I love the arbor and was planning on an arbor once the hedge had grown in can I put it there before? Will it look odd on its own without a picket fence?
Also planning on window grids on the porch when I enclose as a sun room in a year or two. (When budget permits) ;-)
Also love the stone path also something I can do. Like the suggestions you offered also as I can do them in stages thanks!

Would these same stone pavers work in the front? I just made this path to the back gate?

Charming house and landscape, no glaring needs apparent. You could always paint a bolder color on either siding or trim, if you wanted. I would only paint window trim another color if you can paint everything - i.e. not just casing but every in of white in the window frame. I've see yellow houses look very attractive with a soft sage green trim. However, you really don't need to paint at all.

Your porch doesn't need anything for appearance, but you may want seating there, just for a place to relax and watch the world go by, or for people to put shoes on and off. I would prefer a comfortable outdoor chair (or 2) to a bench as benches usually aren't comfortable places to settle in.

A flowering vine growing up part of the porch might look very nice. Or maybe a big flowering hanging plant hanging in the lkeft opening of the porch. I'd keep big fat shrubs away from the house though - I like the look of the small, spiky foundation plantings very much. Nice little accents that don't crowd or overwhelm your charming house.

Your house is just darling! What about 2 pairs of large, dark grey metal/stone flower pots - two pots flanking the bottom of your stairs and two at the top? Fill them seasonally and be sure to include lots of red. Then, a charcoal or black bench with pillows on the porch. Good luck.

yes, i think you could make those pavers work i would maybe double them width wide to help with scale. i would also use a square topped arbor when you do install, thinking more craftsman or minimalist style than cutesy cottage. btw a neighbor of mine placed just an arbor in his front yard and it looks kind of silly. i would def wait until your hedges grow in as you stated.

The arbor can work; there are so many styles; curved or flat tops. Summertime vines like Four o-clocks or scarlet runner beans can be a fast fill in for summer. Picket accent corners just at the corners of your drive and yard can be a nice feature and not close in your yard too much. Good luck, I love your choices.

Love the idea of the dark pots two at the top and two at the bottom, do you think that's too many??? Not sure but like the idea because its doable on my budget! And the dark bench with red cushions sounds hmmmmm good! Thanks Leslie.

Amy good idea on the square top arbor, and yes will wait until hedge grows in! Thanks so much this has been so helpful I will post pics when I'm done or at stages :-)

The key issue here is the huge blank yellow space under the windows. That's because the house is elevated. Reduce that space by putting in some big plantings under the windows. The plants you put in are a good start but too low. I would also consider some hanging plants on the porch or a bench to anchor the porch and bring it visually lower.

I am waiting for the Chinese pistache trees to grow in the front (gets very hot) a little more to offer enough shade for a couple of Japanese maples to frame the walls you are referring to? What do you think? Also like the idea of the bench! :)

somebody mentioned sage trim... blue goes well too. Hope to see some simple pops like you already mentioned... swing, potted plant, etc. Keep us posted...

Cute not sure about the size of the pots and how many someone suggested two at the top of the stairs and two at the bottom! In a dark grey/charcoal color. Like these colors soooooooo nervous about painting the trim :-0

Lutyens chairs on a free-style shaped patio as Amy Cali suggested. Lattice panel/s about one foot out in front of the wall. I'd keep the lattice to two or three panels so that they are wide enough to add some interest but don't go stark raving cute. A potted plant or two.

You do need a red bench! Maybe two. One on the landing and the other under the window on the right, on the lawn.

Don't care for the plastic stuff you've got at the sidewalk but I guess it's holding in rocks or knarly bark. I'd take that out and use some shredded mulch and not so much that it's higher than the walkway.
Difficult to get to the lawn without stepping over planter. Same with the spiky plants - those aren't those little weedy iris' are they? They don't fill in well. Tall hydrangeas or white azaleas don't grow there? Roses? Rose of Sharon or Hibiscus? Something that flowers white or red please. Plants will make all the difference! Choose wisely.

You have enough color with the white, yellow, red and all the green in front. Those "4 color" exterior colors schemes are OUT. Chin up buttercup, don't repaint the trim. Get some interesting plants in there instead. You are nearly there. It is 87% cute and you will make it over the top!!! Great job.

Some gorgeous hanging planters with vibrant colors would do magic! Also, to add texture, some black fixed shutters on either side of all the windows! Beautiful home you have!

Also, some bright colored Adironack chairs will give a welcoming appeal. Again, great house!

An American flag

I would add house numbers, porch light, small seat/bench, entry rug, and some type of shade if not facing east. It would be nice if the bottom of the porch appeared more recessed by plantings or darker colored paint.

You home is lovely. It doesn't need a lot of clutter. Keep it simple. When the tree and landscape fills, the right side will be fine. Consider an iron park bench in red on the ground level to the left of the stairs with some large blue glazed ceramic pots filled with colorful annual flowers. Add pots at each side of the stairs on the side walk. A porch swing or a pair of white rockers with colorful pillows will add some punch. Let the color be in the large blue ceramic glazed flower pots and the flowers. Home Depot has some lightweight ones that look like ceramic. There's an on-line company with copper flower boxes that hang on the porch rail. That could add some punch, but it can also rot the wood. Water features are nice, but they require weekly cleaning.

Make sure you add nice big house numbers. Delivery guys will love you for it, especially if they're illuminated at night. I delivered KFC for a while and blessed those with visible house numbers. I agree with many other posters in that the landscaping will only get better with time, but you could add a couple white trellises and a bench. Better than a bench in my mind would be a good old fashioned porch swing. The verandah cries out for one. You could paint it to match the door or if you're less adventurous, paint it white and add some red cushions.
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Cute house! Consider accenting the handrail of the stairs & porch railing. Here's one interior pic & one exterior:



Or add risers to the stairs and accent the stairs: