SFGate

Grace Jackson I think outside for the color MIX brown and cream to get a great color!! Def add LOTS OF FLOWERS!!!

Grace Jackson Maybe lose the tree RIGHT by the house in the flower bed

handymam Love your house, but I second removing the tree. It fights for attention and I think you could have a much more interesting garden in front of that wall there. I would remove or cut down the bush/tree by the fireplace wall as well. Put something that will only grow to half the height it is now and same for the one on the other side of the door. I think they should really match, I would like to see something at the corner edge of the house as well. I think some crimson burberry would be nice with your color house as well as some evergreens.

dhoomey I definitely agree with removing the tree. Is the crimson hard to keep up with? I don't have the greenest of thumbs. These are great ideas, please, keep them coming!

mpoulsom I don't have a problem with your trees....maybe add something to border the outside edge of the sidewalk for starters. Something low growing and compact that flowers.
There are so many beautiful fences out there. I especially like horizontal fences with a more modern twist. Are you wanting to add a low fence or privacy?

mpoulsom Maybe something like this for a fence and you could also intergrate some stonework columns here and there if you wanted to....
one other thing that I would do is change the door color to something bright and fun and remove storm door if possible.

Grace Jackson Here's the color I'm talking about!

dhoomey Privacy in the front isn't a huge issue. We just want something tall enough so our Corgi can't jump over it. There's a large in-ground pool with a privacy fence that takes up almost all of the backyard and though there is some room for her to run around when we're out there I don't feel comfortable letting her hang out in the back by herself.

Bickhaus Homes I'd love to see a peak centered within the space between the fireplace and the end of the house (left side as you are looking at the house) Have that come out 12 ft as your yard space is plenty. You could do a wonderful front porch with railings. Your path would then step up to this. Landscape around the porch with small bushes with seasonal interest depending on your area. It's always best to replace any trees removed for any updates. It's sad to lose a tree. Invest well in perennials. Don't forget great lighting makes any space outstanding. You could even do an outdoor ceiling fan. As far as colors, I'd suggest a muted olive tone with a deep cream. This porch would change the entire feel of the home. Have fun!

CMR Interiors & Design Consultations Inc. I love this house. Its small and modern!

dhoomey It's actually not as small as it looks. 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, two living areas (one will be a billiard room and I'm sure I'll need help with that as well), sunroom, dining, kitchen. We don't have enough furniture to fill it! lol It's so exciting!

kitasei Do not remove the tree. It works well. Define the drive or walk. Change the red bark mulch to a more natural grey or cocoa. For your corgi barrier, consider a natural low hedge. The beautiful modern design and its color pallet should be enhanced with modern landscaping - naturalistic, not fussy or colorful annuals. In fact, don't even think about color until you have the bones of the landscaping laid in greens and grays. It is beautiful. You must fight the natural urge to over decorate. Keep it simple simple simple....

sacapuntaslapioz this is what I did with my 1950 ranch (much expanded by the time we bought it)

Gantt's Decorating I thin k the tree is there to camouflage the uninviting bare wall. If you remove it , I would design some sort of exciting sculptural contemporary trellis to create interest and direct attention to the door way.

dhoomey @ Gantt's Decorating - that's an idea I haven't though of and a really great one. Any images you can share? Thank you!!

kitasei I preferred the black downspouts in the pictures above.

dhoomey Sacapuntaslapioz - did the door come with the house or did you purchase it after moving in - that's what we've been considering (just darker)

handymam dhoomey, the crimson burberry is not hard to keep up with IF you buy a dwarf one! It is a nice color for contrast against greens (they have a limelight version [lime green of course] that is great too.)

mpoulsom If you are going to get rid of the tree/trees on the left hand side and want to add some sort of porch, why don't you build out a pergola from the house on the leftside and have a slightly raised deck that is the same height as your entrance or a step or 2 down OR up??? It could be as wide as that left side of the house and come out as far as you want it to as well. Then you could plant some pretty tree on the left hand side of the yard if you wanted to....

crp1234 Two new lights on either side of door + new house numbers + possibly paint front door red.

Sweet Caroline Garden Design Love the contemporary lines of your home and think that a mult-color scheme would really bring it out -taupe, sage and mustard would be a good combo. I would remove the current tree and make an espalier of a beautiful ornamental tree of vine as an architectural feature for that blank wall. I would also get rid of the lawn, add some decorative stones, ornamental grasses, low-growing evergreens and perennials and annuals for color. Here's an example of the taupe and sage colors ,

Sweet Caroline Garden Design Here's an example of an apple tree espaliered but you can do any young tree such as a purple smokebush if you have enough sun, or if its shady, a beautiful Japanese maple, for example. It's a stunning statement and easy to do. I used to do it on client's garages to hide blank walls.

Sweet Caroline Garden Design An example of a contemporary garden that would complment your home's architecture :

sacapuntaslapioz dhoomey, it is a simpson wood door in pine from the craftman collection (they come in many wood kinds) and they come unstained, so you can finished it any way you want. this one we stained in cherry.
http://www.simpsondoor.com/door-products/search/results/?seriesID=11