Nice work everyone. I'm always torn with the use of water in the landscape. I think labeling it natural looking or man made gets us in trouble. Its all about the design and placement of each element. That's the first step in pulling it off. There is balance and symmetry to this feature that suggests man made. The surrounding architecture and space available demands that. As you show us the look of a more natural feature is with the materials. Labeling it man made or natural is only a debate that takes away from a job well done. Very Cool!!! Craig

Switch the front window and your side entrance door, this way your door is visible from the street. Then turn the window in the pantry into a door to gain access more directly to your kitchen, a closet and maybe a bench for gathering items on the way in or out. It looks like you have to go up a small flight of stairs to get to the door, otherwise I'd say put the additional entrance on the cellar wall on the left of your plan. Depending on space you may need to slide this new mud room entrance to the left and you might have room for a longer closet along the pantry wall and a bench opposite the closet along the outside wall. You would lose the cellar but I am not sure if that is another storage area or access to a basement. Just some ideas. Really like the rest of the layout. Hope my little picture helps to explain my ideas.

Sue, congratulations. You've not only identified a colour you feel happier about, you've actually created it. I suspect you'll now be able to create a pleasing mix of warm greys, plywood browns, stone tones, coppers or bronzes, warm whites, etc; maybe with a bit of yellow added come spring; and you'll be able to live with the brownish sofa until you're ready to update or reupholster. I have some KAS cushion covers from a couple of years ago which show how this kind of colour mix can be done. One has stylised flowers (a la Mexican) in grey, brown and caramel with a touch of burnt orange. (You mention liking ochre.). Another is lighter grey, brown, taupe and bone-white on a natural linen. A third (less subtle) is warm greens with brown, taupe, yellow, white and a little aqua. I'm not saying go for styles that are a few years out of fashion. But do be confident enough to resist a harsh, hard-edged option if a gentler one is right for your temperament and household and the room's aspect. Robyn

Thank you, you cant see the the trees I have in the photos due to winter but I have 12 trees already in my front yard. ( 7 silver birch, 1 mop top 2 weepings, 1 red maple and a another) I do love the hedging. I was thinking something like the below photo with the same path going to my front door but placing the same purple plants around the sides that I have in my 3rd photo . I would like to use edging do I place some along the 3rd photo. I love the above photo with the trees and hedge layering, I could do that along the front fence. What do you think ? I don't really know plant names so I am saying sorry in advance