I agree with jbantick. The stone in the outside area looks quite nice, but the area itself seems to be quite separate from the porch, which is a different colour and higher. It also doesn't seem to connect to the driveway area either, so it looks like a bit of an afterthought. Could you have the stone removed and kept, then dig up that whole area , probably bring in some new soil , add lots of compost, and create a garden with the beautiful birches as the centrepiece. The stone can be used as stepping stones through the garden, to join up the front path with the driveway. Shade loving plants will vary a little bit depending on where you are, some won't tolerate frost for example, but could include things like rhododendrons and azaleas and camellias. Also some ground covers like violets and cyclamen. There are also shady plants suited for warmer areas , which often have large structural leaves. Walk around your area and see what is used in similar areas to yours, talk to your local nursery people , and read gardening magazines. With gardens, a bit of hit and miss is normal, so don't worry if it doesn't work out perfectly the first time.

The timing of this article is perfect! Given the erratic weather lately, shielding outdoor furniture has become a real challenge. While I've experimented with some methods here, I'm still searching for a solution with lasting effects. Do you have any specific product or brand recommendations? A big thank you to @Kevin Carol (https://qr.ae/pyDKpb) for suggesting The Cover Company NZ for outdoor furniture protection. I'm definitely going to explore their offerings. It would be fantastic if you could compare a few similar brands in terms of quality, pricing, and customization. Your insights would be highly valuable.

Looking at your photos, the existing colour with the timber is great. Several people have suggested timber shade structures over the windows. This will soften the grey and give you some depth to the structure. You could also try growing a green leafy vine in front of the pipe. Something that i not too aggressive and is easy to prune, such as potato creeper, would be great.

You have a home of character. Currently the whole external picture is unbalanced. Everything on the right is dominant, and falls away almost entirely on the left. From way off left field I would 1. Make the entry to your driveway from the letterbox point. The existing entry point would become garden. 2. This driveway would then curve around to the left and then join the existing driveway up to the garage. 3. I believe that there is too much brick and if finances allowed, would remove the brick driveway and replace with a base and grey gravel aggregate. The grey would have a remarkable softening effect, and would enable all rain that falls on the site to be utilised on site. 4. The area now reclaimed from the start of the existing driveway I would make a garden. This garden, with a tree within, would then balance the whole front picture. 5. I would remove the boxed area and dumpy plant keeping the colours and gravels all the same. 6. Don't use coloured bark - it could have toxins in it, and it looks awful. 7. The row of rocks in front of the house should also go. 8. The garage needs a colour change - the same colour as the brick of the house. This will make the whole front presence appear wider. Your home, as mentioned by others, and repeatedly by me in other posts, should retain the original facade in keeping with the style of home. There is nothing at all wrong with this facade, and it looks like a solid brick home. Cheers Alison