front garden redesign ?

renee

Hi.....I am planning to revamp our whole front garden area this year.  Our house is a few years old and has the landscaping the builder put in.....including a star magnolia RIGHT in front of the dining room windows.  Um, not only does it block the view, but it also will grow to be 15-20 FEET!  Probably not appropriate in its current spot....

But anyway, to my question.  So, our last house had a HUGE front porch that we loved and I miss it so.  Our new house is more traditional style, with a front door with no covering over it and the new house is more symmetrical and classical in style.  However, since we are missing our porch so much, it is killing me not to have anywhere to sit down except on our front step or to get folding chairs out of the garage! 

Would it look/be stupid to have a small sitting area in the spot where the magnolia is (which will be moved)?  That area is probably 10-12 feet deep from the front walk to the house, so we'd build a small stepping stone pathway into the design with a bench?

I don't know......maybe we should just dump the idea and do the h^&* out of the back porch? 

WDYT?
TIA renee

Amanda0406

I would need to see a picture, but I would prolly put a sitting area in the back yard or something that would look really cute... I would make like a little "sitting/garden area" in my back yard rather than the front... OR i might just be assuming this is in the front yard...  since you talk about the front yard in your thread...

hollymichael

I think that would look cute. I don't see a lot of sitting areas in the front of houses, but when I do I usually like it.  Maybe you could look through some gardening magazines and find something you like to copy.  (This is what I usually do).

j+k

I'd have to see a picture too. In some cases, yes, i would think it would look a little funny to have seating in the front yard, without something like a porch or other architectural detail to anchor it.  But in some rare cases, it could look just fine. 

acrlyhed

I think you'd probably feel weird sitting out in the front yard where passers by and traffic can see you without the shelter of a porch. I would have to see a picture to know for sure. While I think it could work, I would move the tree, put in a bench, and see if you ever use the bench or even like sitting out there. Then, if you wear a rut in the grass getting to the bench, you will know it is worth the landscaping investment. Work in phases and you won't be disappointed.

~NB~

I've created many residential landscape plans with seating areas near the front entryway. Not a bad idea at all, but I also would like to see pics.