Exterior Tour: Welcome to Our House

I realized recently that I’ve never properly introduced the outside of our home — the part everyone sees first. So today I’m inviting you over for a relaxed, honest tour of our house exterior and front yard. Think of this as a friendly walkthrough: come for a cup of coffee, stay for the view, and watch our progress as we improve the curb appeal one small project at a time.

The photo above shows the whole house from the street — the general layout of our front yard, the roofline, and the areas we want to focus on first. I’ll be honest: it’s a work in progress. There are weekend projects scattered about on the front patio and a few spots that need attention. But that’s the fun part — seeing a space start rough and slowly become something intentional.

If you drove over for coffee, you’d walk up a stone path that leads to the front patio. The stone path gives character and guides visitors across the yard; it’s one of those small features that makes a house feel like a home. Oh — and you might be greeted by Dorothy the donkey, who often stands behind the fence to say hello. She’s a cheerful little welcome committee, and many guests find her charming.

Turn the corner and you’re at our front door. This area is functional and welcoming, but it also needs a bit of TLC to bring out its best. We have plans to tidy the planting beds, refresh the potted plants, and make the entry feel more intentional. Small changes like new lighting, a fresh doormat, or rearranged furniture can make a big difference in how inviting a front entry feels.

Both the stone path and the front patio need a little lot of spiffin’ up. I’m gradually tackling these projects during weekends and sunny afternoons. I prefer to take my time so the decisions feel right — choosing plants that thrive in our climate, selecting materials that age gracefully, and balancing hardscape with greenery to keep the look natural and approachable.

My mom always said things get worse before they get better, and right now we’re definitely in the “worse” stage. There’s dirt where grass will be, stacks of planters waiting for new shrubs, and tools that seem to follow me everywhere. Still, the sun is shining, and digging in the dirt is one of my favorite ways to reset. It’s satisfying to see progress, even if it’s slow — new soil here, a freshly planted bed there — and each change nudges the whole exterior toward a more polished look.

As we work through the projects, my focus is on practical improvements that also boost curb appeal: defining walkways, improving plant health, and arranging seating so the front patio becomes a place to linger. I want the front of the house to feel lived-in and welcoming rather than overdone. That means prioritizing durable materials, easy-care plants, and a layout that invites people to stop and stay a while.

I’ll keep you updated on the progress. Expect occasional photos and notes about what we changed and why — plant selections that worked, features that didn’t, and the small design decisions that add up. For anyone planning their own exterior updates, think of these posts as a reality-based look at home improvement: imperfect at times, but rewarding when the changes begin to come together.

Thanks for stopping by on this little exterior tour. I love sharing these stages — the messy beginnings and the gradual transformation — and I hope it gives you ideas and encouragement for your own outdoor projects. If you’ve tackled similar front-patio or curb-appeal updates, I’d love to hear what worked for you as well.