I would fence off a patio area directly in front of the front facing door, ending a couple of feet before the end of the L, with the perpendicular wall running at the gutter. Natural wood, spaced in a horizontal pattern. Street number on the fence. Seamless gate facing the driveway, with a walking path repositioned to where the plant bed is now. I assume you want to continue using the side door, so make an L shaped stone path to it and have large stepping stones to the gate, which would be closed for the most part. Place a bush between the driveway and the path, low hedges beneath the window at the end of the L, and a rectangular planter styled like the fence under the side entrance window. The rest should be lawn- maybe a small tree near the driveway entrance.
For the patio itself, I kind of see planters and seating wrapped along the walls to the doorway, incorporated somehow into the steps leading straight out to the patio. I'd probably do the steps and seating in bluestone with an eye toward adding on to make a more formal entry down the road, which would include steps leading to both a walkway to the street, and a formal path to the driveway. The patio ground would be pea stone or pavers to ease that adaptation as well.