Design Dilemma: Creating Cape Cod Curb Appeal

Kirby Carespodi You deinitely need to have something to signify where your front entry is--as it is, it's confusing. I think you have a great opportunity to do something that isn't terribly expensive--take out the decking/latticework and putting in a more formal (but still cottag-y) entryway. I can't find a pic, but you could put up an arbor with a wide (10+ feet) patio in that recessed area at your front door.

LOIS You've GOT to have some Hydrangeas somewhere in front. Blue, preferably. They are seen all over Cape Cod this time of year. I'd shingle the house so that over time it would weather, and eventually look like an old classic Cape Cod cottage. Also add shutters to the windows.

Valerie I WOULD CHANGE THE WINDOWS IN THE FRONT & CENTER THEM MORE, MAYBE A BOW OR BAY OR SOMETHING NEW & DIFFERENT IN THE WINDOW WORLD, PUT A PEAK ON THAT PIECE IN FRONT & get rid of that lattice& that wood garden bed stuff, its old fashioned & not very appealing, stone or Pennsylvania wall rock would look beautiful, also move the front door to the front, right now it looks like the side pof the house, with a peak & front door & the proper windows you can turn that house around!!!! Look thru Houzz's website for some nice ideas, Home Depot & Lowes have designing magazines & also Coastal Living type magazines, put lots of thought be4 u make the plunge & do it right, you can make ur new home look beautiful with the right details, after u redesign ur home, I'm sure ur neighbors will come out of the woodwork to tell u what a great job you have done! Happy designing & take ur time.

Thorson Restoration & Construction We work on "cape style" homes pretty often being we're a builder remodleer in MA. Depending upon your budget, I would make a few suggestions. First as was previously suggested, I would also move the front door to the front and center it on the entranceway. Do put an A line roof above the entrance and build out a portico with porch to give the small jut out some additional depth. As for the dormers I think they would definately give you some additional light & room on the second story as well as creating some much needed balance to the proportions on the exterior. The roof currently is the predominant feature and adding vertically would help balance that. I would recommend two seprate dormers on either side of the new Portico roof. It's difficut to recommend a size with out having some measurements. but I would say that you should upgrade and move the first floor windows to a lrger size and center those on either side of that portico. Then take that new window dimension and use the same size upstairs in the dormers to create some uniformity and determine the dormer size to be slightly larger width and height wise than the window units themselves and also with A-line roof peaks to mimick the look of the entranceway. Feel free to browse our website for some inspiration: www.thorsonrestoration.com

birdbrain16 I agree with thorsonrestoration. And if you want to keep a porch/deck what about extending it all the way over to the right side, with a different railing, more suited to the cape cod look?
The entry steps would be straight up to the new centered front door.