Do you have the budget for a small renovation? I hope you don't mind this comment but the window surrounds on the rhs of the pic seems rather unusual. If a vertical rectangular shallow section could be made from under the roofline to the ground in siding similar to what was used beside the door and garage, this would modernise this section and make it a feature, by removing or covering the angled pieces around the window. This timber style section could then be painted a feature colour, similar to the white section above the stairs in jennyrf's picture of Kirkland traditional in the comment above, but in your choice of colour. The crisp white trim is gorgeous and I like the idea of the greyish beige tones that will go better with your roof colour. Could you ask a few professionals in different paint shops to advise? if you can take a spare roof tile for them to work with this could help, if not bring home a few colour sample pages or booklets in your roof tones and try to match one of the colours as closely as possible. While your neighbours home is nice, the extra pop of the slightly darker tone of the Kirkland pic has more impact, as jennyrf suggested. Grobby's comments are great, and a large painted planter in front my suggested new timber section could feature a larger bush. If you wish to box up and hide the turned post at the door, I would love to see something similar on the garage front uprights and possibly a section of slatted timber from the corner of the garage to the post to hide the angled downpipe I would also love to see a large solid cement letter box (see Distinctive pillars and mailboxes) to anchor the street appeal. Best of luck. Hope you get something from this. I wish I could photoshop to explain better. Rae