Here's a Victorian-esque exterior that has similar roof and siding colors The red painted foundation has to go, and you might consider the charcoal accent color for your own porch. Freshen up the landscaping and paint your cement planter boxes charcoal as well. A hanging floral basket would help dress up the left side of your porch.
Love the turret!

Here is an example how a Victorian home was transformed by paint:
Notice all the different colors. This palette would look good on your house.

I would add brackets to the porch, dental moulding to the porch fascia, and maybe beef up the railing posts.

One other thing, shrubs, like hydrangea, will add to the Victorian feel. You could also landscape the whole front yard so there is no more grass. Use a four season ornamental tree like a crabtree or Japanese Maple, hostas, lilirope, low growing shrubs (cotoneaster), perennials, and bulbs (daffodiles). Put pots of seasonal color by the steps and a hanging basket of ferns on the porch.

Thank you so much everyone!

what a nice house..i love the turret too!! i would put lace curtains in the windows. i have lace blinds in some of mine..you could get the topdown/bottomup kind too that would give you both light and privacy.

What do you guys think about adding another window on the first floor in front?

Are you referring to another window adjacent to the entry? I would only attempt it if you can reasonably match the size and trim of the original window.

I can imagine a white/grey//light blue colour scheme for your home. Some ornate porch brackets & trim and a fancy screen door. I see what you mean about adding another window, what will that do to your interior? Will things still work inside?
A garden where you use the same plant en masse would really suit your home. As was mentioned already, Hydrangeas could look awesome, they'd be neat and just the right height.

Oh, not the light blue colour of your neighbours, perhaps a more steely blue.

The first thing I noticed is that the window over the porch isn't centered under the dormer, would the floor plan allow two tall side-by-side windows in place of the single one on the second level? And when it's time, consider a solid color roof, especially on the turret, even metal. I agree with the garden and porch plants suggestions, good luck!

I do think it needs 2 more windows, one on each level. A matching one on the other side of the door and maybe a small hexagonal upstairs? The hexagonal could have leadlight made in the style of the period. I think soft lemon yellow on the timber would sit nicely between these two houses with white windows and deep grey blue guttering. The steps seem too wide and I'd like to see them narrowed by a third with a matching balustrade on the right hand side of the verandah so the steps run up to and in line with the front door.

I agree with the comments above but think you could also get away with just adding some garden art, specifically one of the framed vertical gardens or add a larger floor plant in the corner opposite the door. You have two shrubs that really aren't adding any interest so I would probably suggest removing those. Then you have to stop and think what type of gardener are you? Do you like to putz around in the garden daily or does it need to be sustainable with little care, also do you have adequate watering resources for the front of the house or will you be hand watering any new additions? Are there restrictions for plantings in you neighborhood and do you have a recent survey which will identify where and below ground hazards such as electrical, water and gas lines are? Once you have these answers, the next step would be to identify if you like the color of your house because if you dont then you certainly want to paint before adding any new additions. Feel free to use my discovery questionnaire on my website to help you think through the design elements (color schemes, design preferences such as old english gardens or zen (no charge)) Once you've decided what style/colors/type of gardener you will be ready to begin to pick out what types of shrubs, focal points, perennials (last year after year) and annuals (planted each year) I see you also have two cement planters - my rule of thumb is to try to double the size with plant material to create visual balance - dont go higher or you can create a top heavy plant that may tip your containers in our strong Chicago winds. Think multiple levels when designing the gardens what do you want low, medium and pick a few strategically placed high points which will balance well with the house. Also some large hanging ferns or calibrachoa hanging baskets will extend the beauty upwards and if you really want to make it pop - you can further this by adding window boxes and lots of color. Good luck with your project and hope this helps.

I think it would be nice, if possible, to enlarge the window on the 2nd floor. The frame on the right side of the window, looks to be even with the top of the dormer. Could a larger window be put in to have its frame end under the left side of the dormer? I also think it would be nice if you could round out the porch area some where the lattice is. Then put in a rounded rail coming off the column meeting the rail for the stairs. Also, add some additional landscaping. On the porch maybe add a white Victorian like hanging wood swing to add a little something to the extra area by the door. You have a lovely home.

For a very easy fix, you can start by painting the vertical trim boards between the horizontal siding the same color as your window trim, as your neighbors to the right have done. That will immediately break up the large spaces of yellow and define the turret. I agree that two windows above the front porch, or a double window, would look better than just the one but that might not be possible to do ... depending on what is on the interior.

Houssaon had the best idea. I'd go with that. Forget the extra window and the expense and complications that come with that. Decorate and multi-color! Lots of flowers and plants will bring in life. Victorian homes like that need to be lively and colorful.

I agree that an additional window on the second floor would balance the house. A small first floor window would look nice but a hanging plant or a well placed urn with a topiary tree in it would also work. Filling the front with a hydrangea garden would be gorgeous and would still look fine in the winter. For paint colours, maybe a nice sage green/gray or a steely blue

Wow, that looks amazing! I love the blue and the additional window on the second floor.

You might also consider increasing the size, and hence the interest, of the newel posts at the bottom of the stairs, as well as more prominent paving. Consider concrete bordered by brick, rather than pavers. Play up the approach. Right now it tends to disappear.

Paint, and lots of it, at least 3 different colors, is your best bet. Also, if you don't want to spend the money to add a second window to the second floor or enlarge that window, try adding a decorative element like shutters to the sides, or a decorative filigree-looking element to the left of it - a piece of ironwork perhaps.
Plantings are really going to make a difference and in addition to your basic shrubs, I suggest old-fashioned plants like peonies and hydrangeas.
One other thing that could add a lot of character is to use decorative mullions with a Gothic look in your windows. You can buy these at specialty molding stores.
Congratulations on your house! You're going to enjoy it so much!

SInce your next door neighbors house is blue, maybe a warm color is the direction to go. I agree with the above comment cover the maroon color at the base with a similar color as the roof. Covering the porch in a lighter grey and leaving the trim white or cream. Try adding an additional column or pillar to the porch making it more symmetrical. Also, take away the screen door (I know bummer) but it takes away from a bright painted door which is more inviting from the street. Shutters were added to the top window to add some interest. You have a beautiful house with so much character! Have fun.

This warm color fights the neighbor on the right. I'd do a warm gray with cool gray accents and cool dark gray (similar value as roof) above pillars around porch & foundation. All the white trim I would paint a linen ivory color. Get rid of lattice. Also when you landscape put a taller shrub to the left of your house to disconnect you from the neighbors house. Oh, also I would paint the white window trim on roof window. (Your dark cool gray, similar to shingle color)

I think this yellow would be nice. it sets it apart from the other homes but in a subtle way.

A quick fix to offset the asymmetrical small window and empty space would be to add a faux window, painting or metal art of some type. However, when I just looked at your photo again, that might draw attention to the small window on the second floor.

Wow, what fabulous advice everyone has (I especially like ourfarmhouse) Thanks everyone!

Try a periwinkle blue exterior with a cream trim and door. I have also seen that same color with a lime green trim.

One example

wow these are such wonderful ideas!! I would love to see end results...keep us posted!

as well as the landscaping in Lynn's photos I would suggest awnings for the windows in the accent color of the paint. :)

Adorable house! Actually, I like the color of the house but I would paint the interior of the porch in a lighter tone and repeat the red of the base on the beam under the porch eves to make it pop as your neighbor on the left did in blue. A stained glass window on the right is an excellent idea as well as a hydrangea in front of the lattice and a Japanese maple. I would also suggest a flower box on the porch rail and trailing plants in the planter boxes on either side of the sidewalk. I would be careful not to overpower the house with too much landscaping.

yes, more color in the details .and some window boxes full of flowers ..some ground cover for a lawn with flowers that bloom all year ..hanging basket/s on porch..

From our experience, here's what I'm guessing--you don't want to jump into the expense of exterior painting yet if you don't have to, because it's expensive and you have interior renovations going on.

One of the quickest ways that I believe you can add curb appeal is by adding big, fluffy containers on the porch and a window box for the small window to the right of the door, and load them up with spiky, trailing, and purple/green plants and don't forget parsley--it's cheap and a pretty filler and makes containers look exotic and luxe. If you like modern, like me, I would even do a live plant frame to hang on the blank exterior wall to the left of the front door. Pull up all that dead landscape in the front right away and plant boxwoods, which are period. Did your house originally have shutters on the second floor window?

What a darling house, and I love the storybook turret, but I say don't feel tied to do everything Victorian. Since I like to mix things up, I suggest painting your door a modern color, like citron. Somehow, over the years, colors on Victorians went bland, but period colors for your house were very saturated, especially window trim when you want to jump into that. The Victorians were interested in the exotic--think big palm plants inside, and chinoiserie. Have fun!

Door needs to grab attention...but would keep porch neutral like house.

Someone has vinyl sided the charm right off your Queen Anne. It is BORING because it has lost all of its detail. Here are a few pics of what it should look like.

Spend your money on a beautiful, old-fashioned Victorian front garden bed to set off your house. Add large planters to the porch.

Southerners often paint the surfaces of their railings and banisters. You could add a little red trim paint. (I think your red foundation is fine!)