Adding shutters is a great idea. You may also want to consider changing the moldings around the windows and garage for something a bit more substantial. Changing the pillars by the front door will also give the house more depth. Last, but not least, changing the paint color is always a great way to give your house a facelift!

House is lacking texture and color - possibly explore a paint scheme that singles out some of the dominant forms - in addition to the trim, columns etc - that were mentioned...too much kitch and it will look cheesy - - shutters are a good way to make the windows look larger on the exterior - but paneled ones are nicer.... also have to be wide enough to not look phony ....also some landscaping in front would be nice - flowering bushes, perenials, etc....changing out the front door to let more light into the entry will also go a long way in improving the spec look nature of this home...also consistency is key - continue effort all the way around the house....

I look at this house as a straight forward farmhouse style, not a cottage.

So I don't think you should add shutters or change moulding around the windows. The windows are not the right type that call for shutters and the moulding is in scale with the windows. (If this were a wood clad house, maybe the moulding could be a bit larger, but with vinyl siding I wouldn't mess around.) But the posts could be enlarged and one added near the garage.

A new plain raised panel door would look good. This is really good looking traditional door: Or a plain glass insert one. See this handsome one: Notice the plain windows and the size of the moulding.

I like the idea of flower boxes!

Improved landscaping is going to the key to making your home look great. A few foundation evergreens should be added to the right side of house. In front of the porch area would be a good area for perennials, daffodiles and annuals. Out in the yard, I would plant a couple of ornamental trees with large planting beds. There you can have some flowering shrubs, plants like hostas and daffodiles that come back year after year. Along the driveway and the walkway are other opportunities for interesting plants.

This looks like a lot and it is, but most of the plants here are ornamental trees, flowering shrubs and perennials that come back year after year: A smaller simplier version would look good in front of your porch and in the beds anchored by ornamental trees.

A picket fence along the front will add definition to your house: A few potted plants in colorful containers also will add appeal as will painted rockers on you porch.

Black-eye-susan is a reliable self-seeder and add color for almost the entire summer.

Sedum, Daylilies, and black-eye-susan:

HI -- I'm fine with the main color of the house but it's lacking in finishing details. You need some recessed panels between and under the windows on the right connecting the two windows and another panel under the window on the bottom left in white.( these panel areas could also be cedar boards- horizontal)Then possibly add shutters on the full length and also the upper left window. Add a wider picture frame trim around the small window above the entrance. Then beefup the colunms and add another on the left against the garage -painted the dark trim color. Then add an accent color to your front door - something rich. What's your favorite color? Have a walkway from the front door down to the sidewalk and add a tree to the right front and some foundation plants on the right side and other landscaping. Add some larger house numbers under the light on the right front of the garage.

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE PICTURES. I BET YOU WILL GET SOME IDEAS FROM THIS. SIMPLE YET STRIKING. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

no frilly details, a great (3 colour) colour scheme...and a garden. Balance the elevation with one large tree, well positioned, a small or slender feature tree with simple mass planting below (perhaps in the space between the path and the house) e.g. Silver Birch?, a tall boundary hedge, a low path/driveway hedge with a gap accessing an open space around a large tree underplanted with daffodils perhaps. You have time - plan it well and watch it evolve with the house.

Don't forget to change the small light fixture beside the garage for something more substantial. Also, if you just added shutters (with some color) and beefed up the front porch support posts, you'd be off to a good start....Landscaping needs to start on the right hand side of the yard with a tree and foundation plantings to anchor the house to the ground. Wrap plantings all the way around the side of the house. You have a lovely home. Please update us with pictures.

Single most important change for the house itself, not counting plants: the porch. Tear off the entire front porch roof - it is awful. Really - just tear the whole thing off. Have a really cute porch roof made, one that goes UP over the door, either a curved shape, which would break up the severe lines of the house, or a peaked design, but make it very delicious in the detail, with really nice fat square columns coming down to a bigger and nicer porch - stone ro wood, but comfy feeling. Maybe a railing of sorts around the porch. Think sitting in the sun reading a book on the porch. I was not prepared to show pictures or link to ideas at the moment. This Old House has some really great porch curb appeal articles, start there. Once you get the porch redone, the entire house will take on a different character. Then go for new lighting, mailbox and house numbers - make them fit the size of the house. Cute details = cute house. Plants are a must, but after all else...have FUN! I'm the mailbox and number person. www.houseart.net. That's the earrings after you've had the makeover though.

Your house is lovely but it does need shutters ...add decorative railings to define the porch area...it will make it more inviting. It's not the house...minor additions is all that is needed...it's what's NOT around it. Evergreen landscaping will anchor and and show how lovely the house is. Sprinkle flowers in front of the evergreens during the warm months. Have fun and post when you make your changes! :)

I agree with houssaon and judyg that this house is more of a farm house than a cottage and may be more easily treated as such. If the house is in need of a new roof, I would consider a tin/aluminum one. The second link/picture judyg gives as a farm house example shows this well. Also, I really like the second door houssaon gives.

I agree with many of the comments. Color, landscaping and scale of the elements are lacking. Depending on your budget, home owners assn. and zoning limitations, I suggest extending the porch roof to the corner of the house, which will create more of the 'farmhouse' look. This would allow you to change the paint color at the front of the house for the garage and the area covered by the porch, with a darker shade of the same color. The existing and new pillars could be augmented with 45 degree accent braces, one side at each end, both sides for the interior (space outside of window openings). Add a white horiz. trim piece btw. the eave returns at the gable ends, adding a rectangular vent near the top o at the lower gable. Paint the gables with a shade that is different from the base, only if you feel it is necessary. A darker roof modeled to look like shakes will help. Boxwood or a flowering perennial along the walk could help define the entry, as would the addition of a planter, if zoning allows, in front of my suggested porch extension, containing a variety of flowers.

Nix to the shutters and window boxes. Too cutesy IMHO. I like the idea of extending the porch right across but alternatively I would add some character to that porch with a vertical slatted fence and then a narrower version across the top of the gap in front of the front door. Then to the latter section add some brackets underneath connecting to the posts. Paint it all white like the garage door. Then paint the window frames and front door in a darker colour like a dark stone to add some punch and contrast. Then a garden of course, that's a must.

HI, I believe adding some awnings over the window, a nice paint job that accentuate the presentation of the Home, adding a more bold texture to the front door/ gararge, also extending the pattio would also stand out, good luck, anything is possible

Extending the porch along the entire front of the house would unify the right and left side. Add some details on the porch like railings or beefy columns. Even a pergola and patio would enhance the entrance.

The Creative imagination for curb appeal that comes along with the extension of the front porch is included... creative imagination

Sorry = don't entend the porch roof as is - look at it. It needs to be torn off and redesigned - with a cute arch or a gable style Entend to the edge of the house, but redo the style- fat square or pyramid columns along with porch railings - even bring the porch out for a more gracious sitting area. Then redo the roof into somethhing other than just a lean-to look. A bigger restyle porch will add So much to the front! Then go crazy with plants, but only after the porch.

Unfortunately, a porch redo is not in our future. Our front yard ends at the bottom of the picture and we have a sidewalk right in front. While it would be nice to have a larger porch that added character to the home, it just isn't an option. Thank you for all of the porch suggestions though! We'll be looking into some of the other ideas that don't involve as much construction :)