There are ONLY two elements that when changed would improve the design; The 1800's carriage lamp on the post and the Pennsylvania Dutch Welcome sign in ITALIC script font.

As far as where you MIGHT versus must , like above, remove the potted plants by the garage doors, and repaint the garage doors a darker hue of the same house color; you know heavy on the bottom lighter on top, the eye expects that. I am leaning toward asking you to add three more of the same design cylindrical outdoor lights by the garage doors. Okay, one more thing, instead of the edging on the planing beds - do three SQUARE metal edged planing beds to the right side of the steps, each about 15 inches higher that the one below it (stair risers are usually 7.5 inches so, one planter per two risers - get it? Use the dimensions of the windows as the pattern.Okay, one more thing, since you have power at the street (carriage lamp) make a wall 36 - 42 inches high covered in the same material as the home, then using numerals like those shown on HOUZZ by Richard Neutra, place the numeral to the drive side of the new wall equally spaced from the top and right edge, approximate 1.6 times the length of the house numbers. and using the power make a LED up light narrowly focused on the house numerals - you don't have to thank me - just send me a picture to: jerry@jerryreed.net

Jerry, thank you for your advice! I am still getting over the surprise of such a quick response to my post. I love the metal planter idea and must go check out the numerals by Richard Neutra (this is my first day on HOUZZ!)

Sophie, appreciate your opinion. I've had many "that's ugly, why would you move?" comments, it was a nice lift to read your positive words.

I agree with Jerry above and would add more modern and stronger landscaping. Lower rounder flowering trees like Dogwoods would help humanize the scale and soften the great architecture and I'd do at least three ...one where the lamppost is , one on the left of the garages and by the entry. Be sure to do the wall and beds that Jerry spoke of!
Great architecture that would not suit most people here. Good luck!

Oh, reviewing image after having read you response to my comments - one more thing the new darker paint color for the garage doors use it to paint the flashing trim at the tops of the various massing elements; this DARKER color will achieve the more finished look that you were considering - where you looked to add a structural element - do it with the PAINT, you see what I mean? Okay, and when you get the planters installed, just move the three conifers by the garage doors to the new planters (note which side faced out where they are currently planted so that you can replant them in the identical relationship to the sun as were they were previously. For your house warming I recommend a very nice RED wine.

Send me a close up of the entry, because there is something very disturbing about some sort of a white -ish trimmed door that is way wrong.

Hi Guys, love all of these ideas and so appreciate the help. I get what you mean about the garage needing to be darker. I totally agree. We haven't moved in yet so I don't have a close up photo of the front door but I attached another photo that is slighter closer. The door trim is a lighter wooden colour.

What do you guys think of the brown colour? Does it stay or should I change it? The back of the house has a huge amount of sun damage (so much so, that we could brush it off to a natural wood colour).

Love the idea of painting the flashing (it is metal, will it paint well?)

Of course it will paint well.

I like it the way it is

I'm in the camp that generally likes this, although paint would be fine (maybe a milder shade of greige)-- what I would like is better emphasis of the main entrance, which is a bit lost in the busy facade. One route would be, e.g., making the path that leads to the front door more distinct, with lighting and plantings along its right side. Another would be a paint job to really draw attention to the door -- at minimum a much bolder color choice there (chartreuse! robins egg blue!), or maybe even painting the whole area under the overhang a couple of shades lighter than the rest of the siding, to help highlight it.

I have to say, I'm liking the light colour around the entrance under the overhang and agree that opening up the steps looks cool (and I hope to make the metal planters work somehow).

I like the grey-ish stain! I have been trying to photo-shop the house a different colour, but I'm an amateur at this kind of stuff! So your photo helps a lot.

I'm not sure about the chartreuse door, it's very daring for me but the more I look at it, the more it makes me smile (it may grow on me). - Ultimately, drawing attention to the entrance seems to be a common theme. I will think about that some more.

Again, I am amazed that people are taking time to help me - this website is fantastic!