A few suggestions:
1. Paint the board and batten wall a creme color or off white to lighten the space. Could also add the same board and batten on the side wing walls to create a room environment with like materials.
2. Add a beam structure as you mentioned in front of the adjacent sidewalks to increase the exterior sitting space. Currently doesn't look large enough for sun or rain protection.
This structure could resemble a pergola or trellis to give this area a human scale.
3. Add hanging pendant fixture centered under ridge.
4. Saw cut in a brick or bluestone patio (area rug) to break up the monotony of concrete sidewalk.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful suggestions for our front porch! Each one will be considered!! I started out just needing the type of doors to be replaced either beveled glass or the hand crafted iron double doors but as you well know one idea has led to another, let the fun begin! Your home designs are simply beautiful, a bit different than our West Texas styles,(windy here) but that is what makes it interesting! Anyway thank you for taking the time to respond to my question!.
Would the trim stay the same color (almost black but actuall a dark dark green) and the inside wall on the porch only be the lighter color? Would you cover over the brick on the wing sides if you did paint it ? Then the beam be the darker color if I added it over the gable? OK you see where I'm going, it gets confusing.... Love the light idea, had wanted to do that years ago but was afraid of hight winds. May do anyway! I had thought about coloring all the concrete on the porch (23X6) and on out to the driveway.Again thanks for the insight!

I like the idea of the board and batten being repeated on the two shorter brick walls. Then paint all three board and batten walls a ligher color up to the height of the brick. Leave the darker green color as currently painted. Any new pergola would be painted the green color to match. The lighter board and batten will create a backdrop and contrast to the green trim. Look at this site for some ideas. Does not need to be too colonial in the details. Idea is to make an outdoor space and have a sense of enclosure while sitting under a trellis.

http://www.walpolewoodworkers.com/pergolas-arbors/pergolas.aspx?Use=Define+Entry

Thank you again, You did not address the style of the doors since they are on the front of the house facing the SSWest and we do get a lot of sun and wind from that direction. Do you recommend a crafted (blk) iron double door as to a solid or beveled double glass doors. With the two large windows flanking on both sides of the door( with the visable plantation sutters inside) I have had a problem making a decision. (We now have solid wood doors.) I will play with the lighter color as you suggested on the inside of the porch and leave the darker as the trim. I may update the lights on the sides of the doors and use larger planters as someone has suggested.

Double glass doors would look beautiful. If you add a trellis to provide some shading, the glass doors and flanking windows or fixed panel doors will not need shades on the interior. Bevel glass is too formal. Would stick to a simple iron pattern. This company might give you an idea for a new door.
http://www.abbyirondoors.com/in-stock-iron-doors-entry-doors.asp

Another view head on of the porch- This is the front porch. I would like some input about possible structural options. I am not sure how you would incorporate a pergola/trellis into the front of a house. Thank you!

one more closer view

You have a beautiful home with so much potential. Personally, I think it would be well worth your money if you live in an area that has someone who draws home plans or could consult with a home builder. I think the eyesore lies in the entrance area. It seems dark (which ages it), and without life. The brick looks nice. I would definitely remove the inside blinds and consider a new door. Good luck and make sure you post pictures after it's completed. I love the front concrete.

Thank you for your comments! You are right about new doors, that is what started all of this discussion! I think I am leaning toward iron work glass doors for light and possibly painting the inside next to the windows a lighter color as suggested in the above comments..I had not thought about taking down the plantation shutters. I have considered a heavier beam gable for a new look and that is where I will need to possibly consult someone for help. We took out a large tree on the side so the light now opens it up a bit, now to put in new landscapeing!!!! Never ending.......

Please don't get me wrong, I love plantation shutters; I have them in my home. However, currently the white look doesn't go well with the exterior (as it is now). Keep us updated.

Seems like if you paint the exterior around the doors a lighter color you could keep the shutters. I am not a designer, but seems like you could lighten up the front, and then paint the trim a few shades darker ..in the creams and tans...something to match your brick. I agree with added pops of color in very large planters. I think your home is lovely!

Thank you for the suggestions, really I do appreciate each of the inputs!!!! We built this home 40 years ago and raised 3 sons in this house but now I think it is time to update!!(we will see if "hubby" will agree)

Look at "entry pergolas" on Houzz and Google images to get some ideas on how this idea was addressed on other projects. You will also need to make sure you do not have a front setback that might prohibit the expansion over the sidewalk regarding a pergola.

I guess this is what I had thought of when you suggested a pergola, this is off our bedroom on a back porch

Wow, that look great! Stained redwood? I would add the same material and components to a structure in the front. What is the terrace material? This could be used instead of the concrete at the front door.

I agree with the cream paint! i would also buy oversized lights - perhaps even a hanging lantern type in the middle. Great potiental ! I like it!

We used the colored concrete on the larger inside area with outside borders stamped with the large stone look, also stained. It wraps around the house to connect to another porch. It does need to be sealed every other summer. I've been amazed at how well the stain on our redwood pergola has lasted. We have been very pleased with the stained concrete. We also used it on our sunroom floor about 12 years ago and I wouldn't change thing, see attached image.

add a modern water feature to the walkway in front.

Brighten up the color and for drama change to one huge door!

I don't believe its a 40 year old home its nicely maintained and till date looks upto the times we live in , although id suggest to go for stucco,and have a few potted plants close to the entrance to make it look more inviting and lived in and change the Front Entrance to something more interesting like this .

Love all the ideas! Fun to see the water feature suggestion. About 10 years ago we put a pond in the circle where the bricks are now. It was really pretty and so peaceful for a while but the upkeep and keeping the fish alive was just too much! The oak tree leaves keep us busy! Really like the darker doors with the lighter background as shown. I have called a professional to address the above areas!! Will definately get bigger planters, plants, and fixtures!!! Just need to pull it all together!!!!! Thanks for the input!!!!

drawing

Wow! I love this lush green look, beautiful!!! Because we had sooo much shade from the large live oak trees we were unable to grow the type of plants that I really would have liked to have landscaped with. We did go ahead and replant with shade tolerant plants and filled in with the lava rock with metal edgeing. I am planning on putting in the black glass iron double doors and possibly a pergola as suggested above comments. You really need to get into the landscaping design business!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to do this !

I will show you what we have done so far to the landscaping project.

I like the plant choices :)

Thank you, guess time will tell, come next spring!!!

Keep the plantatin shutters with the iron door. Painting the board and batten and roof under eaves a color closer to one of those in the surrounding brick will make the area seem larger and more impressive. I do think a small, elegant outdoor fixture would add a touch of drama. Love what you have done so far.

Update from a year ago: We replanted the front beds and edged with a steel edgeing. I am very pleased with the selection of plants we selected. Texas Sage ,Black Eyes Susan, Texas Ranger (Green Cloud),Ornamental Grasses, Sage, Knock Out Roses,and especially the Desert Willow. I put larger planters at the front door with a smaller ones beside them. Still undecided about the front door replacement. (Glass doors or solid ) I guess that will come later.. With our very dry year the plants we selected have thrived.I am enclosing the pictures of our garden shed that is an ongoing project in our back yard and our side porch that I have been working on for a loooong time!