Love all those windows! I think it needs prettier landscaping all around. But I'm not sure if garden upkeep is a problem if this is a second house. A patio overlooking the lake would also be lovely.

Is the solid brick the back of the house?
Where is the parking area?
And what area of the country is the house located in?

The back actually looks decent, I would suggest adding a porch in the front and go for a more period / cottage look.

Is the brick side the front or the back?

The solid brick side faces the driveway/ 'front'. The back of the house faces the lake so it looks more like the 'front'.

I had thought about maybe taking out the fireplace and adding double glass patio doors that led out onto a new screened porch....It just needs something to spice it up a little....It is very plain right now.

The front/driveway/brick side is terribly plain too.

Anyone have any ideas to dress up the front? Could a tin roof be put on a house with this pitch and still look good?

I have some ideas, but haven't had the opportunity to write them out yet. Busy season for me. I will post my ideas the very first chance I have though. You didn't tell me what state. The reason I am asking is so I can suggest the right plants. My background is horticulture.

It's located in Georgia. I can't wait to hear your ideas.

What a lovely little cottage. I agree the landscaping is lacking. I'd do a wood deck in back with railing but instead of using wood, if it is affordable for you use the composite that will never need replacing. I'd start it where the wood on the house starts in back and go to the edge of the house, unless you want to give it more interest, extend it but give it a rounded edge on the outside. In the front I'd either use brick of a similar color or pavers and extend if about 4 feet from the house beginning about 2 feet to the right of the door and wrap it around the side of the house to the door next to the fire place going to the nearest side of the fireplace.. Small evergreen shrubbery or lirope could border the brick/paver patio and planted pots could grace the area. I'd plant bushes under the double window to the right of the front door and place shutters on either side of the window further to the right. Keep the shutters the same color as the front door and plant lower shrubbery all across the front. For visual interest a trellis or pagoda could be a possibility too with a vine planted on it. Just my thoughts.

Don't take out the fireplace. That's a big mistake. How much is your budget? What do you want to accomplish for the house? How do you like to live in your house?

Looks like you'll need a new roof soon. Yes, you can put a new metal roof on with that pitch, as long as it's OK. with local building codes. If you want sliders, the best way is to punch through the windows on the back near the fireplace, perfect, and easy to do actually. It's also the the place for a big deck or a small one as your budget dictates. Why do you want double glass doors? The cheapest and easiest thing to do would be to replace the existing back door with a single french door slab, perhaps even using the existing jamb and opening. If the slab door doesn't match, then go ahead and just buy the prehung unit. Very easy to do, and if you get one with mullions it will match the windows you have. Then you could center the deck on that door and make it as big as you wish. Personally, I like patios better than decks, but you have a lot of dirt to move here and you'll have to build a retaining wall to hold it. In your case a deck will be cheaper, and leave room in the budget for a non-slip composite deck, with all that water around and the trees you have, don't even think about wood. If the budget cllas for a screened in porch, then it would be very easy to tie a new ridge into your roof line. Definitely will want to do this before putting a new roof on at some point. If budget allows, a portico, or covered entry way on the front, (the fascade with brick) would be really nice, and could be done also at the time the roof is done.

Darling place! To dress up the front bring the front door up to the same level as the windows for the eye - add a wooden header perhaps - put a flowering tree at the corner of those windows and a little round garden. Azaleas are perfect for Georgia. I'd do alittle something with the trim around those windows for a little pop of interest, maybe a pale yellow

When you say "outside of house", are you intending to dive into the structure of your house and do a major remodel? Or are you just thinking about landscape? With either, I'd check with an architect and/or a landscape architect who can give you some specific ideas for your house. If you remodel the house, you'll want to take into consideration the orientation of the building for sunlight and crosswinds as well has how you approach it from the driveway and/or lake area. Sometimes it's not the house that's the problem as much as it is the way it connects with the areas around it. Your house appears to be mostly disconnected with the outside areas (no walkways, patios etc...) and if this is a lake house then I'm guessing you might want to spend more time outside in purposefully built places as opposed to a random lawn chair in the middle of the yard. Some architects/landscape architects will offer a few hours of consulation services that will get you going in the right direction without breaking your budget.
Based only on the photos you attached, I would suggest working mostly with the landscape and leaving the basic bones of he house as they are. Perhaps painting the house a different color (not the brick, but the parts which are already painted), will freshen up the look and make it more cohesive.
Any time you start a project which can cost quite a bit of money - don't rush into it, take time, think it through and get a plan before you start...you'll find that it will save you money overall and you'll end up happier with the results.

I like the existing color it is already painted. I choose a dk. mallard green for the front door or a dark evergreen.

I saw an outdoor livingroom with a roof like trellis that was wonderful and maybe could define your outdoor space while giving you the 'lake appeal' you want. Not sure about your existing fireplace but maybe you add a firepit to the outside side of it. A nice patio with a seating and a grill? Then on the lake front continue the trellis for lounge chair semi shade. I would build a small covered gable for the door to define it and to give you coverage from the car to the kitchen on those hopefully few rainy days...enjoy and let us know what it turns out like. Your house is so great already.

also, the trellis aligns with the wood siding areas...

I wouldnt take out the fireplace either, I have a lake home and I wouldnt know what to do without my fireplace, are you looking for a "cottage" style, how about some shakes on the area other than brick? You can even due vinyl shakes instead of cedar. Also you could pain the brick as an accent color or leave it as is...Certainly needs a deck and some landscaping..Nice place!

Don't know your budget (and that is most important)! But being able to sit outside is paramount when you have a lake house! A screened porch facing the lake would be ideal.

I would replace the kelly green and yellow trim with a more natural palette taken from the brick -- maybe a set of light and dark brown or some warm grays. That will get it out of the 60s (in the front) and help it feel part of the woods (back).

Then, longer-term, plantings and a sidewalk out front. Flagstone patio out back. Maybe eventually a porch in the front with a bench under the high window...

3yr old post.