Love your home, it is adorable! Not sure about the wood shakes idea, as it would be hard to fit in in such a restricted area, although it might be great. Painting the front door, and ideally replacing the storm door with an updated, more modern model would be nice. You have room for a few plants, (perhaps evergreens for winter color) and even a small bench or chair. Maybe a more prominent and decorative porch light and address numbers would be attractive. I love the clean lines and clerestory windows above, and I like the color of the house now. I think the yellow might be nice, but would not go with the dark brown on the side beams, as it seems that would make the house look smaller and would draw attention to the wrong areas. Because of the inset porch, the house already has 3 planes, and the brown would just chop it up more. Just my opinion, hope it helps.

I actually like the color of the house (in general).. I agree it needs color.. I cannot tell from the photo if the windows are new (replacement) or original to the house.. If possible have you considered painting just the trim work.. You could also save money and paint the overhang, gutters, or just stain the front porch concrete for some added interest to the house.. Some flowering plants (or red evergreen type plants) are a must as well... I love the style of the house.

I would def paint the front door as it took me a minute to find it! I would add a bench and a few potted plants to the landing to give it some interest. Perhaps just paint the window trim a sunny yellow to break up all the white.

Put a modern planter that has an interesting shape and a bright color on the porch. Paint the door in a color that complements the planter. Plant some flowers in the planter and in the landscape. Lose the storm door. No shakes for this house. To do so would go against the original style.

I agree, shakes do not fit with the style of this house. The style is so cool with that liitle raised portion in the middle. I like the main color, would add a second color for the trim and a third for accenting the front door. Maybe a colorful bench on the porch:

Thank you all for your feedback - great to hear other ideas.
The picture I posted was from the listing when we bought the house.. I thought putting a plain picture people could get a better idea of paint but apparently it doesnt need it.
The picture below is how I have it decorate for now. And some of you might be happy to see that I have not 1 but 2 planters :)
I think with what Ive heard we need a splash of paint on the trim or door.
Maybe the patio screen door could be changed to the photo below. That might suit the house more.
Thanks again everyone (keep the feedback coming)

Very cute! I still agree with the previous posters - a bench would be nice. I think the two chairs and table in the middle distract from the clean lines of your home. I am not a designer but the storm door feels too dainty to me. This house almost feels like a bungalow type so simpler lines? Good luck!

i love your idea of the yellow an shakes!! GO FOR IT!!

Thanks for the updated photo. Nice to know the house isn't actually a dirty white color but a light tan.

You have a lot of white trim on the house and the contrast between the white and tan doesn't seem to be much. I'd give serious consideration to repainting the light tan in a slighter richer color which would make all your white trim pop more. Consider painting the fascia board a tone or two darker than the body of the house or a complementary/contrast color.

A completely different color for the front door is certainly an option (think Elizabeth Arden and red door) in whatever complementary vivid color of your choice. However, since your front door is not actually front facing, some of the advantages of that high contrast are going to be lost. You could even consider painting the house door a very dark neutral (charcoal?) and leaving the screen/storm door white in front of it; that would bring the door to more prominence without losing the white trim continuity.

Such a cute house! Would love to see the house painted a darker color like a taupe/grey. Keep all trim white for accent. Glad you shared a photo of your decorated porch. If I may suggest an updated light fixture & add rug under the two chairs (ditch the blanket). Wind chime is a nice touch. I would paint the front door for a pop of color like a rich golden yellow. Or red! Good luck!

I'd paint the alcove a darker neutral color, and a brighter accent color on the door to make the entry pop. A Splurge would be to paint the trim and eves the same as the alcove, or a deeper shade of the same. A Frank Lloyd Wright inspired pallette would look great. Don't think shingles fit the architectural style.

this type of planter at the front of the entrance slab might be just the touch you need.

I agree with ikwewe and bonmio that a bench would look much nicer, and cleaner than the two chairs.

The porch appears cluttered.

You might consider painting your door like this.

http://houzz.com/ideabooks/4324504
I found a picture you might like to see what a dark color with white trim looks like.

I like Aja's idea - especially that black bench. So clean. Agree about a light fixture, too and a great planter.

Love JudyG's idea!

For one month in I would not do a thing to the exterior other than paint the door if you just want to give it a little snap. I suggest you live in the house 3-6 months and get a feel for what would suit and soothe you and your family and then incrementally add changes. But as it stands now. It would look nice with a pitched metal roof with copper flashing to accentuate that little lighthouse feature on top. Then paint the door a bolder color. I actually like the color of the house but think you would get tremendous bang if you invested in a front yard redo that puts in aLOT of annual color. Structurally, you could consider down the road putting in a matching bay window on the left side of the house. But for now add just a small outdoor rug and 2 of those wire type chairs for the front porch area and some nice lanterns to flank the porch area. It sort of strikes me as a houseboat shape so I would go with nautical lanterns and stay with colors that remind one of the water.

Have fun.

I believe in color, so would definitely paint your house. The addition of shakes, though, seems wrong, but painting the entry alcove a different color than the other walls would be a good way to differentiate that area and draw your eye to it. I would also paint the door, definitely, a darker contrasting color. There are a whole range of good choices for such a color scheme, one could be: warm yellow for the regular walls, sage green for the alcove, barn red for the door, cream for the trim. Some paint manufacturer's websites allow you to upload a photo of your house and try out some of the colors. Give that a whirl and see what you think.

I agree with Christine -- live in it for a while! If you discover you are using that front porch, it may change how you want to furnish it, and I can see the desire, also for a screen door. I would stick to clean lines, not a Victorian cutie, though. I think the clean lines and color of the house are advantages, and you can get color through plants & annuals. Maybe a railing going up the street-side of the entrance steps and across the porch? Or a planter as suggested - that could give you a bit of privacy.

This appears to be a modern, post and beam house, a bit like Eichler houses in California. Accordingly, the character of the house will be strengthened by using "mid-century" modern materials and related elements. The existing screen/storm door definitely needs replacement, but certainly not with the antebellum door in the picture above, which only belongs on historical period houses of a certain historical style. Don't load up the front porch with a lot of little knik-knacks--keep the sense of space and direction intact. A continuous painted "L" shape wood planter, about 18"-24" high (or a continous wood slat bench) would visually define the porch and clearly indicate where the entry sequence takes place. Additional, higher landscaping around two sides of the porch would reinforce the visual and functional appearance of the front elevation. Repainting everything would be a final improvement. Good luck!

LOVE your house! Replace old storm door with a more updated wooden one, paint front door a fun color, add a chair or bench and potted plant in a cool contatiner and you are good to go! The house is adorable as is and any color you add to front door and with accessories will make it pop!

Paint the door in your favorite color, Only the door.

Paint the door (darker colour) and the trim (coordinating lighter colour). Maybe add some shutters. A tall evergreen on the left side of the house (per photo) would do wonders. So would a nice size colourful pot by the door with vining plants plus tall plants.

So cute! A bright sunny yellow would be a great choice, as previously mentioned. If you're a little more daring, how about a pink door (but don't paint anything else)? That would add that "pop", no doubt about it! Maybe I'm just crazy and have eccentric taste! Remember - the great thing about painting is you can always paint over it!

Definitely paint the horizontal trim the brown you like, it will highlight the architectural features. Perhaps a medium shade(same color family) in the central entry area on all 3 walls to draw attention to the entry.

The door should have a great color that makes it stand out as well. Burnt orange would be great with matching urns on the porch that are nicely planted with colored grasses. If you keep the storm door, paint it to match the house door, otherwise just get rid of it.

Your house is really cute and has potential to be a knock-out. It is mid-century modern / Eichler as Virgil Carter mentions. As such, this is now something of a distinct architectural style, strongly influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's designs. I agree that you should wait a few months before doing anything major, and while you are waiting, do some homework on this style. It shouldn't be hard to google 'mid-century achitecture' and fiind lots of photos to guide your changes. Houzz may have a bunch too. Anything that accentuates the horizontal lines would be good.

I used to live in a big neighborhood where the houses were all mid-century and built in the early1960's. In the 80's people began remodeling, enlarging, turning carports into garages, changing the window styles, etc. Many lost their architectural integrity and looked terrible. In the last five years, younger families have bought the houses and are returning them to their original styles when possible.

For some reason, as soon as I saw this picture of your house I imagined it in a beautiful charcoal grey with white trim and a white door. I think it would look so classic and cozy. Then you could add plants and outdoor furniture to the porch! How charming!!!

Personally, I think you should hire someone to add texture and color to the concrete near the front of your house. I have seen some old, not so great looking concrete turn into beautiful stone like slabs. Now that would make an entrance!

Whoa - so much help. I went on Benjamin Moore's website where they allow you to upload a photo of your house and try out other colors (Anthony O. James suggestion - Thank you!) It gave me some really good ideas of what would suit our house. I am in my twenties so I wasnt alive in the 60's when these houses we around so its great to hear what people think suit these homes. I really appricate everyones help. I will be sure to upload photos once we get some work done :)

For lots of good photos and resources, Google images for Eichler homes, or go here: http://www.google.com/search?q=eichler+homes&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uP9lUMHXEIiB0AHj0oGwCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1351&bih=825