This is what I am really wanting to do, just not sure that it will look right on my home given the amount of siding needed.

Is that garage door still leading into the garage? From your photo, it looks like perhaps the driveway was abandoned and that maybe the garage is elsewhere.

Yes, that still leads into the basement. The garage door will also be replaced when we update the outside of the house. I would like to have a carriage style door. The sliding glass doors to the side will have an arbor installed over them.

I'm confused. You say the garage door "leads into the basement" which makes me think it leads into interior living space. So let's make sure we understand each other -- does the garage door open up to a garage space in which you could/do park your car?

you know.... is there any chance of you changing the garage space with the slider space? because while your house is similar to your inspiration photo, yours has the garage kind of in the middle which i think looks vaguely sketchy. (there is a house in my town that has the garage in the middle of the first floor and that is def sketchy.

anyway, if you would really like to straighten things out and vastly improve the appeal of your house, consider putting the garage into the lower level of the addition and moving your living space inside. it would completely un-sketchify your house.

or else, change the garage door to the worlds most invisible garage door and extend the arbor across there and make it look like its not a garage at all. your basketball hoop doesnt hide it quite enough.

adding, any chance to make the upstairs window in the addition match the others?

The garage door leads into the basement. You could park a car in there but it is mainly just for storage. We do not park in there. The paved drive is our only parking though. The sliding door leads into a finished bedroom and bath. I do like the idea of hiding the entire garage door and extending the arbor over the whole thing. I hadn't noticed the windows not matching, but now it stands out! Will be adding that to the list now!

I would love to put three large windows on the addition but there is a closet in that space just to the left of the small window.

Thank you! We were considering putting in French Doors on the addition, would that look better? I love the idea of putting brick on either side of the lower half of it as well. Are you saying put the shake style siding on the gable?

Is there anyone who could possibly superimpose what a full length porch across the front would look like? My husband just suggested that option but I am not sure how it will work with that wall.

You mean like a deck over the lower area?

Shake siding on the upper addition AND the gable - unify the siding that way. It is horizontal which is needed next to the brick.

A single door with windows will feel more appropriate at that location next to a garage than a french door - a french door would need to go on the end or into a backyard unless that is a commercial space. A single french divided light door next to windows with siding below will also make the room so much more functional with additional wall space. Yes you have to build a little pony wall with brick outside and drywall inside but it will be worth it.

Shake siding on both would look beautiful! And yes, a deck that extends from the existing porch all the way across the front to the end of the addition.

A covered deck, guess I should clarify. I don't know how that would work with the lines of my gable and the house though.

Add your windows to the addition in the same size as the rest of the house. Closet gets a window or is changed. Replace garage door and sliders with matching doors.....Carriage doors, french doors, whatever. Build a pergola over those two doors and create a patio area. Maybe match the pitch of the pergola to the covered porch. shutters all around. Hardie siding would be really nice.... but not necessary.

Great ideas @magenta77. Thank you all very much for the input!