You could also address the landscaping. A flagstone or pavingstone border would add some definition to your asphalt driveway. The planting could use an upgrade. Consider removing the shrubs lining your foundation, and bringing the planting beds off the house. Some columnar trees on the corners like Dawyck Beech would add some height, and perhaps a specimen tree like Japanese Maple with a mix of flowering shrubs and perennials would add some colour and texture. Good luck!

I would leave the wall until you have done everything else on your list. It's really terrific. I'm not a mason but common sense tells me that taking down part of that wall must be problematic! It's not like taking down a picket fence. For me the wall ties nicely into the house. Give it a chance. You could put a black bench in front of it if you landscape in front of the wall. There will be many design options down the road. Why don't you do your improvements, save the wall, and come back to us?

So glad you love your new home! I think a few changes will make this work for you. I would not add a porch on the left side of the house. Junef22 nailed it.

-Take out the small section of wall that juts out in front of the walkway and remove the large shrub in front of it

-Add a small pitch roof to the roofline above the walkway and hang lights along the walk.

-Extend the front walk out past the carport so that people don't feel like they have to walk into your carport to get to the front door. It feels awkward.

-Remove the screen door and paint the front door a more eye catching color. If you need a storm door, go with one solid glass pane.

-Window boxes below the windows on the left would be nice

First things I would do: turn carport into garage and pull back the front wall to here:

Love that groveraxle

Then add in the path curving to the driveway. Add in some landscaping along the left of the path. Very nice.

@Rachel Eichberger Did you finish the project? We're looking at buying a similar house, and I'd love to know how these ideas worked out for you. Our front walk to the door is even more narrow...