I have also spent much time thinking of ways to change the exterior appearance of a split level home to no avail. I think the main benefits to split levels are they are very practical & easier to build.

Some ideas to ponder:

Just masking the entry is about the only way I can think of.

I agree with libraeyedesign. The house has a more modern-mid century vibe. If you do an image search for modern or mid century exteriors, you'll find some great inspiration photos.

Agree with Libradesigneye. Simple solutions. I would also consider amping up your landscape to increase the curb appear. The base of the tree and along the left side of stairway could benefit from a sculpted bed bed of foliage or flowers.

If you want a more modern look I would use some wood and paint everything a lighter color. You could do bigger light and get a new front door or paint your current door. Here is a good example of this:


If you want to stay with a more natural look I would still do a fresh coat of paint (a green would work). I would also do a new door and bigger lights. You could also update the garage by painting it a color that compliments the house color and the brick colors. I have an example of this but I could not figure out how to put it on this comment so it will be on my next comment.

Here is the photo. You could also consider replacing the driveway.

You could add some stone on the stairs.

Both of those are great ideas for the long term. For this summer (try to keep it budget friendly) would you do shutters? If so, what color?

Change lanterns to midcentury modern fixtures. Add modern house numbers.

Thank you guys! This is my first time on Houzz, so I'm still learning the ins and outs of responses. But your direction is definitely helping. I knew deep down that the mid-century modern was the way to go, but I was fighting it tooth and nail. I just need to own and learn to love it.

Larger lighting. Paint front door a color! Paint window trim, olive green.

House numbers.

No shutters! They don't go with the style at all.
Work on landscaping. Less lawn! More natural beauty!
Live in the house for quite awhile and feel at home before big decisions. You might find you like it the way it is and you can spend on other things!
I have a 1958 split that I bought 20 years ago. I felt the same way as you do. I was very impatient and kept wanting to change or fix things. In fact about 5 years ago I almost put it on the market and bought a new place. Thank goodness I came to my senses. Over the years I've slowly made the house my own by investing in furniture I like, piece by piece. By painting room by room colours I love. When I could afford it I put hardwood into bedrooms that matched original in rest of house. Now I love the house. And I love the projects i'm still saving for. I tell you this because I've learned that patience and going slowly are worth it to not get sucked into the the promises of instant gratification offered by consumerism or the desire do everything to look perfect all at once and that this will make us happy. It probably will only make us poor.
I think working outside in that huge amazing yard might bring true happiness. Grow some beautiful flowers for bees and other pollinators. Grow some delicious and nourishing food to eat. Enjoy your new house. It looks really well maintained, at least from the outside. It's a really great house! Practice contentment.

Nice home; needs front porch. Forget the shutters and add a front porch. ( I readily acknowledge that I'm very prejudiced toward having a front porch.)

Begin by creating right angle to the ridge line of the existing roof with a gable facing forward -- until it extends to the front exterior wall; then add the two steep sides needed to create a barn style roof in front of the upstairs siding.

The overall porch roof could span a width that is the distance from a point near the right side of the four window group located left of the front door and extend to a point that is just to the left of the double windows located to the right of the front door. The steeper sides of the barn style roof could extend forward until just before the existing steps, likely creating a front porch about . Such a roof would shelter both front doors -- the main front door and the downstairs garage door.

http://blog.familyhomeplans.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/74833-P1-300x200.jpg

You could then begin at the lower right edge of that roof and add either an arbor or an shed roof overhang over the garage doors.

You should also consider adding a sloped sidewalk from the front porch parallel to the driveway that curves toward the driveway only when close to level with the driveway for when your knees get older and you don't want to climb steps every time you enter your home -- you'd also be creating a planting space between the sidewalk and driveway for the bushes that would need to be relocated to build your front porch.

I would do shutters. I would have them be black. Here are some pics of the shutters.

Rainy day, wet concrete, clouds, no flowers, and a one-color facade make it seem a bit dreary. If you play up the mid-century aspects as libraeye... and others are suggesting, it can make a world of difference.
And the addition of some color in the landscape will help, if you choose plantings that work in your weather zone and pair well with the modern home. Check out Houzz landscape design with modern or mid-century homes.

Here's another picture from the other side. Obviously from the fall when the lawn was dead. But I do have A LOT of yard to work with. I'm re-doing the kitchen before moving in, but waiting on the rest of the house until I've lived in it a while. Bathrooms are all original, but the kitchen was remodeled poorly about 5 years ago.

We are so pleased for you in your new house - love that first description about giving you all the elements you wanted. Hope to see what you are doing for a kitchen!

The optional item I think would be sort of wonderful and cheeky is a cable hung flat awning over the doorway - it would camoflauge the sort of arched opening over the entry door that is the only traditional thing on this house ..

What a fun house to do modern! Love the suggestions you have gotten so far. I love the look of horizontal cedar. https://www.houzz.com/photos/split-level-vinyl-siding-phbr0lbl-bl~l_143214

Oooh, this is a gem! Just add contemporary lights and brighten up the landscaping with contrasting colors (silver, yellow greens, dark greens) and call it a day. I can't see the door, but if it isn't contemporary already, switching it out to a contemporary style door will look fantastic.

You could paint the garage doors & siding in the fashionable taupes or grays of today, but the current color looks great to me.

I was attempting to paste in contemporary lights like this, but you can't really see them in my mock-up.

This home has a very nice layout and
wouldn’t take much to freshen up the look.
A brighter (gray maybe) coat of paint on the house would brighten it
up.

The landscaping would benefit from
having some stone edging around the tree and any other tree in the
property. The long driveway can get low
shrubs with some aggregate stone and edged in either aluminum edging or stone edging to keep with the theme.

Track
lighting would set off the rest of the property. The key is to highlight the various landscape
items with appropriate edging. This will
help keep the grass from overgrowing and accent the property.

What have u decided?

I don't get to move in until July so for this year I'll be working on updating the lighting (definitely going to stick with the mid-century modern theme) and adding some larger house numbers. I've also got the interior kitchen remodel which is sort of a mid-century/farmhouse inspiration in it's current phase of planning. Next spring I'll work on the some of the shrubs and I love the idea of some tall ornamental grass to add some dimension to the landscaping. Thank you for all of the ideas! This has really helped!

Show us your progress or when done.

Congratulations Lindsay, it's a lovely home! You've gotten so many great ideas. Replacing the pipe handrail in a bulky natural cedar would be another quick fix. The roof in the door alcove could also be lined with cedar planks running at right angle to the door to add brightness and warmth.

Longer term, I love Suzibell's suggestion for reorienting the entry walk. Tearing out the stairs and creating a long walk parallel to the drive with low steps spaced far apart would be so welcoming. It looks like you have a service door at the front garage, so I would think of the front door's walkway as an entry for friends and visitors from the street and end of the drive.

I bet you can't wait to move in, your new house looks very solid and well kept!

Oops, make that "Suezbell." No disrespect intended Ms. Bell!