It faces water. see attached

a few pic of entrance. thanks!

I like the brick! I think it's unique to have a brick house, I don't think there are that many anymore. What about painting it white with a shiny varnish? I have some brick outside my doorway but I'm in a rental and landlord would probably flip. I wonder if you can paint brick. Decorative column definitely sounds good to me, give the front more dimension and depth. Make it look like a grand facade with depth. Add a half gazebo attached to the front of the house or full gazebo, I've never seen that done before.

I would change or conceal the small white drain pipe, if you can't conceal it to the side, put a wooden trellis over it.

Your house is very attractive. What it needs is proper landscaping. It needs corner plantings at the left corner of the house, and foundation plantings between the two left windows of the house and in front of the chimney and brick wall. You might be able to find a local nursery who will draw up plans for you.

i don't know what is to the right of the wrought iron. That's the most distracting part of the house to me, but it could just be because I can't make out from the picture what it is.

Your house is very attractive. Proper landscaping does wonders at improving curb appeal.

paint downspout and garage door a medium taupe or gray taken from brick. don't remove or add materials. thicken up porch posts. live there for a while before doing much else.

(no external entry pic posted, so no advice on door color, lighting, or anything else to draw the eye there.)

I agree with leaving the brick as it is and beefing up posts and painting downspouts so they disappear. Would like a photo of the house straight on, but it doesn't need much. It's already a good-looking house.

I would do the new German smear over your brick..it would be beUtiful...and add some wood accent trim at porch painted out in Benjamin Moore...Earl Gray...also paint out windows, trim and downspouts.

Oops here are a couple images!

Hello. Would you mind taking a picture where I can see the garage door more clearly? Thanks

I would remove that glassed-in porch for sure. Also that little wrought iron post on the left.

Agreed on the wrought iron. The glass-in porch is actually a breezeway, connecting the gargage to house so you don't have to walk outside. I'm open to ideas to make it look better however

The glass enclosure doesn't fit the style of the house, though I can see how it might be very useful. It really chops up the front. Consider painting the siding, downspouts, and trim on the porch and garage all the same color.

I really like the 2nd image with cream color door/siding. wouldn't I want to use that same color for all trim in front as well including windows and gutters? I will replace the iron column with wood and paint that same color too.

What style do you prefer?

Are you taking out the wall where the front door is located? This is not making any sense to me? No one puts the front door on the side of the house.

If that iron column isn't structural, remove it and don't replace it.

I would do the window trim, fascia board, gutters, and posts in a color lighter than the cream, more like the white you have now. I'd do the garage and the interior wall in the creamy color, then do the exterior siding, downspouts, and trim in a darker taupe-ish color so it all reads as one.

Paint exterior all one color, greige, grey or off-white. New door and pretty furniture wicker, etc., hanging ferns etc in sunroom. New high quality garage and front door. Probably some new landscaping. Should look good.

love it! How about even painting the brick a grayish color like this photo?

Yes you have to paint it all the same color..not understanding the suggestion of only garage and porch..looks ;(.......did you look into the German smear? or whitewashing the brick I think it would look beautiful! I really think you need to remove that enclosure it really takes away from that beautiful long front porch...is their no entrance into your home from garage..not understanding why to the porch? Just curious....you have such a wonderful spot on the water I am jealous:)

you are correct, there is no entrance into the home from garage that is why there is a breezeway. i'm not really sold on smear/whitewashing brick look.

Look at this white with gray walk and new entrance for you?

Could make the entrance with a porch walkway to the garage

Do you want it to have a modern look or cottage look?

modern

I'm looking for an online designer who can use photoshop or similar to create drawings for us on this house. Please message me if that is a service anyone on houzz can provide. thx

No one can "message" you. You will need to provide an email address.

I'm looking for an online designer who can use photoshop or similar to create drawings for us on this house. Please message me if that is a service anyone on houzz can provide. thx joshjanzen@gmail.com

I would completely enclose the porch and add 2 small windows to mirror the other side of front...paint the entire house in White...all white trim add a new light stained wood front door..add modern black slat Bermuda shutters over the small windows. Gorgeous!

I would add a back entrance to the garage with a screened porch or breezeway in the back. That front breezeway is ruining a beautiful house.

The brick is nice. The problem is that 7-11 asphalt parking lot in front of the house. Yikes! That's hideous.

Any changes on your ranch?

yes. we liked your advice of enclosing the porch. we are going to shoot for a look very similar to this. our chimney in front will have new stone matching the posts. will also build gable entry and most likely a dormer similar to the one pictured.

What about making all those temporary 'glass(?)' windows permanent, and remove the wall with small windows behind it?

Oh thats great!! Keep me posted..would love to see the finished product!! If you don't go all white...I have some great exterior colors I could pass on.:))

I'm going to updating the exterior similar to this photo. However, I'm framing in the open porch (I live in MN) converting it to a mud room, adding a front door (in front of other door). Should I add two small windows in mud room as well like the left side of home? Not sure if it's important to attempt to create a symmetrical look.

Hello, joshjanzen! This is an interesting design! If you are interested in lighweght brick veneer or stone for your column, let us help you to find the best match! Peace ;)