The first thing that struck me is the landscaping. The shrubs at the front porch are obscuring the house. My guess is they are obscuring the view (at least in part) from the porch. The other thing that struck me is the entry element. It looks undersized for the scale of the house.

Yes, I agree that the portico is small and not centered well on the windows. Would it look right if the that gable roof entry detail was enlarged but did not extend over the stairs? There is a 5 foot porch overhang already. There are yellow trumpet vines trained at the front porch, which faces South, and they provide shade and privacy.

P S...watch out for the trumpet vine. Don't let it get under the roof. Gorgeous but can do great damage.

3.50 mins

Does that roof need repairs? I'd worry about water ingress.

I say it is "stoner plantation hawaiin". I like it,

Lollol!

lovely home

Yes, the roof has reached the end of its life and will soon be replaced. I thought the current color worked well but I can't find an exact match. Do you think the darker roof does not work with the taupe/grey trim? Would you stain the wood columns and porch in a brown/cedar tone to give a more finished look? Thanks for the input.

What are you trying to match? Go for a medium colour you like.

Larger gable, wider steps:

No gable:Darker roof:

I like the shape of the roof the way it is, it's a really cute house, I can almost smell the pies cooking.

Trib...my favorite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHVhTFvhCMM

I would consider painting your railings white and maybe white garage door and trim around the roof line. I think a gray roof looks more updated than a brown/taupe. It's an adorable house with lots of potential!

Your roof is so dominate in the design of your home have you thought about a metal roof? It would look great on your house.
http://www.hometips.com/buying-guides/metal-roofing.html

https://www.google.com/search?q=metal+roofs&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#imgrc=tj_WpXSUdKxhoM:

Definitely Craftsman style! You can do soooo much with this! It is a charming house style! See if you can build out the verandah support posts wider as in this image. Your house is too beige. Needs a contrasting trim. White perhaps? Can you have someone clean the roof or as Katherine suggested, get a metal one? Some look like cedar shakes and are insulated. You won't hear rain. We used to have one. Paint the railings and trim around the windows. Get permanent steps made. If you paint wooden ones, remember to add grit to the paint to stop them from becoming slippery. You also could use porch furniture...wicker maybe? With brightly patterned colourful cushions.

in Ontario Canada there is a very expensive area called The Muskoka's. It is just north of Toronto. Traditionally the cottages there are Craftsman style. Many movie stars like Goldie Hawn have places there. Here is one cottage I LOVE! You can paint up yours similar. See the cut out window above the roof? Just like yours!

I would also get wider trim made for around the windows, and a decorative one for the top of the little window cut into the roof.

Painting railings is second only in tedium to hanging crystal chandeliers, but I had nothing else to do this morning... A dark railing disappears; a lighter one stands out:

Nice pics groveraxle. I vote medium tone roof with greige undertones, think weathered shakes, and a light toned taupe, as in the exterior color reduced by 50%.

This pic isn't the exac color of your home but doesn show a cream/light taupe trim against a darker taupe paint.....the creamy midtone will give a lesser contrast to the house whereas a deep green or grey will be minimal contrast and white will be high contrast....all depends on the 'look' your are trying to achieve. This picture has a lot of detail on thehouse the the lighter color highlights these details rather than the house itself.

A beautiful craftsman example and love the soft tones....wish my house had more areas that could be highlighted like the wider paintable trims. Groveraxle thanks for the post and rail color samples. Thx all.

I too would suggest a metal roof for your house, but I would suggest a white, ivory, or stone color for contrast. Then, I would suggest you paint all the trim and doors white to continue the contrast and also add white shutters. Some colorful plants will go a long way in brightening the space.

I think the monochromatic color is fine. I would not do a gray roof. Try to get as close as the current, which I think is the sample on the left. Definitely expand the gable the way goveraxle pictured. Then add color in your landscaping and with container plantings.

Here's the thing: The most prominent, predominant surface on your house is the roof, not the walls. Spend money on a roof upgrade and it will pay off. I'd also suggest a metal roof; it's more expensive, but lasts forever and is a real statement.

The walls and windows are secondary to the roof.

I also agree that the landscaping needs work and that enormous driveway needs to be cut back a lot. It makes the house look really desolate and lonely.