Looks as though someone took a ranch house and added a partial second floor. It's important to continue the details to the addition like the shutters. Also the hedge in the front needs to be pruned back by half and revitalized.

Remove the overgrown bushes and put something good for your area that does not come as high as windows. Replace black railing with something more modern or remove completely. Take it off and see how it looks without and if you feel it is better with one put a more modern style on. New lights and house number that pop and are in proportion with the front door size and if you have room in your budget for a new door, great, if not, paint the one you have.

Hi Beverly,

Thank you for the response but I'm looking foe something considerably more substantial than just adding matching shutters (don't like shutters at all). I would like to give that house a different look..larger windows, different type of siding, etc.

i think your "(reasonably)" threw off commenters. changing windows and siding may be a reasonable expense to you but not to a lot of posters... folks were thinking you were asking for low cost options.

Fair point. What could I with a 75-100K budget?

Garden would revamp the look.

You could hire a good landscape designer to address the monotonous and formal look of the regimented and overgrown landscape and create something spectacular. And maybe a painter to change the colors. That's about it a 75K budget. Add another 150K to continue the upper floor extension over the rest of the house, and another 75-100K to completely revamp the cladding and windows to a modern look.

Hire a good local designer or architect to help you with a long term plan to do changes in stages.

Wow Sophie, 75K just for the lawn and house paint? I guess I need to read up on gardening because I was totally not expecting that. Not interested in any additions since the house size is already a little big for our needs. Just want to transform what's already there.

Landscaping is so much MORE than "lawn". A good plan from a Pro incorporates Design that makes for a more attractive home. It includes hardscaping, architectural structures and features, and Thoughtful and appropriate plant placement. Like Not planting a blue spruce 15' away from the house. Etc.

You really could benefit from an integrated design approach here that took into account the land and the home as a whole.

Understood but landscaping would not be the #1 concern right now..the lawn looks decent as is (basically) the same as the other houses in the neighborhood). The appearance of the house is what I'd like to change first because I find it very unappealing.

Yes, landscaping can be expensive if done right & includes nice hardscape. I just spent $35k having a new front patio & entrance to it done. Stone, pavers, plants, good landscape lighting ( $100+ each! )really adds up not to mention labor costs.

Hi L. Constantin I'd like to give you some suggestions re. landscaping. Can you please tell me your climate zone? If you're not sure, this link to USDA Climate Zone will tell you. Just enter your zip code. Thanks! http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/

75k in landscaping would be overkill for that house. Get new siding, shutters, front door. Post a picture of something you like.

75k should get you that plus windows. That's a big budget.

I like if warm grey accents the brick, like BevFLA showed....

what room[s] are upstairs? since you mentioned large windows....

Yes this an add on later over a ranch style home, the name of the look not quit sure! Paint the top part as Beverly showed on here. Landscaping next as you could have a great looking one for the size of yard! I would take the hedges out as new planting would enhance your curb appeal!

Ken