Agree with what she said -- would add that I would replace both the door and the sidelights, which seem odd -- you can frost them most of the way if you need privacy there. Table and chair to right of door could be cute too.

It's hard to tell from this photo but the space to the right of the door is a planter about 2'x3'.

I agree something tall-ish planted to the left of the window would be nice. Maybe some boxwood across the front kept trimmed low...below the bottom of the window. Something with colorful blooms to flank the stairs would look nice. Take this photo to a nursery and ask for planting suggestions. Love the idea of a swing, table/chair or bench to the left of the door.

Landscaping ( that's what is needed most ) , window boxes under the 5 windows, can't see what your door is like, but new door?, light fixture (s), bench on porch, tweaks like that. I would also consider revamping the front walkway widening it some on the left & doing something about the narrow grass strip next to the driveway .

Can you grow anything in the planter? Seems as if the overhang would prevent sun and rain needed for plants. Yes, a new door and fresh landscaping. Check with your local nursery for ideas or a plan to follow.

The flat roof actually has a cut out above the planter.

Thanks for the ideas. These are great!!!

First thing I would do is replace your front door and add shutters to your windows. You can do this fairly quickly and make sure you use a color on both that makes them "stand out" meaning don't use white :)) I would do landscaping last and with a $10K budget you can afford a landscape designer or just follow advice from local nursery. They have some great guides on Houzz that will help you with what works in your part of the U.S.A. you live in and with lots of pictures too! Good Luck and I hope you post some "After" pictures.

I disagree about the shutters. The window is way too big for shutters, it won't look right at all. (I say this as a person who has shutters that aren't the appropriate size for the window, but can't remove them)

Oh that's good news. Have you tried planting anything in the planter yet? An evergreen ivy would be nice to trail over the edge, with added annuals for color. I like the bungalow details of your home.....BTW. I think addressing the door and landscaping would suffice for additional curb appeal. Landscaping can easily be done in stages.....think about trees & shrubs first. They will take the longest to grow but will provide you with a foundation or backdrop for future tweaks via perennials & low growing ornamental shrubs. Do get a plan done that you can refer to as you go along. 5k can get a good amount of landscaping done. Reconsider the front walk. Mull over photos for ideas.

Thanks. Great suggestions!

This is a nice brick Craftsman, which is uncommon in that most Craftsman are predominately wood. At any rate, use the Craftsman as your guide for any changes.

The front door and sidelights are the first thing I would change. Something like this:

This door is a classic Craftsman and the sidelights are about the same size as yours. But notice the trim color on this example, too. I would change the house trim white to something more earthy.

You could box in the posts with cedar (or painted wood) and add a matching railing. (Actually, your porch needs a railing since it is so high off the ground; I'm surprised there isn't one there already.) You could do a simple one like this:

Next, hand prune the leafless shrubs on the left so they are at least 6 inches below the window ledge. Prune the one by the steps so it is one third its size or remove it. Over all add a few more shrubs to fill in.

Good luck!

Thank you! I was trying to figure out the style ..thought it was a hybrid between bungalow and craftsman!

It is hard to find photos of all brick Craftsman for inspiration. I'm trying to find an example of how to change the all white trim colors to something earthy that will compliment the brick of your house.

Here is a wood structure with some red brick. The trim is a combination of a deep cream with a deep reddish brown (or taupe.)

I think you're right. Bungalow and Craftsman are very similar. When was the house built?

1913

I would change the door and the railing first!
Can you paint the house?

Paint white if you could and change the door. Put some beautiful pots on that porch and change that railing.

I think what is most lacking is a white railing on the porch. It is probably required by code, too, if my guestimate of your porch height is correct. Wrap the existing posts to make them bulkier as noted above and add a white railing across the front and down the stairs on each side, to replace the wrought iron. Historically accurate.

An easy landscaping update is to add shrubs to the strip of grass between the drive and the walkway. I love lavender in that situation because it is low maintenance and tidy without the rigid structure of a pruned hedge. Plus, no more mowing! And historically accurate!

:-D

All good suggestions. I would also add replace the front window with something better looking with trim. If in the budget a new walkway in brick or stone and at least paint the stairs.

Sorry to echo you Kate! Posted while I was writing :)

Kate's right about the railing!

Thanks. Do you have examples of windows with the trim I should consider?

Wow! I was guessing 1930 to 1950! What a gem.

By the way, I am firmly against painting brick exteriors. While it might look good initially, it shows dirt and turns almost maintenance free exterior into a huge expense over the years.

Adding a porch railing is a must! I'm surprised your home insurance has not insisted that you put one up. We moved into our house 2 years ago next month and the first thing our home insurance company told us to do was put up a porch railing since the previous owners did not have one up. It does make the porch look better along with fresh paint and new landscaping that I had done last Spring!

Agree with not painting the brick!

I echo what chloebud said!

Add blue spruce pine at the Windows. Replace your small evergreens.....add sedum blue pearl mini flowering plant at the left side of stairs and on the right hand side change the bush to a hydrangea bush

Yes to a painted wood railing....replace the wrought iron one, too! Your house is adorable. New landscaping /hard scaping will be great.

I think your front windows are fine. If your found a pleasing combination of two colors to replace all the white all the architectural details of the house would shine. I just did a search of 1913 Craftsman Bungalows looking for windows like yours. While this one has three window sections, the panes also have a diamond pattern, which yours do not.

It could be that your original front windows were replaced with a single pane at some time. Are your operable? I mean are they casement that have a crank to open them?

But you can see from this picture that the two colors around the window give it depth and interest.

The house is super cute.

The porch columns do need to be bulkier.

The front door and side lights need work.

And perhaps paint the steps and add a bench to the left of the door.

Plus some carefully considered shrubbery.

Here is another example of a bank of windows in a Craftsman with a slightly different style, two small windows over one large. If you were to go to expense of replacing the window, this is the style I'd suggest.

I like the brown and red color combination, too.

While you're working on the landscaping pull the front beds out from the house in a soft curve instead of going straight across. I would recommend using stone (not this glaring white edging) or you could simply mulch without any stone. But this gives you an idea. Include the tall tree on the end of the house in the new bed design.

Is there a porch...it seems like there is one but it looks weird on how to get to it

Great question. The porch was on the side just behind the front door. It was enclosed about 50 years ago and is now a sunroom.

i really like the idea someone had of encasing the columns to make then more substantial. The other thing I would do is to install a really nice landscape.