Honestly, all you have to do is paint the trim around windows and eaves (or right under the roof ) a rich black or dark charcoal. then I would brighten up the door and pick a nice blue that pairs well w/the stone. or maybe a rich, lighter teal shade.

forget the nude color. maybe even tone down the top one for the doors. although I like the blue option better. but this rich black w/your stucco looks good.

mindshift, can you do the trim in black and paint the door in that blue I have above?

Take the porch roof from stone panel to stone panel. Put wide shutters on the two big windows. At the moment, the building is just a mass. A strong earth line (horizontal) would change the feel.

Beth H., here is the picture you requested. Unfortunately, it's impossible to get the detail of the door to show through, but I think it's close to what you intended.

The point you and I made is that the house needs contrast. I used a neutral because the owner seemed to be going for a monotone. jbtanyderi, while I like a wide porch roof and think that expansion would be helpful, I do not like shutters, especially on large windows. One last thing sheltonkara, get rid of the bush that is right in front of your door. Never plant shrubs between the street and your front door; it's not visually welcoming.

I so appreciate all the feedback. I like the idea of painting trim and extending widening porch from stone to stone. Also thank you for advise about the shrub, never even noticed it before but your right.

Is your front door good wood or painted? Looks really good as is from the photos. Definitely expand the awning...great observation!! A nice neutral on all your trim would be perfect. Mock ups from mindshift really make your trim stand out beautifully. Just not so yellow/brown or black. Maybe a medium Gray with green undertones would compliment the stone? good luck...gorgeous home!

I agree the overhang should be extended.

You could stain the rock walls.

The home is of contemporary design and it's too batten the board and batten wasn't kept. If would have been the first thing I'd bring back if $$$ were no object.

I might do a natural finish on the front doors,

or replace them with something like this.

Maybe have custom grids made up with this for your contemporary windows.

Your light fixture fades into the stone. Perhaps something larger with darker metal would work.

My front door is a stain. Kind of a red stain

Would love to know your input on this look. I would still widen the porch. Its different angle on house and an older pic.

Or is this too dated?

I'm with beverlyFLAdeziner above! There is nothing wrong with your home looking like it was constructed in the 70's. It was! Adding traditional window grids would be really confusing. I highly recommend that you don't try to "traditionalize" your contemporary design. Since you have already lightened the exterior siding, I agree that lightening the stone's appearance is a good move which will make the exterior a little more homogenous.

Thanks, I appreciate it

Is the stone facade a fireplace? If yes then why doesnt it have a chimney. IMO if it isn't a masonry fireplace you need to lose it.

So the old version was a Tudor facade on a contemporary box and the windows had grids.

Does this appeal former look to you? The face timbers are gone right?

Sorry, I didn't make it clear. The tudor pic was a pic I had that I had colored penciled in. This is the painting of the ordinal house. I really like it but I feel that the previous owner took its identity of a 70's house when they stuccoed it. Now I feel it needs a "style" I don't feel it has one. What you can't see is the lower part of the front concrete porch is brick and the chimney is the same brick. I can paint the brick. Not a problem. It is wood burning and is used a lot.

Well I'm thinking industrial/farmhouse style. That might blend your style with the house. Keep the white, stain the stone, paint the windows black/charcoal & add grids. Add the barn lights for full effect.

That is awesome since it is a horse farm. I am including a pic from the road. Might give the feel for what it needs. I really appreciate all your input.

I totally disagree with those who want you to paint/stain the rock work to blend with the siding. That would make your house look nondescript.

Mindshift would you paint the trim around windows to match the grout of the stone? If I don't paint or stain the stone then I would like to tie it in somehow so it doesn't stick out.

I meant mortar not grout

Restore it to the original look. 70's Contemporary IS it's style, and that's a Good Thing. Restore the board and batten and the natural earth tones. Whitewashing the character out of that house will leave as characterless and bland as most of the ill advised makeovers using HGTV souless inspiration.

The mortar color seems to be a warm, medium brown. Here is how your house might look with that color on the trim.

The original trim color was pulled from the light colored rock. Consider painting the gutters and the trim below them also.

I like it. It does warm it up and maybe years down the road when my kids are grown we will take it back to the original but this is a good solution for now. I think I will still widen the porch and I will paint under overhang and downspout. Thanks!

I would love to see what you ended up doing to your home!

Just a little update. We still have not done anything because I am still torn on what to do and I really don’t want to screw this up. The one person suggested taking it back to the original and I am concerned that with the cost and the fact that if we ever wanted to get rid of it, it might look dated and hard to sell. Especially competing with the new homes in the area. For now I am still open to options and new opinions. It is winter now so I can’t do anything until spring so we have time. Thanks!

Another option

Love the original look of the house!

I know I am just sick that the previous owners ruined it.

Don’t touch the stone. Paint the walls a light or medium color (gray, green, or blue, for example) and paint the trim white. Do some landscaping.

I will have to say the longer I am here the more the stone grows on me. Plus IF I ever do want to take it back to the original exterior the stone will be there.

I honestly think the original wood was beautiful, but I fully understand the cost involved. That could possibly be my mid 40’s age? To make it marketable in the future, if needed, I would go with the trim color for contrast. Any of the above suggested would add contrast. I think Joanna G. would go for dark charcoal or black. Black is a greater contrast, of course.