It's an adorable home.

I can't see a front walkway. Does it go toward the driveway? I'd probably start there and use some type of large flat stones. It might already be like that, I just can't see it, LOL.

To the far left (facing the picture) I'd probably plant a Japanese maple. They don't get too high and will pick up the color of the door somewhat. For the rest of the landscaping I'd probably build out the garden areas on both sides of the doors with natural larger rocks as the edge of the garden. You probably don't want to use any flowers or shrubs that are tall near the downstairs window, as I'd guess you want as much light as possible to come into a lower floor. I have similar issues with my family room (I live in a quad), but the windows are on the side and back of the house.

The key to front curb appeal (I've found) is to use some perennial type bloomers like hydrangea, rhododendron or azaleas, but not a lot of them. They all tend to get somewhat large and "fill in" with their greenery once mature, but only bloom once a year. Depending on what side the front of your house faces (east, west, etc), they should have no difficulty blooming, and if properly trimmed will fit under the overhang of your upper floor. I have about 60 tulips in the front of my house, but it has a large porch and looks entirely different from your home. They bloom in the spring and look wonderful, but only for a week or two.

I fill in the rest of the front of my house with potted annuals that flower all summer into the fall. I've found geraniums are the easiest and require the least amount of work. Your porch isn't very wide, but you could find lovely pots that are taller than the bottom edge of your front door and place them on the ground so they can be seen from the street. Annuals could be placed in them to keep the area lovely from spring into fall.

I'm really a somewhat anal type that buys flowers that coordinate with the colors of the bricks (tan/beige) and door (reddish orange) of my home. My flowers are always in peaches, reds, yellows and white. No purples, pinks or blue. I tend to think this looks best, but I'm weird, LOL.

Good luck.

I would change the front door to a more mid-century modern looking one. The one you have there now reminds me of something seen on a Queen Anne style home.

www.crestviewdoors.com

I'd keep it clean close to the house. Instead of adding, subtract. Remove the little plants and objects so your gorgeous lawn is a clean line with the house. Agree with changing the door to a mid-century style. Choose a color that matches the tone of your brick. Change the light as well. To break up the big edge of the house, a tree with light foliage, such as a river birch on the left, but closer to the sidewalk than the house itself.

I'd paint the whole thing charcoal grey, change the front door to a midcentury modern shape and paint it chartreuse. Make a sidewalk from street to front door with white rectangular landscape steps. Put dark grey landscape pebbles where your current bushes are and plant one type of shrub the whole way across to keep it clean and low. Change the front light to a midcentury style and add midcentury numbers somewhere.

First, I would go to a local nursery and learn about what plants thrive in your area with little maintenance. I would plant varying heights of perennial flowering plants next to your home so you'll have some natural bursts of color. Different rose bushes would look nice and are relatively easy to maintain. You do need to incorporate height with the landscape so a beautiful maple tree, as @motownmom suggested, would be lovely. I would also create a stone pathway, lined with low rounded shrubberies, from your front door to the cement walkway. This type of entrance immediately greets people, and has a magnetic effect.

Remember curb appeal is as necessary during the day as it is at night. Check out these homes from the ideabooks:

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/pergolas-pump-up-curb-appeal-stsetivw-vs~1734877

Definitely incorporate outdoor lighting ( http://www.affordablequalitylighting.com/outdoor-lighting/) into your design to ignite your curb appeal. Give our customer service center a call, we have designers on staff to help you find exactly what you'll need 1.800.865.7221.

http://www.dakotacda.org/pdf/splitvisions.pdf

There's another discussion going on right now, started by a gentleman who is not very happy with his 1970's split level. You may want to check it out. The link just above, posted by bubbasgma, is a very helpful booklet published by the state of Minnesota on updating split levels. You seem most concerned with the exterior.

As others have mentioned, the door is not appropriate to the style of the house, and I think that the red isn't doing you any favors.

I can see that there is a walkway that runs immediately in front of the house and leads to the driveway, but you may want to consider a new walkway that leads from the sidewalk to the house. It doesn't have to be a strip of concrete leading straight to the front door, but being able to see a pathway to the house from the street will add to your curb appeal.

You did not mention your location, but some smaller trees, such as a Japanese maple, magnolia, or dogwood, depending on your USDA zone, will add some visual interest. I would also consider removing part of the lawn and creating some spaces for perennial shrubs. You may also want to think about some interesting grasses, such as mondo grass or Japanese bloodgrass (although its considered invasive in some parts of the country, so be careful).

I'm in my first house, too, and I've learned that it is a process--you can only do so much at once. In any case, it looks like you're in the US, so you will have the winter to think about what you want to do!

I like the idea of making it look MCM, the roof as well as the windows really remind me of that style already. Simple painting, landscaping, and a new door could really tie it all in. Good luck!

Staining your brick a cool taupe tone that relates halfway between the light gray siding and charcoal eave / fascia windows would be a good step in the mid-century modern (mcm) direction. I would suggest studying houzz exteriors for modern homes and look at contemporary landscape elements - square 5 x 5 concrete squares set into black pebble stepping / shifting and grids of more architectural plantings will give you the look - take the crestview links to a local door supplier, they may have some savings on shipping and profiles near those - a teal or turquoise entry on the gray house, some bronze foliage, possibly some phormium / flax? [houzz=] you could do a brick low wall with a mailbox in it near the curb and stain it the same . . .

PS I took liberties with your front door.

Your front door doesn't seem to fit in. Consider replacing it for a more modern type. And I agree on the above comments on making the front entry more visible by making a pathway (large stepstones or paved).

Paint the horizontal cladding dark grey to make them recede and change the front door to a modern style in Emerald Green. Plantings as above.

Great sketch @Rina! I think it beautifully displays the power of well selected foliage.

Thank you, Affordable. :-) I really, really like this house. Want the best for it.

I'm in agreement with the make-this-home-modern group. And the plantings should be modern rather than cottagey.

I definitely would stain the brick with a color that is close to the ultimate body/siding color so there's not so much of a division. Right now the high contrast looks choppy to my eye. I agree with Chook that a graphite grey would be really nice.

I would try to give the entryway more definition. Perhaps a simple shed roof
with columns would give you a covered entrywau that would be more inviting.

Our first house was a ranch style house and looked a lot like your first home! I would put in a more modern door and if you want a red door more of a brick red with a more modern glass shape! We had a little more over hang and a brick column would look nice. I would bring the land scape farther out especially on the left side under the low window.

Actually Lohden green and light cream paint combo would look really nice on your home!
These colors would go great with your brick color. Pictures later...please!

I wouldn't change the brick or siding colour. Yes, there's contrast, and yes the white siding is very prominent, but I don't see it as a bad thing on this house. I think it has a dignity and rightness just as it is.

Your house is great, nice yard, etc!

I did a little mock-up, and didn't change too much. I don't have time to read through the thread right now, but what really stands out to me is the red front door.

It is a pretty door, but almost a colonial style with the oval window, and white trim.

I actually lived in a similar NW contemporary split-level. The previous owners put ONE neo classic Roman column on the far right of the garage.

I think the popularity of the split-levels in the late 60's and 70's, was due to the interior design, but the outside always seemed to suffer with a huge wall, and WAY out of proportion, small windows.

You're lucky you only have one, and can ad some trim. My house had two vertical rectangular. So, if you tried to compensate with trim, it would almost look worse, because you would end up with the trim touching in-between, and disproportionate wall space on the sides.

I think people with these homes now try to compensate with a door and so forth.
The only style I've seen blend well, is a bit of Asian. It doesn't have to be obvious, but a little more trim on top of the windows, iron railing, etc is a nice classic look.

As you see, I put a planter, and a flower box under the window. You could add brick, or brick trim, and a lighted pair of columns at the end of the driveway.

A Japanese Maple in the front yard would be beautiful. I live in the NW and they grow very well here. They are a little pricey, but are very graceful, not too big, and add a lot to a yard.

OMG! I just noticed a drawing so similar to mine, that I started reading the text, and thought, "I didn't remember writing that! Great minds think alike! LOVE the curved sidewalk!
Actually, if you like the planter idea, I would extend it a little wider, on second glance.

I can definitely help you with curb appeal!!! Some Terra Cotta ceramic pots and planters might just do the trick to liven up that boring exterior! Once you get working on the landscape part of it, some bright colorful planters just might come in handy. Our company, ' Casa Bonita (www.casabonitala.com) sells many pieces that could work for you. We are actually having a big holiday sale now until Dec 31st- 65% off all inventory, so the pieces really won't be too pricey- hopefully in your price range. We ship from Los Angeles, where we are based at the moment. Here are some ideas that could work for you: