I wouldn't say it lost its charm but those ugly orange cones aren't doing anything to help it at the moment ;)

What I notice about the first (older) pic is the hedge which creates a visual enclosure. I also wonder what it would be like if, instead of the brick steps, you had a porch/patio with railing for a little sitting area.

Did you extend the house forward? It looks like you lost some space in the front with the reno?

Some tall plants or shrubs (not at all saying they have to be your traditional "bushes under the windows") could go a long way to help break up the color/texture of the front of your home. Since your house is very tall and compact-looking, efforts in the way of gardening or landscaping would help with the outdoor aesthetic.

Planter boxes would really give your home some warmth but nonetheless I believe the exterior looks amazing.

I feel your pain , I too did an addition that changed my front elevation and I too feel I lost some curb character. One thing that has helped is adding foundation plantings and a pretty walk way garden. I also try to focus on what was gained with the new improved function of my house now rather than focus on what was lost. I would not add shutters. Just forcus on foundation planting and it really is still a beautiful house!

I think you have lost a lot of curb appeal, with the removal of the hedges and gate in the front. A lot of curb appeal has also been lost by the removal of the transom windows that were there originally, and the small windows down each side of the door. Right, now, it looks like it could use a bit of clean up around the front yard, and I would like to see hedges planted and the gate put back. In the first picture, the house looks integrated into its surroundings. In the newer picture, it looks like it was picked up and plopped there with nothing that makes it look like it belongs there. Good luck and have fun. It is a very cute house. I would like to see a picture with its new landscaping.

Katie, the house has lots of charm to me. The landscaping you mentioned will make a big difference. No shutters since there's no room. Even decorative shutters should look like they would cover the window if closed. I like the idea of a window box on the lower windows. One thing you might also do is paint any downspouts to blend with the siding. They're not really something to highlight.

It's the upstairs windows. They almost look like they belong to another house. Perhaps two narrow windows (the same width as the downstairs windows) would have been better? Ganged or, I think, better with some separation. But I'm not sure about that because the windows would have to be shorter. More important is how the windows function/ feel from an indoor perspective because you'll be looking at that view a whole lot more than the exterior view. So, if it's working for you, don't worry about the outside.

The overcast day isn't helping us get a proper vantage point (per the windows), either.

I think no to shutters because it's a narrow space and shutters are going to look crowded up there.

I should note that in between these two photos the porch had been redone and the transom and all other detail had been removed. We live in a historic district and we were actually not allowed to return the porch to its original style. We had to modify our design 3 times to meet the city’s requirements, which is also why the bump out up top is the way it is. Also we can’t exceed past our brick stairs we can only improve them (which will be at a later date) and the hedges have been gone for decades :/

I like it! Get the plantings to hide the foundation and anchor the house to the ground. Then, put some pots of flowers out on the ledges with some training vines and perhaps a black mailbox?

The house needs more black or dark brown touches to tie the door in. Two pots in that color on the stone toppers for the stairs. Change the light to something bigger and darker. There isn't much space, but you might be able to grow jasmine on a narrow light fence that will provide some visual separation. No shutters. Plan for a flagstone walkway.

Shutters might help flesh it out a bit. Perhaps a louvered vent (round, maybe) in the pediment above the double window. Like the idea of a round vent as all the other lines in the house are rectilinear.

Thanks so much for all the feedback! Really appreciated!

How about painting that lower wainscott looking area a darker color?

Oh, that upper window is missing the dividing muntins.

A screen for the trash bin.

Flowers definitely go a long way! You could buy some planters and rest them on the stairs flanking the door. Also, it seems the first floor window has a decorative trim at the top of the window, and to my eye the second floor window lacks that. Another commentator noted that the second floor window doesn't seem quite 'right', perhaps adding the trim would tie the windows together? We are in the process of home staging and adding curb appeal, and while I love adding planters and brightness to the front, it sure does add up quick!

Your home is adorable! I would add another light to the other side of the front door.

Put shrubs back where they were by the sidewalk. And get more growies at the foundation.

The front door is too, too dark, and it looks like the trim around the glass panes is a plastic insert. Calm that door down with a lighter color (but still a bit darker than the siding and in the same color family).

Plant a Hedge to start with

Kind of what Ashton says. Paint the wainscoting below the first floor windows the color of the house but leave the trim work white. Too much white there. Lights on either side of the door in black. A small specimen tree, Japanese maple or some sort, or one that do not get very big, a tree that get too large probably won't work in your yard.

What Stacey said...you need another light on the other side of the door....

I LOVE the idea of putting the hedges back but there is now a driveway to the left of the house and the hedges on the right actually infringed on the neighbors property (we have extremely narrow & strange angled lots on our street...long story on how that came to be) so that’s out :/ I also would LOVE that idea of the tree in front yard but again, it would infringe on neighbors and it’s too close to all the pipes that run out to the street. The photos below show a better view of yard. The first photo is how the House was when we came into possession of it in 2014.

Already a great improvement.

Small planters on each of the four pillars of the steps.

A hedge of shrubs that keep their leaves year round planted to the right of the steps and kept trimmed below the window level.

I did read most of the posts so I'm sorry if I missed it and it's has already been suggested. I know it's a little lengthy but here you go

FIRST: Add anti slip product to paint and paint the concrete steps black or the color of the metal roofing on the over hang.

SECOND: Paint a runner on the concrete steps the color of the house (maybe a cream stripe on each side of the runner).

You could also bring the house color out farther and into the landscape by painting a runner on the steps.

THIRD: Paint the two brick posts black or the color of the metal over-hang.

FOURTH: Paint cap stones of the brick posts a warm cream which would keep them from looking too heavy.

FIFTH: Add shutters and window boxes to the upstairs windows. Like the others paint black or the metal roofing color.

SIXTH: Add brass or nickle polished hardware to the door. I'd go with the tall slim rectangle door handle. I don't know for sure, it could be too much, but you could try a kick plate to the bottom of the door.

SEVENTH: It doesn't look like you've got very much room but the house numbers over the door really need light. You could try a small solar fixture.

EIGHTH : There are a couple of options for the the large white areas beneath the windows.

A. Paint them the same color as the house causing them to disappear and fade into the exterior as a whole giving the look of a larger home.

B. Paint them black or the color of the metal roofing like above.

C. Clad or inset panels with planks or strips of rich cedar or sealed pine.

D. Using livestock fencing (sq or rectangle...not chicken wire) cut to size and bend for a kind of 3D effect ( kind of like a box).

NINTH: Add a bracket or some other simple decorative trim or crown at the gable.

TENTH: A brick walk from the sidewalk to the front door and finish with a flower pot. Is there a mailbox?

You've done a really good job already so whatever you do it'll look great. Good luck

I still think hedges are what is really missing on that house. Is there anyway, you can put one hedge on each side of the driveway, and then along the front, stopping short of where your neighbors property starts, so it doesnt infringe on their property, and then a nice gate in between. To me, that house is calling out for some of the hedge at least to be put back. I wouldnt paint the steps etc, unless, they really need it, because, that will be constant maintenance as it wears off. Is that leaves on the left of the drive? If so, that should be raked out, and hopefully, there is a narrow strip of lawn there, under all those leaves. It does look much better without the cones, and other clutter out of there. Is there a reason for the cones, because, I still see them stored by the side of the house?? If not a hedge, then maybe some type of fence. The older pictures, of the house, just have more yard curb appeal.

I love what you’ve done already. What a wonderful transformation. IMO, with it being a narrow house/lot, the simpler lines of what you’ve done is just right. To me, it look so much more welcoming.

Great ideas and mock-ups already ... just wanted to add the idea of taking out all grass and having a mini-cottage garden. I would not plant anything to the left (looking at picture), but would hardscape it by either widening the sidewalk, or doing pavers/stone/etc. Ignore the color/style stone in my mock-up, my app choices are limited. It’s just to give an idea of widening the walkway.

Omg! I absolutely LOVE that mock up!! Thank you sooo much! I never thought of planting something like that!!!

Thank you! I don’t know your exact situation — weather, soil, sun/shade, yard size, obstacles, etc — so those plants are just for a visual example. I did a white Hydrangea shrub, a dwarf white Crape Myrtle (next to Hydrangea), Liriope (the grassy ones on each corner), and red flowering plants. But you could ask at a local established nursery for what will work best in your area. :)