If you wanted another style home, then curious why you bought this home? It is incredibly expensive to try to change a home's style and it never looks completely right. Example, your roofline and gables will probably cost in the ten of thousands to change, and you have nothing in increase home value despite the money spent.

You need to love what you bought and enhance that style, Don't try to make it something it isn't

To clarify. We are planning to keep the existing rooflines... just wasn't certain what design styles would modernize/update the home. Lastly, the home is in an amazing location with a large lot, rather than tear the house down (like many would), we plan to make the most of it.

Your design style is already set. If you monkey around adding a stucco facade to create a Tuscan look, you will have window that aren't correct, a front door that isn't correct and roof-lines that aren't correct. Either you change it all, dumping tons of money down the toilet or change some things to "Tuscan" or "Craftsman" and create a hodgepodge mess.

You bought this home style, keep the style unchanged. Period.

Thanks for your feedback goluscombe. Although, I understand what you are saying I do not find it all that helpful. If you felt that I shouldn't change the style you should have mentioned some reno ideas. Lastly, this is an open ended question not one solely based on practicality. It was meant to spark creative suggestions and ideas not limit them.

The style is nice. What I'd think about is do you need the giant carport or could you give some over to a nice walk to the front door? Maybe clad the brick column. Get rid of the Victorian front door. Declutter the door area. Then I'd focus most of my dollars on landscaping.

i suggest you drive around your community and have a look at houses that look 'right' to you. post a streetview image of them....do a screenshot to scrub any locality date if you like... and share them with us. we might have a better chance of giving you a roadmap to a destination, rather than a more open ended 'where should i go that i'll like'. you may have a different idea of craftsman or tuscan than we do.

Honestly, before putting a bunch of money into changing the house into something it was never meant to be, I’d take the budget and put it into some beautiful landscaping and an outdoor living area.

I like the style. It just needs some tweaking. Unless it’s required by your climate, there’s too much hardscape ( even along the side of the house ). I think little things like new , larger carriage lights, address numbers & landscaping will make a nice change rather than spending your money on unnecessary architectural modifications. If a new roof is needed at some point, a more neutral, less patterned one would look good as well as a new front door. Good luck.

I think your new home looks pretty good - except the red brick is very incongruous; and the front door is the wrong style. It’s extremely expensive to change the style of a house - and often doesn’t look quite right when it’s done. I lived in a beach area for years, and it looks appropriate. You could use the money to put in a nice driveway, hardscaping and landscaping - a walk to the street instead of off the driveway.

Your wide garage and asphalt is very dominant. I’d replace the garage door and create the focus on the entrance by changing the hardscape on the entry side. I would remove the bay window. You would benefit by having an architect consult. Is the siding vinyl or wood? Try searching one storey hip roof choosing transitional, contemporary or modern, see if they appeal to you. Adding a photo of the back would help get better suggestions.

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. Definitely agree that landscaping would make a huge difference. The siding is currently vinyl. :(

Here is the google street view for those curious. The location is in an old cabin community. Further you go down Nixon Rd the more newer houses you get.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.5781891,-119.6287205,3a,75y,234.91h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sk9EROiIIU1J19bNctKhJ5Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dk9EROiIIU1J19bNctKhJ5Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D105.40355%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

Love the last picture Larri posted - most compatible with your home’s style. Would be easy updates - combination of vertical and horizontal siding, stain (don’t paint) the brick to tie in better with whatever color you choose), consider reworking entry porch slightly, update garage doors and/or paint same color as body of house. Enjoy your new home!

This house is a bit further down the neighbourhood from us. Do you guys feel the design aesthetics match that of our current house's style? Just food for thought.

I don’t understand your question ... but I prefer the style of your house vs the pic you posted, & the landscaping needs to be rethought.

I like your home better than the one down the street you just posted.

The stone on the one above looks tacky IMO. The landscaping is poorly designed/executed.

On your specific home, bring in a landscape designer to design a plan for both your hardscape (too much of it now) and your landscape. You will be amazed at what proper landscaping and hardscape can do for your home.

Close to a beach? your new home is perfect for coastal look without a renovation, blues, teals , white...it would be charming

Live there for a year and then revisit. Pay for a landscape design now, yes. In the meantime, keep looking at one storey hip roof houses for inspiration. I gotta say, don't add a 'skirt' of stone around your house or on the front, I don't know why that seems to be a thing. Enjoy the beach access down the street, looks fantastic! You're going to need an outbuilding for a boat!

Do you think this style design would suit the current house?

Your roof line leans more into Asian than into any of the styles you've proposed.

I think you have a cute house to which you might want to make a few changes to update. I think the red brick would look better if it were painted white (if you keep the light blue siding). The front door could be changed to either a traditional paneled, or even a more contemporary one. It might be nice to have the door be natural wood or painted a contrasting color. I don’t think it’s helpful to try to find a new style to try to adhere to; you have a nice cottage as is.

I would definitely change the siding--anything but that blue.

And this fall, when the timing's right, Plant. Some. Trees! Your house looks absolutely sun baked and barren and the yard is used only for weekly mowing exercise. Not necessarily maples and oaks, but certainly medium-sized trees (birch, dogwood) and tall trees with clear understory (locust, sycamore) would do a world of good for that house.

You have a great house. I think sometimes it's not the best idea to pick a known style and then try to recreate it...instead you just want to "head in the direction" of a certain style, but not try to make a house into something it's not.

You did say you're near the beach, and desert, but the photos and the google view make me think more of "earthy" and "mountain" than anything else.

Your roofline is really cool. As previous poster said, it's got an Asian feel. Could also have a Prairie-ish vibe. Of the styles you have in mind, Craftman-ish is probably the closest. Either way, some of the elements that need to be addressed are obvious.

The front door really doesn't belong on that house at all. I would replace front door, and also replace large garage door. At the very least you need one with windows to break it up. I don't love the bay window, but it might not be worth replacing. Really depends on your budget and tolerance for reno chaos. I would get larger lights on either side of garage and make sure they are lower.

Is the roof staying or is it at the end of it's life? The color is really light. I am picturing a darker roof and much darker, richer house color.

The brick is not good. It looks completely random now and really sticks out. If it were me I might paint the house, then assess. Probably would end up painting it, but not necessarily. It really is not great on that column, even painted. I would completely redo that column. (Don't do the stuck-on stone anywhere.)

There seems to be too much driveway and hardscape. Is that on the table to redo? If so, maybe narrow the driveway to just in front of the garage? If that doesn't leave enough parking for you, some people add a little paved parking slot or turnaround area coming off to the side. Landscaping is vital.

To summarize (my personal opinions, so worth what you paid for it!):

Color- House & roof

Doors & windows-definitely the front door and garage, maybe the bay window

Deal with the brick and column

Hardscape

Use the "style" you decide on to guide your choices for accessories like lighting, house #s, etc.

Thank you everyone for the great feedback. My wife and I did a drive around tonight and landing on our plan of attack. Funny cause I came home to read krdpm's post. Basically, we are going the following route:

• New roof with dark grey/black shingles
• Going with a light grey (hint of blue) shake siding all around the house
• Removing the bay window
• New windows with grids - white trim
• New garage door with top windows and perhaps a slight curve in the corner windows
• New front door. Still trying to twist my wife's arm on a "teak" color wood door.
• Removing all the brick. Replacing the brick column with a white column and nice woodwork
• Black outside lights by the garage
• For the driveway we will probably adjust down the road. Ideally some paver stones would be nice. Definitely agree on narrowing.
• For the landscaping we want to remove all the cedar shrubs that break up the yard and plant some nice trees to better situate the house on the overall land. Maybe lots of tall grasses as well.
  

Any other thoughts? Does that seem off-base or not authentic to the house?

Thanks again everyone. It has been incredibly helpful.

Your home is surrounded by concrete in the straight lines of walkways, driveway, patio.

Changing walks and patio to stone would have a big impact.

That brick adds nothing. Go for wood siding or Hardie board.

Quickly, replace that front door.

The house is ranch style. You mention it is in a beach/desert community. A light-color roof helps to repel hot sunshine. Your current roof should be light enough in color to do that. If it is in good condition, there is no need to change it.
Ranch style homes can be painted any color, but a light-to-medium color will reflect sunshine, also helping to keep the interior cool.
The house itself is cute. The landscape is what needs some work. A visit to a good garden center in the area should give you many plants to consider. The local nursery will carry plants which are native to the local region or which will grow nicely in the local region's weather/temperature zone. When selecting plants, pay attention to the anticipated mature size to avoid buying a plant which will grow to be too large for the garden. Some plants require more water and more frequent maintenance than others: how much time to you have for gardening?
The low brick planter to the left of the door would be a good spot to grow low perennial flowering plants. The sandy- looking patch to the left of the driveway looks like it may support desert plants...cactus or succulents which grow slowly, surround by a thick layer of rock over a double layer of weed cloth. A native or zone-adapted type of tree could be planted in the grass area within a freeform garden planted around the base of the tree. That will require removing grass and all the grass roots. Be aware of the tree's mature size and do not plant it near your house or the neighbor's property line, or over a water or sewer pipe.

Cute house. I am usually not a fan of painting brick but I would consider painting it since it's really not a large amount of brick and it sticks out too much. I agree with everyone who has said about the asphalt driveway going to front entrance. Take out the asphalt to front steps and replace with a smaller concrete walkway. Then you will be able to improve the planting area with a gently curved garden edge. Plant a tree in that area that doesn't get large.

I've become a fan of two toned houses. Not just for the "fancy" houses anymore. Google two toned exterior and a bunch of examples come up.

Yes, definitely paint the brick.

Just read your latest post, I missed it. Sounds like a good plan. I have heard though that lighter colored roofs really make a difference in cooling bills...but I do like the darker color shingles, oh well.

I noticed you have no windows on the side that shows ...? Why is that ? Anyhow , how about a lovely porch all around that side ...perhaps cut some windows and incorporate the outside into your living space . And...do you need the garage ? If not add a sunroom with large windows ...and did mention landscaping . . Look at HOUZZ terraces , porches , landscaping around houses ...and get your ideas ...there is so much wrong with the outside ...do you have gates at the entrance of your property ...if you have the funds ...put it in the entrance of your property ...and build a lovely walkway,
Garden all around ..then look at porches ...where you can sit outside ...and have views from the inside towards your outdoor living ..grill area , fire pit...lounge area ...seating , sunning ...snoozing areas ...all of that makes a house worth living . ...inside and out ! I like your bay window ..but paint the brick and get a new modern looking door ...then look at all again ...go slow and enjoy ...feel everything about the place ....where the sun rises and where it sets ...where and what you like to enjoy in your garden or on your terrace..do you like an outdoor table for breakfast or a lunch/dinner table on the new porch when you have guests or a party ...can they spill over to the outside ...or do you only have one way of getting into the house ...created your spaces to include the outside ...with balconies , porches , terraces ...most people with houses tell about their beautiful gardens...where they can give garden parties ...family get togethers .... Have fun !

Tried your google street map ..didn't work .!

strange. Here is a new link:

https://www.google.com/maps/@49.5781891,-119.6287205,3a,75y,257.07h,83.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sk9EROiIIU1J19bNctKhJ5Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo2.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dk9EROiIIU1J19bNctKhJ5Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D154.58765%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I traveled your neighborhood via Google map. Went down Powell Beach Road to the beach. I liked, but couldn't see much, of the house around 6616 Nixon, with the two toned houses that I like so much. You could do something like that with little gable roofs. Maybe even one of those pergola things up and over your garage door in a natural wood.

Lovely area.

I would paint the brick to the color of the house. Change the cement walkway to blue stone and get a much nicer front door. I think the house will be much improved after that.