Well, I'm sorry that you are so limited by the vinyl, but I understand that you are just waiting until you can take on the big project I've been trying to study your photos, and I can't really tell much about your door, and the window on the left, though I can see that the window that looks out on the porch has panes. If you want to at least head in a MCM direction, then the windows need to pretty much be just one big glass pane, depending on how they are constructed to start with. Doors from the era could have glass insets, or geometric shapes formed by molding applied to the wood surface. Here is a rather nifty house with some MCM features, though it's certainly not all stone or brick, and not completely linear. Notice that it has the big, single pane-what we used to call a "picture" window. I've been thinking about those "door shutters" around your door, and they seemed problematic. However, even though you said you couldn't add "real" sidelights, how about some "faux" ones. A frame could be built the same size as said shutters, and a frosted glass-or plastic-piece could be placed in it and-voila, your "faux" sidelight. Also, you could either add a pergola on the left side, or remove the porch overhang and make a pergola over the entire space. Of course, that would be later when you deal with the siding issue. Here's another rather eclectic mid century modern"ish" style house-with a Dutch Gable roof, and paned windows, and some Japanese flair, it seems. I think that the porch roof looks rather like yours. If you chose to go more toward a "colonial" direction, then you will need all of your windows to be paned-and I can see that your front window is paned, but I can't tell about you other one. You could also either make your door have several panes across the top-and the garage door could also have this window arrangement. Also, you could still adapt the "faux" side light idea, and make the glass into several panes instead of one big piece. Concerning the shutters, if you did the MCM thing, they should be removed. If you did the more colonial style, I would choose the kind of shutters that are shown in this photo I am including, which are shutters that have panels instead of louvers. Also, in the photo, the door does not have glass, but the panels of the door match the panels of the shutters, I believe. Of course, when you change your siding, then you can obviously have the siding people take the siding up to the front door, and fill out the place where the shutter is around the door right now. My "faux" idea is just to fill in the space until you can do your more permanent solution. Here's a totally cool, totally "eclectic" house. It's got a little bit of everything, it seems-colonial, federal, tudor, victorian. It may be too "busy" for some, but it very definitely is eclectic. Also, a nice large farmhouse porch. Well, hope my ideas don't sound too crazy.

Beeloved, Good evening, may I suggest a different approach to your kitchen dilemma. Rather than going through the costly expenses of raising your ceiling, you can give the Kitchen the illusion of being taller by doing 3 things. #1 Remove the upper cabinets on all the walls and only keep the lower cabinets; #2 Remove the small window and replace with a larger window; #3 change the flooring to a lighter wood or tile color (tan or pale gray). You can add more lower cabinets on the empty side walls and add light color shelving on the upper walls for additional storage. Best of luck to you. MS at Tailored Interior Space Planning & Decorating, LLC

I would add large snow frosted branches and tuck them throughout your green tree..invest in a large bolt of wide taupe or champagne satin ribbon and tuck throughout tree...white lights and done! It will look absolutely stunning in your modern space...for a bit of bling fill bowls and vases full of clear,gold,silver and white ornaments and places them on your mantle in various sizes..and on your cocktail table. If adding a wreath..I would keep it very simple frosted and with one large satin bow....HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Where do you live? Florida orange trees are under assault by a bacteria that causes the tree to die. From UF Citrus Extension: Huanglongbing (HLB; citrus greening) is thought to be caused by the bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. HLB has seriously affected citrus production in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula, and was discovered in July 2004 in Brazil. Wherever the disease has appeared, citrus production has been compromised with the loss of millions of trees. HLB has not been reported in Australia or in the Mediterranean Basin. In August 2005, the disease was found in the south Florida region of Homestead and Florida City. Since that time, HLB has been found in commercial and residential sites in all counties with commercial citrus. The early symptoms of HLB on leaves are vein yellowing and an asymmetrical chlorosis referred to as “blotchy mottle.” The blotchy mottle symptom is the most diagnostic symptom of the disease, especially on sweet orange. Leaves may be small and upright with a variety of chlorotic patterns that often resemble mineral deficiencies such as those of zinc, iron, and manganese. Some leaves may be totally devoid of green or with only green islands. The blotchy mottle symptom also may be confused with other diseases or damage such as severe forms of citrus tristeza virus (CTV), Phytophthora root rot, water logging, citrus blight, leafminer tunnels or stubborn, a disease that is not known to be present in Florida. Root systems of infected trees are often poorly developed and new root growth may be suppressed. Early symptoms of yellowing may appear on a single shoot or branch. The yellowing usually spreads throughout the tree over a year, especially on young trees, and affected trees may show twig dieback, causing the productivity to decline within a few years. Fruit are often few in number, small, may be lopsided with a curved central core, and fail to color properly, remaining green at the stylar end. Many fruit drop prematurely from afflicted trees. A yellow stain may be present just beneath the peduncle (stem) on a cut fruit. The affected fruit often contain aborted seeds and have a salty bitter taste. You might want to find another type of fruit tree.