Sorry but really you bought a nice house and now you want to make it look like a mansion which it will never be.By the time you finish changing this house into what you want you might as well build anew one . This never makes sense to me.

The house is a good design already. You could add a medium size porch with a pergola that would clear the windows. Making a large covered porch with a different roof would require ripping off half the current roof and rebuilding it. In that case, after gathering some ideas, an architect or design/build firm would be needed.

A good way to try out the porch size you want is to get some inexpensive pavers or outdoor rug and lay out a temporary space. Add a table and chairs with large market umbrella (you can reuse them in the back yard later). Make a point of sitting out there every day in the spring and summer to see what you like and what needs changing.

A front porch will not look good on that style of house. It's an attractive house just as it is. Agree that the shutters should go. The downspouts should be painted a color that blends in with the brick and siding. As you said, landscaping is needed too.

I don't see blue paint looking good with the brick color.

I love your vision for your home and think your inspiration picture is beautiful. I don't have any suggestions, just encouragement. :)

We bought our forever home on nine acres thirty years ago. It's a raised ranch that we have added a wrap-around porch and sunroom to. Last summer we also added a screened in porch.

We covered our brick front with James Hardie siding because of the thick wood beams along the windows that was the norm of the builder at the time. We also wanted to get rid of the wings on the ends. We changed the roof line on the sides to a peak.

You could create a raised 'tower' area where the stairs are located to make the entrance more important.

Adding a porch will be a problem with the existing roofline.

I'm not sure how a porch would look on this style. I tend to agree with the others. Could be an expensive endeavor, because of messing with roofs. Someone with structural experience would know.

I like the idea of a pergola if anything, less invasive. Color wise, not feeling the blue. Aways best to match a shade in your actual brick. Landscaping will make a world of difference, along with a nice color for your front door.

Before and after of my home.

Obviously, it is not the same style as yours, but just wanted to show an example of changing your home to suit your desires, especially if it's in a location you love.

Nice idea!

Take this with a grain of salt, because this is my uneducated (in home renovations) opinion.

If you are willing to spend money, I think the landscaping is really the way to go. Coming out the front door and going to the right (as looking at it), create a professionally landscaped area with little water fall/pool type area, and use some fancy pavers for a seating area (not huge). Add a couple good quality outdoor chairs and little table for drinks.

We have a porch off our dining room and the extra roof there makes it really dark. I don’t know if/how a porch may affect the light in your home. Your home is very nice as-is; good luck finding a solution.

How about incorporating a low-key patio into the landscaping? Also--tearing out the front walk that goes straight to the curb and putting in a more winding path,

I agree with felizlady.....extend the porch to the edge of the house. I would put a bunch of large and tall shrubs in front of the brick along the left side. The slope won’t be so obvious when filled with plants and shrubs and smaller trees. I agree to ditch the shutters

How about a porch more like this style?

Here is a link to a split level home that added a porch. Quite the transformation! Maybe you can reach out to this poster and find out more details of what it entailed....

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/split-level-exterior-revamp-dsvw-vd~996275[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/split-level-exterior-revamp-dsvw-vd~996275)

Idea

Have you considered a porch on the right side of the house? It could follow the same roof line and could be reached through what I am guessing is a dining room. It looks like there is plenty of space on that side.

I like the look of your house and do not see a need to alter the front roof line for aesthetic reasons.

A front porch addition like your inspiration picture could be beautiful and transform your house. I agree with the comment to avoid the arches and add landscaping. I would add front steps to the porch. As for blue siding any blue color is hard to get right on exterior siding, except if you are in Key West or maybe San Francisco. From the looks of the inspiration picture it looks like you are going for something a bit more colonial, so maybe a slate grey siding color with blue undertones. However a vibrant mediterranean blue front door and sky blue on the ceiling of the new porch would look nice. I also would also reconsider your aversion to painting the brick or cladding with siding - from the pictures your multi-colored brick would be hard to blend in with any color but the tan you already have.

Just found this old post I created. So far all our exterior changes have been hardscape/landscape changes: New driveway, walkway, and buckets of landscaping. House projects take a long time.

Looks great!!