I'm not a fan of the trees right up against the front of the house. They're hiding your windows, which are a key part of the "interest" on the outside of your house, and they just make it look crowded to me. You have a nice big front yard - I would find a good landscape architect to come up with a plan that takes advantage of it, rather than squeezing everything right next to the house.

I agree with Kristin's comments. Also, your white garage doors are pulling a lot of focus. Think about painting them the same color as the siding. You could still keep the white trim around them. Garage doors with window panes that mimic your other windows would be nice.

I would widen the front walkway and put in a ramp instead of stairs. The circular bed needs to go when you widen the walkway.

Yes, I would definitely paint the garage doors siding color, as well. I probably wouldn't bother to replace them with doors with windows, however, as once you deemphasize them with color I think they'll just blend in, so I'd spend the money on other changes.

An easy update would be to install much more substantial (larger and taller) exterior lighting. Your current light fixtures look too small for the expanse of your house. I'd also add fixtures to the right and left of the garage doors. Also a new address with over-sized numbers would add interest and be easier to see from the street.

A functional portico would dramatically change the facade of your home, but is expensive. Redor the landscaping and add wider trim around the windows.

The landscaping looks "tight" . Remove the brick edging; move the trees further away from your house. The little round bushes: if you are pruning them to look like round balls, please let them grow into their natural shape. It will look better and be easier for you too.

"I probably wouldn't bother to replace them with doors with windows, however, as once you deemphasize them with color I think they'll just blend in..."

Yes, it will definitely remove some focus. If in the budget, garage door windows can be a nice feature, especially with an attached garage with doors that face the street. Another option might be just adding hardware for some interest.

Thank you for all of this feedback! Many of these ideas we hadn't thought of so we really appreciate it. I think we will definitely hire a landscape architect to help us come up with a plan in that area. @Kim, do you have any examples of lighting fixtures that would be more appropriately sized for the home? We've done many google searches but rarely do we have find side hall colonials similar to ours, for some reason. Would love to get a better idea or see some inspiration pictures of how to beef up the trim to help the appearance of the second story.

Pretty porticos.

Shutters - yes, real wooden shutters with hinges that are wide enough to close and cover the windows. Then move your landscaping forward and make your front bed 1/2 the height of the front of the house. And paint the garage doors the same color as the siding. You will then be fine. LOVE the picture of the pretty colonial above! See how nice those shutters look!

Not sure what sort of style would work best for that house, but a place to stand and not be rained on when someone comes visiting before you can get to the door to let them in... a simple one, for sure. I'd incorporate wrought iron railings (or perhaps painted wood) into any such design.

I'm with getting larger entryway lights and number signage.

Move the trees and larger shrubs AWAY from the house foundation. Some trees can actually crack foundations with their roots, and in any case you may experience exterior siding deterioration due to the humidity that can't vapor away due to the close proximity of the trees (moss and all). Also as those trees grow, the more they will hug your home and not in a good way even aesthetically. I'd remove the concrete edging blocks by the foundation, pull the trees & shrubs out, and use a mulch to delineate separation from lawn.

Garage door could be painted the same color as the house (with white trim), but that's not critical. But if you add garage door windows in as per the earlier suggestion, that would look great with the blue color on that door.

I like the circular planting and the current walkway, no need to widen.

No to shutters.

I'd plant something evergreen and tall to the right side of the garage.

EDIT: I like grapefruit's porticos. The top one fits in best with what you currently have for an entry, which may (I am just guessing) make it more affordable to do.

Grapefruit hit it out of the park! The dark shutters add a great deal of interest. There are composite material shutters that are operable, functional and don't require the maintenance of wood shutters. I also agree with others here - the landscaping is not quite right and needs to be reconsidered. Trees and tall shrubs that close to the house will help maintain moisture on the siding which will eventually cause it to deteriorate. I do like the idea of replacing the exiting garage doors with carriage style door with lights (glass). The lights will appear dark, will decrease the impact of the white doors and will coordinate with dark shutters. It's a very nice looking house btw. Good luck and please post "after" photos.

cc, can you tell us the measurements of your current exterior lights?

Thank you all again for these great ideas. @Kim, the lights are approximately 19 inches at their longest (top of the arch to the bottom of the light) and 9 inches at their widest. If we consider shutters, are there particular brands and styles that you all would recommend? Should the shutters be navy to match our (new) front door?

Great advice!! Navy shutters to match door yes! Grapefruit's top picture nailed it I believe.

2nd on the carriage style garage door with lights.

Also, is there only one coach light on your garage??? I would add one on each end, and increase the size of all of them. Something like this: https://www.build.com/quoizel-ccr8410/s882339?uid=3156361

Here's my search, quite a few options here actually! :) Good luck!

https://www.build.com/outdoor-wall-sconces/c108926?f19401=lantern&f64363=wet%20location&f60939=traditional&f60939=colonial&f60469=20%20to%2024%20inches&f19575=24%20to%2036%20inches&r=48&s=SCORE&p=1&categoryId=108926

I am a HUGE fan of Timberlane shutters in PA. The quality of these shutters is extraordinary. I have had them on my house now for 16 years - had them painted by my local painter, still look great. My DD got them about 3 years ago and they now offered the color she wanted in a factory paint job. The rep told me that these same shutters had been on the outside of their building in PA (harsh winters there!) now for 19 years and still looked great.

One of the things they offer is copper guards that slip right on top of the shutter. Shutters tend to rot from water getting into the seams where the shutter dowels are held. This prevents that from happening. I think this is part of their success. Yes, they are expensive, but they will last for many decades with little if any maintenance required.

Research your home to see what was original and follow that knowledge for an authentic look. I am not a fan of shutters unless they are authentic to the original style and designed and installed that way so they are functional as initially intended.

Homes in the 1980s were often mixes of several traditional styles. I can’t tell for sure but is your home two story front and back?

In terms of what's original to the house, I am fairly certain that there were never shutters. Yes, the home is two story front and back, except for a small bump out off the kitchen (the bump out will disappear with the new two-story addition off the back as well.)

I think your house would look great with a big white porch that runs the whole width of the house and with a charcoal coloured steel roof. You'd have to remove the excessive trim around front door. And maybe make the porch wrap around the side of the house depending on what's currently there. I think once you do that, the rest of your house will look great. The porch will become the focal point of your house. Add garden beds and a couple trees. And remove the storm door. Good luck!

Do you have elevation renderings of how the addition will look? Your roofline will be important to your overall look. If you want to keep the colonial look a porch across the front will take it in a farmhouse direction. Some portico over front porch would be appropriate and protect door from the elements as well as protect people entering.

cc, here are a couple of exterior lights that are about 30 inches high.