Thanks for your comment. We are trying to achieve a modern look with a mix of panel and lap siding. Also the "black eyes" that you refer to are also an attempt at modernizing the look rather than a farmhouse style.

We took some elements from the house below.

Progress Update:

Looking good so far.

I still wouldn't do all the black around the left windows. I know it's an attempt to make the look more modern, but I think you'll be much more successful at achieving that if you stick to clean lines and simplicity (e.g. sticking to the lap siding throughout). Adding additional visual features because said visual features look modern just adds to the sense of busyness, which is antithetical to many strains of modernism.

I think your mahogany portico is going to be the thing to drive home your modern look. Spend time perfecting the proportions and finding/making the perfect door.

Feeble attempt at simplifying the design.

I dig it. Taking away all the black around the lower left windows lightens it up so much.

So you post 12 hrs ago for ideas and an hour later you post a progress picture. Interesting.

You had a very cute house with (shockingly) functional-appearing shutters, and when I saw the “before,“ I thought “Oh, just a small color change and beefier posts and they’ll be golden.” Then I saw the “after” rendition and was sorry to see the changes. It‘s not a modern house, but if a different look was wanted, it could have gone in a better direction more suited to the style of the home.

Skinny siding, new portico, windows with a bay the same length as the two on the left, and a heavy dose of new landscaping is what I would have done. I think black windows are going to be a dated element in no time.

@Anna we only bought the house because of location and lack of other options no new development in the neighborhood all houses from the 19th century to mid 20th. hated the exterior from the outset. Kids used to hate coming home And wouldn’t even call their friends Over. Like Elaine said different strokes for different folks. What you found cute we Absolutely hated. This house was from 1960.

@decoenthuiast. Skinny siding check. New portico check. Unfortunately cant do same length windows on the right due to kitchen countertop right behind them. New landscaping coming soon. Black windows absolutely love them dated or not

Well, if the kitchen is there, is certainly isn't a traditional layout for the look of the house. I would have thought the small window on the right was a kitchen window, but never the bay. Are you attached to it's appearance? Maybe some of the Houzz geniuses can photoshop in some different styles for you that are less traditional.