Quite honestly, it will cost a small fortune to make your house look like a farmhouse. It just doesnt have anything that looks like farmhouse. Its much better to not try to make itself something it isnt.. What it is, is a very attractive mid century ranch house. Maybe do farmhouse decor inside.

You have a typical suburban ranch house. I don't see being able to change it into a farmhouse. It is what it is.

I'm not in disagreement with you. But do guys have any suggestions on color? It's too much brown. The garage will be white when we upgrade it but what color do you think will go? I would like a grey, what are your thoughts?

Personally, I agree with the above comments. You should embrace the MCM look; you have the potential for a striking home but it will require refocusing your efforts from forcing an inappropriate style on the home.

Research MCM and you may be pleasantly surprised! It wasn’t really my thing but I’ve been able to recognize and appreciate that style of home and as I’ve tried to offer suggestions, I’ve come around to liking it. Type in “atomic ranch.”

Can you post a closer picture? I think folks would be able to give you some constructive feedback with a better visual.

I like your inspiration photo...a nod to farmhouse not literal farmhouse. Totally get it and I think its doable. White trim and gray body with maybe a wood door and lots of wood planters/accents outside? Good luck!

I have a Ford Explorer; I'd like to convert it to a Mustang.

This isn't about façade. Look at your roof--look at that overhang. Look at the windows going down to the floor. This will never be anything but a suburban MCM ranch. And there's nothing wrong with that at all.

Thank you CSparkles, I appreciate the fact that you understand i'm not talking LITERAL but rather a nod! And Anna here are closer shots...

Last one!

You can do more than nod, but I'd restrict that to the interior. Great potential outside, but not for anything farmhouse. Inside, you can do it all up as a farmhouse.

Would you consider painting the house white?

I can see that the louvers are meant to match the entrance tile but they are too dark combined with the shade from the tree. Paint them a color close to what you paint on the body of the house.

Your entrance is stunning. It is a shame that you don't like such a pretty house.

As Decoenthusiaste said, you can go wild with farmhouse look on the inside.

Here is a ranch style farmhouse

Thank you Emma! Yes it is a shame but this style is just not me at all. The inside I've already completely transformed already into the farmhouse of my dreams! It's truly is my oasis...it's just the front that's giving me a hard time. I have considered painting it white, but it's not my first option, because my husband doesn't want all white. So the paint colors I've looked at are these. But I'm now rethinking the dark altogether. Are these too dark?

This house could be a stunner. An MCM stunner. What it really needs is a good landscaper.

I like the gray on the door.

Some of those you have samples of on the shed are way too dark, for your house. A very light gray would work. I am not fond of the beige you now have, so dont blame you for wanting that gone.. I also agree with groveraxle, you house could be a MCM stunner, with the work of a very good landscaper. Its too busy, and too over grown.

I agree with the landscaping comments. I'm totally lost in that department. Does anyone have suggestions on how to lighten up my atrium? Whether it be with plants or colors? I was thinking about having a floating bench inside hanging inside the atrium. But I have no idea what kind of plants to plant. I love purple/grey/evergreen plants, and bushy plants. I'm not a succulent/caucus lover.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

You could probably fit another skylight between the two that are there.

Is your roof light brown? I would not want a gray house with a light brown roof. It is hard to tell color on the screen.

Have you decided on siding? I think I like board and batten.

I know you do not like succulents but you might make an exception for this Tradescantia.

Visit your local nursery and let them know your color preferences and style. Bring measurements of planting beds, photos of it currently so they know what you have already and sunlight amounts. They can work with you to identify a planting plan. For a price they will design it for you but our local nursery will walk through suggestions and general spacing for free.

Your house is nothing like the inspiration photo! Your house has so much potential! The first thing I would do is tear out an then refresh your landscape (up by the house and the big bush) as well as lay down some mulch, grass, etc.

The cedar shake is a big mistake, unless you like to maintain it yearly and also risk rotting the wood underneath (I know this from personal experience).

I have never been a fan of grey houses, or any grey paint (just my opinion). I like farm houses, and we have a lot of farm houses around here, but none of them are grey. To me, the ultimate traditional farmhouse is light cream or warm white.

I think you are trying to turn your outside into something it is not, and in doing so, it will ruin the specialness of the diamond in the rough that you already have.

PS - I may have come across as too critical instead of focusing on that you have a really great house already! Your entryway or courtyard with the plants is something not seen in new houses because every square inch of property is used for “house” since new neighborhoods have tiny lots.

I love seeing what Grover does with her mock-ups. Very talented!

Kasia - I have not heard of that product but I am planning on removing our cedar shake. Well...having my husband remove it. It has been on the front since 2006 and I am ready for a change.

I would love to have a house like yours - those breezeways are very special! I had a friend whose mom grew some fragrant plants in here (jasmine maybe), she had a small water feature, and it was always so cool and inviting walking up to their door.

If I remember correctly, Longwood Gardens has star jasmine and it...is...devine.

Since you like grey and also cedar, how about replacing some of the boards currently painted with stained wood instead of cedar shake? That way, you get your grey and wood but it keeps with the mid-century design.

Here are a couple of examples:

Oops here
And a light colored one...

I just saw this - a designer posted it and aim not sure if she is following here. The vertical slats of wood at your entryway could possibly be clad in cedar boards instead of replacing them (maybe it will cost less).

Here is her suggestion on another thread:

Flo was commenting about someone else’s house, who happens to have a 2-story mid-century-ish 1980s CA contemporary with a Mediterranean archway home (insert smile emoji here).

Without clicking back and losing this post: I think you have grey stone or tile on your driveway or walkway. Maybe your house would look good that color? Adding stone could be a big endeavor and more complicated than adding cedar boards.

I don’t think that white trim and garage door are the best choices if you go with dark grey because that takes away the mid century feel, and I definitely think any house can be “prettied” up with flowers and beautiful landscaping.

In the end, it’s your money, time and effort you are putting into your home. Perhaps if you focus on fixing up the atrium breezeway entry and front landscape (trim everything that is hiding the gorgeous windows!), you will come up with the perfect design.

I think the timbers in that picture arrangement are more “Northwest” looking, and the white garage and trim would take away from the house.

The beauty of your house is that you don’t need any of the extra “stuff” on your home. It’s all right there, hiding behind the shrubbery and waiting for new life!

Oh look!!! Right here on Houszz!

Thousands of ideas for mid-century interiors!!! Maybe one of them will stick out to you as mid-century with a nod toward country or woodsy farmhouse!

https://www.houzz.com/photos/siding-midcentury-exterior-ideas-phbr0lbl-bl~l_168891

The search feature is great on this site. If I had a dollar for every time I have used it I would have enough for a vacation!

I know very little about architecture, but off the top of my head, the round window and painted cedar shake look like it’s in Nantucket, the columns remind me of a Colonial, the metal roof reminds me of the Northwest or Southern Cottage, the railing looks like the Widow’s Walk in a Victorian, the glass front doors are modern, and the shape looks like a pyramid that had the top blown off.

I feel like it is such a waste doing anything to your house without first doing the basics, such as addressing your landscape and making small, fairly inexpensive changes before making structural additions and adding “stuff” to your home.

If you are looking through pictures, try these search ideas: mid-century modern farmhouse, mcm country home, mcm ranch, rambler, mcm farmhouse update, etc.

In a quick search, I could not find any mcm that have a white garage with painted grey house. They were either stained wood or the color of the house.

This is a widows walk and and the Southern Cottage (will probably post as the last picture:

And some other paint and exterior ideas:

More pics:

You have all of these brown 2x? Boards. You cannot leave those and also add columns - that would be an over-crowded mish-mash.

If you really want to have all white trim, try painting all of these boards white. You can always clad them with thin cedar or repaint them if you don’t like it.

Another idea is to move into another home with the exterior style you want.

I also think if you have money to make all of these changes you want to make, then you could take some of that and hire an architect to create your vision for you.

Good luck to you. Please post pictures when you are done.

I wanted to show you this unusual railing. Now - they say it’s mid-century but I’m not sure which century haha! But: to me it’s definitely mid-century with a nod to farmhouse style. Plus it’s white. I think it’s interesting!

Wow! That is interesting! Thank you! I never would have thought to mix up a pattern like that on a railing! How cool! Thank you!!!

I think I found the look you want. Definitely a mid-century turned toward a farmhouse, with the original windows and cedar shake.

Omg....I love love love this. Wow. That's sooooooooo pretty! Ok so I now have a new inspiration picture!!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!