That 3rd picture's wall is where the monster TV should go! Don't block the windows with it. What items do you have that require more built-ins than are already there? A new porch should be a portico that replicates the dormer roof line. Anything else will ruin your charming cottage, IMO.

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Hi Ross, great looking home. I would strongly recommend that you interview a couple of architect or designers in your area as you have a length list of questions that can best be answered by a professional. Search on Houzz for your area. Best of luck on your project. Jerome DeMarco ART.chitecture

Thanks decoenthusiaste! That TV isn't mine - my TV is small enough to easily fit between the two windows. I have tons of books and have always liked the idea of creating a library-like feel in one of my rooms. I plan to also use the built-ins to display family photos, etc. I like the idea of the dormer-style porch, but do you think it will look odd not being in the center of the two dormers?

The portico won't look any more odd than the un-centered door and stoop. What did you have in mind that would only be as wide as the stoop, yet be centered? If your TV is that small, why not remove a shelf from one of the built-ins by the FP and install it there? Then put the library at the opposite end with a library table, comfy chairs and lamps? Family photos are best displayed in the master or hallway, but if you want a few here, limit them to 3 on each side, layered larger behind smaller, and not on the same shelf either side.

IMO, blue-ish gray will not compliment your stone.

Answers in line:

I'd like to put a small front porch on the house (pretty much the same size as the stoop). What style roof should I do for it? The hangup is that the front of the house is not symmetrical.

I don't think I"d undertake that expense. Maybe a pergola over the porch instead, and plant some climbing vines for shade.

-What should I do about the fireplace? I like the built-ins, but I'm wondering if I should cut down the size of the mantle and make them bigger.

Leave the stone, but paint out the built-ins and the dark window trim, crown, and baseboards. Will instantly update it. Get a new fireplace screen, too. You might think about re-doing one of the built-ins to accommodate your TV so you won't have two focal points for seating arrangements.

-Speaking of built-ins, I'd like to do a whole wall of them in the living room on the opposite wall of the fireplace (wall on the left in third picture). Thoughts?

I wouldn't. Will make the room feel heavy.

-What does everyone think of the current trim color? I'm planning to eventually paint the walls a light blueish gray and not sure how that will match. The trim is stained so not sure if that makes it more difficult.

Nope. See above. And I'm not sure I'd paint the walls blue with such a warm tone to the stone. Keep it a warm white or a very light taupe-y beige.

I mostly agree with Sabrina and deco. I think a portico could work on your house. If possible, I'd remove the mantel altogether.

Mantel gone. TV shrunk and moved to its new home.

No cool gray paint here, please. Maybe a cream.

Oh thank de lawd and pass the mustard, they fixed the site! Hallelujah!

I stole you a portico. Unfortunately, it's bright white so you'll have to paint it...

...or you could go to this woman's blog and see how she did it herself: https://www.addicted2decorating.com/the-finished-studio-door-portico-plus-one-more-coral-door.html

Unless you plan to paint all the trim white, I would not do anything cool on the walls. Here are a warm white and warm gray:

And a cool gray so you can see the difference:

Really nice house.

You could remove (but not discard) the existing mantel and live a while without, taking the time to consider all your fireplace options, including a more bulky but less wide mantel that is a part of a fireplace surround. (The current mantel could be reused as support for shelving or a new mantel.)

Would not paint or widen the existing built ins Would not paint the wood around the cased door opening to the entry unless you do decide to put white (or wall colored) built ins on that wall incorporating the tv behind where the floor lamp now stands (third pic).

If you do keep the built ins beside the fireplace their current wood look, then definitely leave the baseboard the treated wood to match the built ins.

If you paint the current built ins white, then paint the window trim white, too; however, otherwise, if the current built ins are going to stay wood as is, you could decide to paint the window trim white only if you're not going to add drapes that would cover most of the window frame anyway.

Would definitely paint the trim at the top of the wall the wall color since ceiling white could visually shrink the height of the room.

As you consider wall colors, in addition to considering blue or gray, you might consider a wall color that is a tan (but without pink or yellow hue) such as the lightest color in the stone in the fireplace -- and keep the ceiling white.

If you paint the new built-ins surrounding the tv either white or a light wall color, you should seriously consider updating the ceiling fan with one that is silver metal and tinted semi-clear plastic/vinyl blades.

As to the front porch, does any part of the floor of the existing stoop extend beyond the front wall of the house or do the steps start as you walk out the door (as the sloped rails suggest)?

Something you might consider is building a treated lumber deck over the steps from the front wall of the house to the sidewalk from a point midway between the door to the right front corner of the house, with wooden steps leading from the side of that deck to the sidewalk and having it built with posts extending above the deck for the railing and to build to in order to add a porch roof later.

Thanks for the comments everyone! Unless it's cost-prohibitive, I'm planning on having all the trim, the built-ins, and the stone on the fireplace painted white. That way, it will blend in with the blue-gray walls I'm wanting. Does anyone have a good paint color suggestion? I've pulled a bunch, just need to see them in the room to make a decision. So much to decide! And that's not counting the kitchen and bathrooms that need totally replacing.