This is the front of the house? Get rid of the deck on the front. That’s just weird. Replace with plants. Done. All money gone.

I happen to like the deck and if you use it as you say keep it. I would be adding some other plants to the walways with maybe even annuals with lots of color. I would like to seem much larger planters on either side of the entry again with seaonal plants with some color. I have to say I do not like the haphazaed stome walk way IMO that should have slabs that will be hard to walk on as it slowly shifts with rain and maybe snow. It also has no beginning that is obvious . I have to say it really does not scream dutch colonial to me but maybe if I see the house from further back it might be different . You will not bea ble to change the roof or add new windows for your budget so do the simple things that don’t cost much and save to do more major changes if you think you need them.If you decide at some stage to change windows please make them all the same .That picture window really does not work at all. Wwithout redoing the whole porche you are pretty much stuck with a single entry door .You could have a nice entry door and do a phantom screen. I would do some sort of seating on the other deck too maybe even a swing. Use some brighter colors for cushions .

Better picture form your post a year ago.

Just to clarify, we are thinking of adding a new roof line (on top of the existing flat rubber roof) to the mudroom ONLY, obviously not the whole house for only $5k! But just unsure of what would have the most impact. Could also just add lighting and a new storm door and call it good, but we are great with DIY tasks and very handy, so we can purchase these and install ourselves for only $1k. We also have a close friend that can help us save money. So basically we just need design help with the entry. Thank you for the landscaping suggestions! Will certainly consider adding flowers more flowers during the summer, but for now it’s early spring & snowy here and we can do much that way yet!

I would also add a lot more plants. Also would upgrade light in front yard to something with more charm and character. And a darker color. It’s a cute

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I find the windows next to the door very weird, ending higher than the door and not going all the way down. My first move would be to replace those, with a door with two sidelights, just like in all the pictures Beth posted

Save your 5K. You need an actual porch, not a patio with a bump out. That bump needs to go and be incorporated into the porch.

The shed dormer could use transformation too. As 2 doghouse dormers connected with a shed dormer.

I think this house is dangerously close to having too many “add ons”...and not enough continuity....but you also need to establish the “front” a little better as the decks looks a little like an after thought..this may be possibly be resolved by covering the exposed deck areas on both sides with pergolas connected to the entry section.....as seen in some of the pics above...another possibility to add a more substantial feel would be to add wider fascias to the roof lines...as is the roof looks thin and insubstantial ...like a barn....rather than a big home

Honestly, I think it’s the decking (and the odd flagstone) that makes the entry feel incomplete (in addition to some things mentioned above). If you like sitting out there with your wine after work, then consider removing the decking and creating a nice little patio.

However, even if you do a nice little gable like grapefruit showed, it won’t resolve the inherent issues with the odd windows and the house will always feel “off.” If you want to invest in improving the house, you need to come up with a comprehensive, long-range plan that incorporates all the changes you want to make. This will allow you to budget and create a COHESIVE feel to the house.

Hi everyone, thanks for your opinions and suggestions. However, this post is specifically for entry door & mudroom design ideas... not about adding in fences or landscaping. This is not our forever home and changes need to have some ROI to be worth adding to this old house. ;)

I already had a different thread going for landscaping on here that proved VERY helpful in our long term DIY landscaping plans. :) So, we are all set with landscaping plans thanks to some kind folks suggestions and photos on that thread here last year.

Also- we enjoy the sunny southern facing deck and we like the new walkway. It works well for our rural region and our neighborhood. The walkway is staying for the next few years and so is the deck. I am not asking about changing those features right now, so please respect that.

We will not be able to afford adding in a fence to our three acres for only $5k, plus there is not a need for a fence. This is not our forever home and those changes do not have high ROI. Also, no other neighbors have fences as regionally that’s not our style in this neighborhood. We don’t want to be the only home with a fence.

For this post, we are Simply focusing on the entry storm door/ mudroom area and how to improve that while staying true to the Dutch colonial style of our house. I’ve drawn in a really rough idea for roofing to the images below, and I think we are going to add a new storm door to the mudroom entry as well as fix the window placement on either side of the storm door. Our friend is a fine custom home builder here near Ithaca and can help us, but I wanted to see if this community had suggestions before we talk with him. Thanks in advance for your kind and respectful suggestions.

We will definitely be leaving the flagstone walkway in place for the time being, but this photo is one version from the landscaping post that gives a better visual representation of a new roof design over the mudroom entry door along with a new door.

I see you keep calling it the mud room entry door, but it’s your front entrance, right? Meaning this isn’t a side entrance and the front of your home is elsewhere? Maybe I’m just confused with the terminology.

Based on other pictures, this is the side of the house, but they are using it as the entry.

The roof line you are proposing does not work with your house; what you have now works better than a peaked roof.

Adjusting the windows next to the door would look better; they should line up with the first floor picture windows.

OP, your drawings are the best idea I've seen yet.
I was going to suggest you find a home designer, familiar with the Dutch colonial style to draw up what is correct for the style of your house and start chipping away at it. I understand that this isn't your forever home.
I'm hoping your friend will know what a Dutch colonial style entry should look like and go for it. Also, a dutch door would be so much fun.

Well Aly ..welcome to Houzz...since you aren’t paying us you can expect everyone to put their 2 cents in on everything...but on the other hand we dont expect you to do everything we suggest unless you want to..either..Plus....you may be surprised how many times these random outlooks spark a new idea or directions that work out perfectly ...

I'd get rid of the windows and enlarge the door.

Making progress!! Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and ideas.

Wow…that new entry made all the difference…great job!