If that is wood siding, please think twice about power washing - that can and often does cause permanent damage by driving moisture into the wood, which leads to rot and mold, as well as possible cosmetic damage of pitting/gouging the siding. Plus, paint jobs won't last as long on wood that has been power washed (because of the moisture issue). Companies that power wash won't tell you about the problems. Old house restoration experts strongly advise against it.

Temporary measures to spiff up the exterior:

1) remove the aluminum awning (if you need an awning to help keep the interior cool, you can either replace it with a more attractive one, or clean and repaint the current one); 2) buy some pretty shrubs and plant them in large colorful pots to place around the base of the porch, and then supplement the area with annuals (either in ground or more pots) 3) paint the mailbox black, and replace the light with something a bit larger and style appropriate to the house 4) clean the front walk

It is a cute house with a lot of potential; good paint color/scheme selection will make a huge difference! I hope that you will be able to replace the front door eventually also with something more style appropriate.

Hon, it sounds like you have this under control! I kind of like the blue on the porch trim. I think it gives the house charm and personality, but my favorite color might not be your favorite. The first thing I always recommend is a big notebook and a twenty five foot measuring tape. I go room by room, sketching all the features in each room-closet, window, cupboard, vanity.... Measure the height of the room also so when you and your notebook are at the paint store, you can accurately estimate how many gallons of paint you will need. I give each room two or three pages on my notebook for my ideas and give each item an estimated cost; $40 entrance rug, $135 lamp with black shade, $300 coffee table, etc. I find that keeps me on budget. I shop for furniture at consignment shops (Ethan Allen chair new $1400, I paid $400). I see you have started idea books, but they are empty. This is the fun part-finding pictures of things you like. After you have a good number of them, you will see a theme. I also use my pictures to show DH what I have in mind. It is so much easier to discus a picture in front of you than trying to describe how you want the finished room to be. I used this method almost daily when we built a house, showing my contractor exactly what I wanted. Back to my notebook, it is very satisfying to look back at the items with a check mark beside them-trim on bookcases, reading lamp, small table. I also note why one of my brilliant ideas was discarded because it wouldn’t work. Six months into this you will forget why you chose pink over red, but your notes will save regret! You are off on a grand adventure. Have fun!

Thank you all for your wonderful feedback!

I literally just read that power washing can cause damage - thank you for looking out, Raee. I guess I'll just be hosing it gently and giving a good scrubbing.

I definitely want to get rid of the aluminum awning, but I'm worried about how it's attached and what's under it. I've read that after you removing an awning there's often damage that needs to be patched around the window frame. We're planning on painting the whole exterior next summer, so that might have to wait until then...

I love the idea of adding some shrubbery to the front, but I'm overwhelmed with the options! I've been a city dweller since I was 18 - so my green thumb has really only extended into the realm of potted plants. I'm sure I'll be making LOTS of gardening/landscaping posts haha.

Remodeling, what a great idea of keeping a notebook with all the ideas and measurements. Though, with COVID, I feel like things might move a little more slowly than I'd normally like to approach something like this. In Chicago we're still very much on lockdown. But it's fun to plan :)

Barncatz, I adore that house! I pinned it for inspiration before we even did our first walkthrough. What a transformation! Sometimes I wish HGTV would just come do this whole house on my budget lol. It'll be be a fun adventure :)

I mainly posted it because I loved the way they hung their pots. In the future, it might be nice to widen your porch stairs and move them over in front of the front door.

Have fun - your house is majorly darling.

Since the shrubs in pots are meant to be temporary (although, after you paint, you might be placing them in ground if they and the location is suitable) you really don't have to agonize over the choices. It is a way to discover what you like!

A couple of small boxwoods or junipers for year round green, may be a variegated weigela or two, or a couple of small hydrangeas, even roses, shouldn't set you back too much -- check out your local Lowe's for inexpensive choices - especially at the end of the planting season when things get deeply discounted. Or a local garden center could make some suggestions while you shop there. Dwarf varieties are good but the pots will help any stay small and easy to trim if they grow too big. Hostas and coral bells would also be an easy choice to fill in between the large pots.

The keys are some variety of heights, textures and colors (like different shades of green, and flowers), a repeating pattern (doesn't need to be strictly so), and groups of three.

Agreed - the hanging plants are perfection to strive for. I also loved how they painted the ceiling of the porch that lovely accent color.

And yes! Actually, one of the major peeves I have with this house is the fact the the stairs and the door don't line up. It's really frustrating, but that will be a project for down the road. Does anyone know how much it costs to move steps? Ballpark?

Since you mentioned budget.....and I am nothing if not always looking for a cheap way to do something.....for now....until you have the $$ to do it right....wash with a hose end sprayer and a detergent. There comes stuff that will do a lot to clean up the paint without driving water into and under the wood.
I second ditching that awning....and removing the porch and steps carpet.
Then until you can really get a landscape plan in place....get some inexpensive wire trellises and plant morning glory vines. They are an annual and will die by next summer when you are ready to do something more permanent and will soften the outside and make a summer bower of your porch my mid July. And with some colorful hanging baskets it will be a delight. Then I would plant annuals in those barrels....things like marigolds, petunias, zinnia, coleus. Don't wast anything buying shrubbery until you know just what and how you want it.
Adn before you plant anything ask someone who gardens what will do well....d.epending on which way the house faces....I am betting it faces west or south.

What a lovely house. Congratulations! I agree with Lindac92 that you shouldn’t spend money on any landscaping that would be permanent. I don’t live the whiskey barrels, but for this year, fill them with colorful annuals, including some that will grow down over the sides. Hanging pots would be beautiful in a newly painted white porch that doesn’t have carpet. Live there for a season, focus on the things you can change and improve now, start your notebook, and take your time. If you rush to get “something” in the ground, you’ll wind up wanting something else later, when you decide to move steps, or change something else. This is a good time to get to know your new house. Take advantage and enjoy the process! I do think it’s worth taking the upstairs awning off sooner rather than later and making whatever repairs are necessary. That will go a long way toward updating your curb appeal.

Thank you for all the wonderful feedback! I am so eager to get started, but I think several of you have made a great point that we should get settled and get to know the house first before making any big landscaping decisions. I do know that I am dying to have a lilac bush blooming next spring, but TBD. Definitely exciting! And thank you all for your wonderful ideas!