IMO a new door that actually suits the house and BTW all those shutters need to go they do not belong on those windows . I would look at MCM front doors and get a steel insulated one and then ditch the storm door and if you like a scareen get a phantom so you can actually see the door

Agree with Patricia but what I find most unwelcoming is the bush to the left of the stairs. It blocks the entrance from the driveway side . OMO get rid of both large bushes and add some about the height of the one to the right of the stairs. Also do something around the flagpole.

We do have a landscaper putting together a design for us also in the meantime! I agree those bushes are very uninviting. During this time of year there are a lot more flowering shrubbery than when this was taken (late fall last year) but I would prefer it all redone.

I am so sad to hear you all hate my shutters! Haha I was so excited when my dad spent HOURS putting them up for us because it made it look so much less jail like ! What is wrong with the shutters if you don’t mine me asking? The shape or the color?

I love the idea of the door with the sidelight maybe something like the below, but painted appropriately - I measured and it will fit with some room to spare on either side .. just need to be cut and reframed.

With regard to a storm door, we recently rescued a puppy and I think the storm door is pretty necessary for that reason alone. So we will likely stick with putting in a full glass storm door.

My husband does not like the idea of a fun colored door and prefers a dark brown door with a lighter color on the wood. So looks like we will be sticking with neutral colors.

I like your shutters and think they frame your windows nicely. Keep em. 🙂

You have a LOT of character that is drawn from the various materials in your entry. We love those house numbers!! You may want to consider transforming your existing door from the oval to a full view door lite. It's a more affordable entry makeover option, and can really refresh the look of your entry. We mocked up a few options for you from the Paris, Sylvan Park and Jameston collections.

Regarding the shutters - it's not the color of the shutters - it's that the windows are too wide. Shutters are supposed to look functional even if they aren't functional. They are supposed to look like they can cover the window on which they are placed. They never go on bay windows or triple windows unless they are Bahama type shutters which would be inappropriate for your area and inappropriate for your house.

Please read this short article on shutters: https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

As to the front door, that oval window is what makes it a Victorian style door. Your house isn't Victorian and would look so much better with an MCM type door or a solid door. The reason others are suggesting a light color for your door is that a brown door creates the "black hole" effect on the face of your house. It's hard to visualize if you are accustomed to seeing the brown, brown, brown that you currently show. There are other neutral, but lighter paints so your front door becomes visible.

I agree that the landscaping you have now buries the house and doesn't bring out it's features. I hope you end up with a good landscape plan. Reach out to the landscape forum here too. They can provide suggestions, for free, to enhance your landscaping.

Thank you all!! After taking everyone’s input into consideration, I think the route we will go (at least temporarily) is to keep the wood paneling, maybe give it another stain touch up, replace the door with a light colored modern door and replace the light fixtures on the house as well as either side of the garage door. Here is a very very very poor draft done on microsoft paint hahaha .. the door color is very bright here but I would go to my local paint store to have them mix up a paint to really try to pull some of the brick mortar coloring in (something between tan/beige/peach). And lastly, maybe put a tall and narrow planter in the corner in front of the outlet while waiting on the landscape design to be completed for the additional curb appeal.

Be careful you don't use a craftsman light fixture like you've pictured above. You don't have a craftsman home.

Hmm, that one was the closet one I could get a head on photo of to the actual one we were planning on getting .. I clearly don’t know enough about styles to even know if the one we like Is considered craftsman style? Would this one work?

The shutters are appropriate for that style home.

For lighting and door style, you want something more MCMish. Modern! You have a ranch house and you oughta rock the ranchiness. Visit https://retrorenovation.com/category/exterior-design/ for some appropriate door types. Don't go full-on retrocheesey but do embrace the ranch.

And then do some landscaping. :)