Here is a post with some nice ideas, hope it helps https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5948340/house-has-weird-asymmetrical-windows-how-can-i-improve-curb-appeal#n=38

As always, DigDoug hits it out of the park!

I like the front door painted in a sage green color, of which there are many types.

The only thing I might do differently is that I am a sucker for window boxes, so I might add white window boxes under the two windows on the left side of the house and put in what ever you like that is interesting and colorful and easy to maintain.

And if you are the type to say hi to passing neighbors, a small table next to the outdoor bench to hold that pitcher of fresh lemonade.

I think the first question should be what style do you like? Dig Doug gave you a beautiful traditional look, but you can pull this house any way you like, you could do white, board and batten, with dark windows, and a metal roof or you could do dark navy with white windows and a portico, I can see so many ways, what are your feelings style-wise?

Do you need to replace the siding? I would keep the board and batten. Paint the house any color you like.

How is the roof? You might want to replace it with a Weathered wood or charcoal color.

I would get rid of the bay window.

A cantilevered portico would look good. Definitely update your door to a cottage or traditional style.

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Or a classic approach.

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I agree that you have many options for the style direction you could take your house. Have you gotten any architectural drawings?

Thank you everyone! We are really in the planning phase. I really like Dig Doug’s idea but my husband thinks the dormer and porch should have some more style. As requested I attached photos of possible ideas. Obviously we are gravitating towards white exterior. I did a mock up of what my original thought was when we under contract for the house, knowing we wanted a facelift. We bought the house mainly for its bones, land, location, and the ability to make it our own with renovations.

House looks similar to yours https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5958344/fix-boxy-new-build-house-exterior-to-feel-proportional-and-upscale#n=8

You will need to relocate your electrical connection when you renovate. I am not so sure that I like the combination of a shed dormer with gables appended to it for your garage addition.

Admittedly, I am prejudiced in favor of porches.

Adding a front porch across the entire right side of the front of your house would be a huge improvement. Attach the shed roof to the upstairs part of the house and include a gable above the entry door at least that wide.

Since you have a foundation vent, you could use treated deck boards with a small space in between them as you would for a deck for the flooring rather than having a concrete porch floor.

The kind of post you use (and whether you paint or stain them) could help define your style.

https://www.google.com/search?source=univ&tbm=isch&q=front+porch+shed+roof+with/gable+over+entry&client=firefox-b-1-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwibl7Tl4NTqAhXZgXIEHfPfBeYQsAR6BAgKEAE&biw=1366&bih=654#imgrc=OXsaYI8n68hG9M

Thank you! I think a composite or treated wood deck is the way to go especially due to the height of our foundation with a window.

By the way, you're house isn't ugly, it just seems incomplete without a front porch.

@Embothrium-

My, My, You sure do like to pick and poke all over Houzz.

It's a lot easier to criticize than offer up something constructive yourself.

Is the purpose of the dormer you're wanting to add for enabling light into the garage? If so, a pair of skylight on both sides might help more than a dormer.

If adding the dormer in the garage roof is more about changing the look, then having the dormer and any forward facing gable over your entry that you might add as a part of a new front porch being styled similarly would be a good idea. Any gable over the entry would need to be sized and shaped with the left upstairs window in mind.

Thank you. The dormer is for the purpose of making a bedroom and office. We have a large “bedroom” that is 17x21 that ideally we would like to keep as a playroom/family room for the kids. Therefore, adding a dormer will allow us both extra space and an extra bedrooms. Youre right about the gable under the window hopefully it works out alright.