I would replace the arched window with a rectangle and cover the bay and the area around the door with white board and batten. Get modern lights and mount them near the top of the door.

You could build a wider and deeper hardscape area in front of the front door and edge with roses.

If you are looking at quick, inexpensive cosmetic ideas, I would add lots of white trim and do a two-tone look on the bay window. Add modern light, house numbers, planter, a bench and landscaping.

Oh ok those are both nice ideas . We want to eventually reside the house in more modern colours dark blue with stone .

Take houssaon's idea, paint the house charcoal and cover the white areas with cedar and do a cool planting bed like this one. Create an inviting entry with some dimension.

North Kingsway Residence · More Info

Some option

Thanks for the visual :)

@celery - can you do the eaves in "cedar" too? Thanks.

That would look good I didn’t think you could do them in cedar.

or

I like the cedar or stone . The house is in Canada lol we get enough snow . I would rather color on the house than white :)

Here is the south side of the house

Please excuse the untidiness we just moved in :)

Back of house

North side

Ooooo yes that looks good :) it take the house out of the 90’s instantly.

The best thing you can do to take that house out of the 90s is to replace the half moon window with a rectangle window. That is the elephant in the room.

The cedar looks terrific in Celery's last rendition above. The gray looks good too.

Landscaping really helps.

But that window above the front door really needs to be replaced IMO.

I agree 100 percent the half moon gone would make a huge difference. It has to go .

I agree, replace the half moon. Replace the Victorian screen also.

Yes we have only been in the house a few weeks . There is a lot to do .

Is the first pic the front of your home?

What room is where there are three windows beneath the large upstairs bump out?

Is that a bathroom or two?

Is that a kitchen with windows over cabinets?

Would consider extending the bottom of that exterior wall of the bump out all the way to ground level and re-create those windows to be more uniform from the road -- perhaps creating "garden window well" https://www.pinterest.com/pin/29132728823681854/ 

https://www.google.com/search?q=high+basement+windows+as+covered+greenhouse+window+&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiApdLerqjsAhUuneAKHeZUAmIQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=high+basement+windows+as+covered+greenhouse+window+&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDFDPvQZYrr0HYK7QB2gAcAB4AIABZ4gB8hCSAQQyNi4xmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=GsqAX4CwBa66ggfmqYmQBg&bih=654&biw=1349&client=firefox-b-1-d&hl=en#imgrc=Yw71HRX9TgnM5M

Since you live where it snows, you could probably use a front porch or at least a portico. You could do something like this one and keep your arc window over the door.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-mcclure/7077565001

Or you could arc the roof just over the arc window.

https://www.georgiafrontporch.com/details/portico-details/

Like the last suggestion from

Celery. Visualization, Rendering images

1 hour ago

last modified: 1 hour ago

"Here are with cedar eaves. I like it better.:-))"

I think that's your answer! Very updated look! You might enlist the help of a local nursery to plan for plantings that will thrive in your locale. I would add one or two taller ornamental trees since the house has a feeling of height and needs the landscaping to reduce some of the top-heaviness of the second floor bump out.

Where would you plant the taller trees ?

Hunting for a new window to replace the half moon .

Can't tell much about the plants just right of the camera frame. I would do much like the photo I posted yesterday with the rocks. Do that just diagonal to the left corner by the front door with a tree sufficiently far from the corner of the house to allow for its growth habit. Maybe add some compact bloomers like hydrangea (for summer) or azalea (for spring) flanking the windows under the bump out. Then a tree to stand against the background of the wall between the bump out and the screened deck, and another one further out in the yard. It may be that the ones you already have on the right there will work, or could be transplanted to fill in these areas.

First know where any/all underground utilities may be before you dig. Also, see if there are there any local rules about what can and cannot be planted.

As you decide on trees, you will need to consider where you want and don't want shade and when. Know where north, south, east, and west are. In the northern hemisphere, the north side of the house is usually absent sunlight coming INTO the windows even if you see the sunlight from the east and west in the yard.

A lot of trees will shade your yard and can impede your having a "lawn". Do you want a lawn and where? In the front?

Before doing detailed landscaping, ask yourself how much time and energy and effort and money you are willing to invest in maintaining landscaping on an ongoing basis.

Planting trees specifically for shade from the summer heat that lose their leaves to let in winter sun for warmth can be a great idea. Where do you want shade? a shady or sunlight patio?

Pay attention to the kind of tree you are considering planting and know any potential hazards:

root spread -- will the tree you are considering present a hazard for root damage to your foundation or

will limbs extend over and drop on your roof

will the prevailing wind likely blow the tree over onto your house.

Do you want an ornamental tree (Japanese Maple) or fruit tree with edible fruit.

Trees can be a "permanent" investment so take your time to make your choices. Usually the bet time to plant them is when the sap is down -- coldest weather -- in my experience but do some research.

You could get likely about ten "free" plants, including trees with an Arbor Day foundation membership (<$20) (they're choice).

At one point they gave away a "tree" book with the membership as well.

There are books on kinds of trees:

[https://www.google.com/search?q=Trees+of+north+america&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk03y5Ww6G4pkTCwPlSCj08ArgoXzwQ:1602389438310&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjmkIzq1avsAhXSknIEHUbjAfEQ_AUoAXoECC0QAw&biw=1366&bih=654#spd=14256353705325984575_0(https://www.google.com/search?q=Trees+of+north+america&client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk03y5Ww6G4pkTCwPlSCj08ArgoXzwQ:1602389438310&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjmkIzq1avsAhXSknIEHUbjAfEQ_AUoAXoECC0QAw&biw=1366&bih=654#spd=14256353705325984575_0)