I am not a pro, but... this seems an unusual thing to do. And, very expensive. And, you end up with less square footage than you had before. Where I live, that endeavor would cost so much money--I can't even hazard a guess at the amount. Are you considering that the cost for such an endeavor may never be recovered in an eventual sale? Does the neighborhood real estate market support such investment?

And all new siding? With that much money, maybe just find another house you like better. I actually think your house is pretty cute. If it were mine, I'd trim all those trees back and and tidy up the bushes. Otherwise, a nice, cute house.

Both peaks look like misfits on the rest of the house, but you're talking big bucks to change them. I would remove all the ill fitting shutters, the diamond in the larger peak and the light above it. In the top of each peak you could add some interesting architecture and a new color for the siding. Replace your porch and steps, take the walk out to the street, get a new front door and replace your lantern with one 1/3 the door's height. Then tear out and redo the landscaping. Something like this with shingles and trim might work for your peaks. Green might be a good color for your siding too.

Chamblee Screened Porch and Deck Addition · More Info

Poppleton Park, Birmingham, MI Exterior Makeover · More Info

Well, I LIKE the peaks just as they are. If YOU don't, change them, but if you think you are going to increase the value of the house, DON'T.

Such a charming house! And removing the brick will take away most of the charm. I would focus on the landscaping - if you want a "porch" you can add some pavers to the area between your garage and stairs.

I don't think it will increase the value of the house but they are not consistent with the style of the house and they annoy me. If it's really that expensive to do this then I won't! I would rather put my $ into my old style kitchen! I do like the idea of going with that green above and losing the shingles.

Did you mean "losing the shutters?"

I'm with Sammie, that house is absolutely charming!

Changing up the landscaping will do wonders.

Ha, yes! losing the shutters! Thank you!

Very crude likeness. This is not a good look.

Take the shutters off forget the shake idea and paint the siding to work with the brick which IMO is the best part of the ecterior. The pic posted with the green is one of my favorites . Brick is often used on only parts of a house . What is really needed is landscaping get a nice awning for above the door Enmarene ’s pic is definately not the way to go as she explains

There are many English Cottage style homes just like yours in my town. They are very desirable. Please do not remove any of the original features! Paint and new landscaping will really freshen the house up while you focus on the interior. Lovely home just as is!

Another crude mock-up.

No reason to keep "stuck-on brick." Is it just on the front facade or the entire lower half of the home? If it's just on the front facade I'd pull it off or paint it in a heartbeat because facade veneer brick cheapens the home. But if it's on the entire lower half, then I'd just leave it.

If you don't like them, you can change the gables. But maybe talking to an architect and getting ideas on maintaining the gables would be a good step. I do like the last mock-up houssaon posted without the smaller gable, but I love the charm of smaller gable (it instantly makes me think of Tudor cottages). Maybe you could do something interesting on the interior to make it a more useable entrance for you, while also gaining a porch? Only one way to find out, and that's to talk to an architect.

We added a front porch last year to our ranch-style home and we sit out there EVERY SINGLE DAY.

City hall may have records of remodelling permits, if you are curious. I would keep the structure the way it is now, with new steps, new paint on the siding, and new landscaping. If you love the shutters, keep them, if not, remove them. It may be possible to strip and refinish your current front door.

I've lived in neighborhoods with many homes like that. The "peaks" were quite popular in the 20s and 30s in the greater Detroit area.

Has it always had siding? I can picture it with the Tudor revival stucco and timbering on the upper half. The double peaks are definitely a nod to that style.

I recommend letting Emmarene design your facelift, just to be safe. :)

What a wonderful house you have.

There is something very charming about your house that I can't quite put a finger on. Something a bit fairytale. Don't paint the brick. Don't change the peaks, the shutters or the diamond window. (The shutters don't follow the architectural "rules" but on this house they look very good.)

I would paint the garage a dark colour to de-emphasize it and keep the attention on the front door area. The green colour looks good as @emmarene9(9) mocked up above, if you want a change. I gave you light fixtures that are twice as large.

As far as landscaping, we don't know where you live. Is it a shady spot or was this picture taken at a shady time of day? I'd replace some of your shrubs with ones that are a lighter leaf colour, or that have some bloom. Hydrangeas will bloom in all but the darkest shade, and come in dwarf varieties that would fit right in. Perennials/ground covers with a silvery leaf would brighten the area, for example pulmonaria or lamium.

Your house reminds me of my own house. It’s a Tudor design. I would not re move the entry peak. My entry peak is over the entrance, but there’s a small porch there. Not big enough to sit and enjoy. I would love an entry that would allow me a place for coats to be hung. Or have storage. I agree with emmarene, the house would not look good without the peak. I do however like the idea of adding the sage color to the paintable parts. I would never consider painting the brick. That’s just about a crime where I live. I would also paint the garage door the sage color.

debra

If you do any restructuring of your roofline, you can soften the big peak with a swoop in proper retro style. It is possible that THIS is how yours once was if you think the roofline has been changed over the decades:

Your house is adorable! In your shoes, I would get the weeds/grass out of the brick walkway, remove the too-small shutters and the security light at the top of the peak, and replace the lights with larger lanterns. Then paint the siding and front door, de-emphasizing the garage door with a dark color. Love the greens mentioned above. Put some pumpkins on the brick steps and call it done! (Then lightly refresh the landscaping next spring.)

Spend your money on beautiful landscaping, a proper walkway, and painting the siding and making the garage door receded. As suggested, a green would enhance the house and harmonize with your brown roof--very important. Here's a shutterless Tudor:

I don't like the big peak ..the small ones OK ..and yes to shutter removal ..it would look better all brick ..can you find some t o match ?

I suspect the angle of the photo exaggerates the height of the peaks.

Your house was built with a style in mind -- the high gables, the diamond window, the placement of the windows all say "storybook house" ... but someone tried to modernize it a few decades ago by adding shutters and horizontal siding. What would make your house look "right" again is adding back some of its original fun. Expensive: replace the 1970's siding with shingle style siding. Less expensive option: paint the siding a lighter, brighter color: sage or minty green, robin's egg blue, a sunnier shade of pale yellow. Paint door and shutters to contrast/coordinate with new siding color. Eliminate the shutters -or- change from the big-box style they are now, to a lighter board and batten style, maybe with a pine tree cutout (or a squirrel cutout if you want to be less subtle).

If you do anything with your windows, look into "3 over 1" instead of "6 over 6" grids. If you want to de-emphasize the peak of the entryway, paint its trim board a darker color. An awning could be charming and functional over your front door.

Oh, and I love your concern for your giant trees -- yay for mature, magnificent trees!

I absolutely love your home and agree with what partim said...you only need to make a few changes to refresh your charming home. if I were you, I would make these simple exterior changes, then start focusing on my dream kitchen. Have fun!