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Beautiful Modern Southern Farmhouse by Steve Powell Homes · More Info

Beautiful Modern Southern Farmhouse by Steve Powell Homes · More Info

That window arrangement on the front of the gable end wall is goofy and totally non-traditional. Until that is changed you won't achieve your stated goals.

Yes, thank you! Wondering what type of wood and color stain for the posts and stain for the floor of the porch to achieve this look? Also what shutter style and color would coordinate?

Wow, never realized how unusual that window arrangement is on that part of the house but see what you mean. We are not looking to make that big of a change right now. Just looking to spruce up what we already have!

If you're wanting a more rustic or mountain cabin look, you could use cedar with a natural wood finish but most country porches ended up being painted white. The posts are not larger than 6"x6" and many end up being smaller and round and more ornate with white railing (though I prefer the plain 6"x6" myself). Like these posts:

http://acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2012/06/our-front-steps-and-walkway.html

You could extend the depth of your porch so that the overhang of the front of the porch roof extends to be even or nearly even with the two story left wing of the home and do consider a concrete porch floor-- it will last a lot longer. You create a block foundation/form, fill in with hard packed dirt and then pour a 6" floor that slightly overhangs the blocks ... which you can face with brick or stone. Then you can use the same brick or stone to enhance the curb appeal of your home and its new entry door.

With the new door, showcase it with some great brick or stone steps at least as wide as the door. Since you need only a few steps and have a wall on the left side of the porch, consider starting the steps across from the front door so they are covered with the deeper porch roof and have the front of the bottom step even with the front of the front porch, adding a brick or stone wall between steps and the porch to the right of the steps that can be usable as a railing ... in lieu of adding an actual railing.

On the right side of the porch consider adding a "gazebo" feature -- there are different kinds of roof designs you can use if you don't want to just use a hip roof corner -- and have the front porch wrap around that right front corner of the house at least enough to create the wider gazebo feature and add steps leading from the porch toward the back yard.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/112730796896550817/

If you're wanting rustic or mountain, you could use cedar with a natural wood finish but most country porches ended up being painted white.

Know your local building codes. You may be required to have a railing or wall depending upon the height of the top of your porch floor. Depending upon the building codes and whether you have small children that actually need a rail ,,, since your porch is not that high off the ground, and especially if you add depth to the porch so there is less likely to be people bumping into each other knocking each other off the porch, you might consider just adding a hedge in front of the porch rather than replacing the railing. Alternately, if you do decide on a concrete floor with the front faced with brick or stone, you could create a brick or stone "railing" and even have it be able to double as seating or a wall usable for a plant stand for your favorite flower pots..

Thank you, Suezbell! I so appreciate your detailed response and wonderful ideas! Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.

No shutters please!

Thank you Celery! That was my original plan but the siding is faded where the previous shutters were. Think we can get away with it? Also, the window trim is narrow, do the windows look too skinny?

I wouldn't do more than beef up the posts (keep them white,) add nice steps and paint the whole thing a dark color like navy or charcoal so there is contrast between the body and trims.

I don't know how much you want to do, bot a board and batten, maybe w/some shake, would look nice.

metal roof over the porch overhang.

I feel like the entire left side needs something diff.

Myabe doing the battens and installing this arbor over the bottom windows, and then redoing the landscape around it for a little sitting area w/a bench and pebble area.

if you ever do redo the roof, the metal one would give you your look

maybe redo the dormers

not quite farmhouse, but it's a nice redo.

Thank for all the great ideas and images for inspiration, everyone!