On the outside I would eliminate the black window trim, it just makes it choppy. I assume the windows and siding are vinyl? If the budget allows for window replacement this is the perfect house for black sashes- maybe 2 over one.

Updated furniture and draperies, taking down wallpaper, adding rugs, and painting the walls will go a long way to making the house look more updated. I would move in your stuff, and live in the home for a year or so. In that time, you may grow to love some things you don't like now, and dislike some things that you think are fabulous now. For sure I'd want to change the kitchen floor, but I'd want to live with the layout to see if other changes are needed, too.

On the interior I would install hardwood throughout to match what you have (can’t tell but probably oak?) then refinish everything medium brown. Remove all wallpaper, paint trim white, walls neutral and you will start to have a more contemporary feeling space. Not modern of course but cleaned up and more neutral.

Well, your Victorian Farmhouse is quirky in kind of a charming way. I like that yours is a bit more casual in design and not too very tall. A really sweet cottage.

First I'd remove any of those old evergreens too close to the house. Then I'd consider siding the base in board and batten and the upper area in shingles.

I might consider this gray color scheme with bright what time.

I'd establish a perennial garden with a charming gate & maybe fence details

I would keep the same farmhouse style for the interior of the home. As for the parquet, if it's secure, I would find a better flooring and go directly OVER the parquet.

I'm just here to say I do like your house. And I LOVE the parquet floors!

Might be interesting:

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/my-houzz-rescued-new-jersey-victorian-stsetivw-vs~1365124

"Some of the ceilings were painted darker colors than the walls to give the house a cozy feel."

Are the cabinets maple -- pretty.

Lucky you, if that's a 2-sided fireplace, and likely not high on the list of changes. This photo shows a good approach imo - add some transitional items -seems wingback is "modified" nice anywhere ?

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Love the outside of the house. I would do lots of landscaping to give it that cottage feel. The inside is a bit dated. I love what @BeverlyFLADeziner posted.

I love the parquet floors, but I would stain them darker for an update.

How old is the house? It has many internal things that are not from the Victorian era (1837's - 1901). To update the interior of the house, (to get everything coordinated and working together as an interior finished all at the same time) you could be looking at $100K. The older the home the more expensive this gets.

I would start with the kitchen. I would gut it. I would update the floors and close up the walls (the railing in the wall opening is just wrong). Or....open up the kitchen/living room to become a Great Room. That requires beams. They are $$$.

I would rip out all flooring (except the regular hardwood) and match the regular hardwood. Assuming you can access the same wood/cut/grade/width. All of it would be site finished.

So far:

Full kitchen renovation: $50K (US average cost for a full demolition + new kitchen install)

Full flooring Update: $15/sf + $2/sf removal of old = $17/sf (I'm guessing 2000sf???): $34K

Adding walls to kitchen: $5K

Removing walls to create great room: $30K (each beam can be $15K)

These prices are for expensive markets. Your local market will dictate the actual price of labour...but it gives you a good idea of where you are heading.

It's not a bad looking house at all but there is a lot going on. Don't think you can really do much about the massing. You can certainly update interior finishes and, yes, in this case I would recommend replacing the parquet flooring. Good luck!

I like the house very much, it's lovely with great details/spaces.

Since you are just now buying the house, I would suggest you live in it for a while to see how your life flows there before remodeling.

I like the spaciousness of the house and the light from the many windows. New paint and the same hardwood flooring throughout would give you an updated base to decorate in your style. Look past the attention-grabbing old decor and gray paint. The maple cabinets are quite nice looking.

Outside, remove the big shrub blocking the center window area, then trim back the pines on the right side of the photo that may brush against your car as you drive up to the second garage bay (obscured by trash cans). Repaint the dark trim to match the rest of the window trim. In the long run, a new landscaping plan from a pro would be a good investment.

One of the most effective steps you can take in making a house feel more like home is to change the decor in the family's main entrance. Even if you walk in through the laundry room and not the front door, you can choose paint colors, floor mats, lighting, and artwork that will greet you warmly. The photos show colorful choices in a back entry and front entry.

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Thanks all for your great ideas. Part of this house was built in 1948. extension and renovation were done in 1993. The kitchen cabinets are maple. The fire place in the master are two sided. I am glad most people left comments seem to like the house which make me feel better taking on the renovation.

I thought the bedroom fp wouldn't need a change...so I wonder what your highest priority is for now?

@ everdebz We are not changing the fire place. The house has Poly B pipes, the priority is plumbing. We will also need to change the windows, exterior, roof, floor, paint, bathrooms, kitchen and basement, in that order. long list, will be done over the years. Landscape stars immediately.

Is there good flooring underneath the carpet? If you want a modern look and the parquet and hardwood are good, you can sand them down and refinish. For a modern feeling consider staining them all black, no matter what they are. Then do a uniformly dark slate in your kitchen. Stunning look!

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@decoenthusiaste Thanks for the pictures. Dark floor looks very nice. I haven't moved in yet but I don't think there will be hardwood floor under the carpet. The parquet floor is in good shape. We will sand it and do a test at the main entrance area.

I love the wood and beam on the ceiling. There are a lot of moldings around the ceilings. Is it good to get rid of them?

No, I don't think I'd get rid of any details; they make the house! Here's a pretty neutral color combination that looks great with all the trim and moldings. Colors believed to be Navajo White walls and White Dove trim/moldings.

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@housegal200 Thanks for your suggestions. You nailed every points. I love the runner and couch orientation ideas. The bay window bench looks amazing!

l love this top left light. Does it work with this house?

Modern furniture, lighting, artwork can look absolutely fabulous in a home with traditional bones, lots of examples available here on houzz. Make sure you’ve started some ideabooks in which to collect pictures to inspire you. Good luck!

A couple of examples...

Looks like it has some positives ( lots of windows is a plus ) but eliminating the fussy details such as the curtains & wallpaper & paint changes will make it more appealing along with furniture you like. The landscaping needs a complete revamp from what I can see.

Even though I have a very contemporary home , & normally I dislike “Victorian “ style homes, I kind of like yours. Good luck, I hope you’ll learn to love it.

@K Laurence Thanks Laurence. You seems understand how I feel about this house. Yes, I agree it is not a bad looking house, most people likes it. But it is not the west coast post and beam style I love. For sure we will make a big improvement on this house. The hard part is learning to love it. Feel's like renovating other people's house. That is why I am asking for ideas here so I won't ruin the house by getting rid of the moding and put in concrete floors.

If you have the budget, hire an interior designer for a one-time consulation so you can have an overall plan and not take rushed, piecemeal steps. Be very clear that you want to maintain the character of the house but with some modern touches. Before you meet with anyone, show the designer an Ideabook of photos of modernized Victorian houses and rooms that you like. Look on Houzz, Pinterest, Apartment Therapy.

Most of the pros on Design Dilemma suggest that you live in a house for a year before taking on big renovations. A good compromise is to get a one-time consultation before you move in, live in the house, then get in-depth professional guidance later to do any renovations.

Many Design Dilemmas are by new homeowners who have some kind of HGTV idea of a certain kind of house but who bought something completely different. Then they start trying to turn the house they bought into what they saw on HGTV. The Dilemma they wind up with is a mishmash "remuddle" they don't like and they don't know why.

Other Design Dilemmas are from people who buy an authentic older home that has been ruined by previous owners who slapped inappropriate features on the house or took out original features. The new owners then try to bring the back to the original, true style.

Since you've bought this house, learn to love it. Some of the problems I see have to do with overstuffed, dark, heavy furnishings, those bad curtains, poor furniture layout, too much wall to wall carpeting, the chair rail kitchen wallpaper and railings, etc. out of character with the house. A designer can help you make some appropriate transitional choices in furniture, colors, lighting, rugs that bring out the best in your Victorian home with a modern, simpler feel that will make you and your husband happy with the house you bought. Good luck!

Do the paint and flooring changes before you move in. It's much easier and quicker (and a bit cheaper) to do both when the house is empty. There will also be less personal interaction inside the house.