Ceci mouldings and trim are kinda the same. Our old house we removed shutters and added trim/mouldings

I would favor natural wood for a trellis or arbor, or painted to match your trim. The idea is to have something that highlights the existence of the entryway, so that it is more than just a dark hole. But just adding trim (as above) could be enough.

Do you think that you could install lighting fixtures in the entryway? I don't see any in the pictures. I would favor two simple ones, one on each wall or flanking the door; or maybe some more low voltage lights (I see one) along the walls. LEDs would not be expensive to keep the entry lit day and night.

It all makes sense. I need to brighten up the entire area. I used to have a rose vine going up that post where the walkway begins. We don't have much lighting either. The solar lights stopped working little by little. We have Milgard, haven't heard much about Marvin. I am getting one more window estimate mid month. I might do the 3 windows in the front for now. Thank you!

Perfect! And make sure new construction not retrofit! Yes big lights in the front entryway would be beautiful

Wish I lived closer. I love doing stuff like this! It’s going to look sooooo pretty!!! House has good bones. Nice lantern type lights by the garage door too that match entryway

Something like this

That's a very pretty outdoor light! Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas, Kathy!

May I ask, why is new construction better than replacement? All the quotes (as high as they are) are for replacement windows.

Well I personally don’t like them as they have more grooves. However, with stucco it is much easier. We have both. So the frame is thicker, etc. I shouldn’t really have said that as they are just as good

Before and after of the bathroom and then spare room too

Yes, I noticed that replacement window's frames are thick. I don't want to lose glass/visibility.

Retrofits are bigger than new.

This window is retrofit

Trim wise that isn

It will most likely be more explained to have a new construction window with your stucco as it has to be all pounded out. So that is something to consider too

That's a very cute window/window seat you have there. With replacement windows, I was told they would put the window right inside (over) the existing frame. The only company who has offered to cut the metal frame so that we wouldn't lose much or any glass was Renewal by Anderson (at $5700 each window).

You can research what brands have the slimmest profile. For Milguard it might be Essence or something

Don't fiberglass frames have a narrower profile?

At least it looks like you live somewhere that you don't need to worry about a high R rating, which might reduce the cost of the window.

Yes, half sawdust, half plastic.

Yes, I'm in Southern California.

I don't know why, but I really like my garage window (the brown one in the garage). It could be that I like its color, the material (wood) or the design itself. I know that window is also old, but I like it; I feel it has lots of character. If we repair the damaged mullions on the brown window and changed the other three, how could I make it all look good? Would white windows look awkward with the brown one in the garage? Would I have to go with a different color like tan/almond for the new ones? Do I stick to a similar color? Design? Same material (wood)?

Mamma mia, I can't decide!

Ceci that window is super cool. You could have it repaired and painted and you don’t need to worry about single panes losing heat in the garage. That’s a great idea. Won’t be cheap to do, but adds a ton of character. I used a color sW black fox which is really dark brown. Then do your windows with frames to match. You do not want true divided windows everywhere in wood as they have to be painted. Have you looked at Marvin at all?? Go see the wood ones with fiberglass cladding. If you do new construction you will need a contractor.

That is a great idea and could drive the design of the whole front!!

https://www.marvin.com/products/windows

Click on that link and look around

So it didn’t work

The link did work. Will take a look at those. Thank you!

For the front you could do the sliding ones. Tons of colors!!! For outside and in

This is the Sherwin Williams Black Fox which is a really deep, rich brown. Would be a good color for your restored garage window!

Nice! Thank you for all your help, Kathy. I'm playing around with Alside.com to see how it would look with dark frames. I think dark brown in the three front windows would look very nice with the existing garage window, the stones and the roof.

Not sure how the dark frames would look from outside with white window treatments, but I'll play around with it. If not, then plan B, perhaps a lighter color like tan/taupe for the frames.

Ceci C, there are many pictures here on Houzz of kitchen renos and LR redos that went with dark frames. I've never seen one that I didn't like. Sometimes with the dark frame, a window treatment is dispensed with. I think the only problem with white window treatments would be if the dark frames showed through annoyingly - just showing through isn't necessarily bad (no more than white frames showing through are) it would depend on the window treatment (and might be solved with a liner.)

Thank you, raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio! Yes, I have noticed that most of the time there aren't any window treatments showing. Because the two windows in the front are currently my kids' bedrooms, I have to cover them. Right now they have white vertical blinds (closer to the glass) and drapes. I will keep looking. Do you think dark window frames would look the best? What would you say are the top 2-3 colors for window frames that would go with the house? Thanks!

For your house I agree with Kathy that a dark brown or bronze would work well with your roof. But it would really depend upon what color you decide to paint the house - examples: if you went with a darker color, you might want something that contrasts (lighter) in the windows, or go with a gray if you choose green walls. If you have decided on a color, I missed it.

BTW what did you mean that fiberglass is sawdust and plastic? Fiberglass is made of a resin and glass fibers, no sawdust, and generally stronger/more durable than vinyl.

You have a lovely home. The landscaping looks overgrown and overwhelming to me. The tree looks half dead. The landscaping in front next to the house looks sporadic and doesn’t add. I’d start with the landscaping. Then, I know you said the bedrooms need vertical blinds. I find them dated and don’t lend personality to your exterior. I’d suggest light blocking drapes with wood look horizontal blinds if needed. We have the same set up in the front of our house. I have balloon curtains in the window case with light suppression drapes to go over the balloons if needed. In the other is a white horizontal shade inside the window that I keep the same height of the balloon in the other window and light suppression drapes to go over it. I close the drapes at night or during the day in the summer. I have window boxes under both windows.

raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio: No, we haven't chosen a paint color for the stucco/siding yet. When we were saying about "sawdust and plastic" we were referring to Renewal by Andersen. They make a window from Fibrex composite materials, basically composed of wood fibers with vinyl. Those are the ones we were quoted at $5700 ea. window.

Ceci yes. And balloon shades are Even more dated than vertical blinds

Thank you, Claudianne. Yes, the landscaping is probably as old as the house ;) . The foundation plants are all going. I am planning on consulting with a garden designer when the time comes for ideas and help. Thank you for the suggestions on the window treatments. I had not thought of the wood look horizontal blinds. If we end up doing the windows white or a light color I'd do the horizontal blinds in white. What color would you say I should go with for the horizontal blinds if I end up doing the window frames in either bronze or dark brown?

Woven shades are really nice too. We have shutters

You’ll have to decide on the window, get them installed, then see what you want to For window coverings.

And Ceci nothing looks worse from the outside than closed drapes during the day. Up here we have Blinds by Design. They come to your home with a bunch of books, sell all kinds of real wooden blinds in all colors, woven shades, like a Roman shade (gorgeous) and shutters. They are a franchise. It’s so convenient. They help you decide too. You have a long ways to go before ordering window coverings

Yes, a long way indeed. Just trying to visualize the end product. Thank you!!

Ceci this is how I envision your house. Of course your roof is red, but these are the colors, decor etc

So these are tan/white windows but dark brown bronze would look like the exterior lights for comparison

Drought tolerant plants that are native and birds and bees, butterflies love. Wisteria is gorgeous

Wisteria needs diligent pruning and training if it is not to overwhelm a typical planting site.

Yes we had it for 11 years over a pergola and patio

Another photo showing dark windows with light paint color

Thanks, Kathy! These homes are very nice. Been really considering the idea of dark brown windows over white ones. I'm liking that idea a lot. But then today I drove around the neighborhood and most have white windows which also makes the homes look very nice.

I'm also brainstorming on some curved pieces to soften things out a little. Both of these pictures have something curvy, windows and bench. From the angle I took my pictures it's not visible, but on the side of the driveway closer to the street, it's been designed as a semi-circle, and in front of the garage there's a curvy walkway. Going to incorporate something roundish close to the porch, too.

I like a lot of the ideas that @Kathy Furt suggested. A lighter color paint for the exterior and bronze trimmed windows will "update" your home immediately. She gave you a lot of inspiration photos that absolutely relate to your cute house.

You MUST get a landscape designer to at least LOOK at your property. I pulled out my entire front lawn landscaping because it was so dated and old, there was no pruning it back to life. I got ideas from a landscape designer and used some of her ideas, some of my landscaper's ideas and mostly my own preferences. Picking the brain of a landscape designer in your area will help a lot.

Your house has the potential to be more than adorable. It is cute right now. And it will look updated with new color, new windows and new landscaping.

Thank you very much, RedRyder. Yes, I agree. I have received great feedback, and Kathy Furt has great suggestions. I will certainly hire a landscape designer to help me plan out the design.