When people clean up they often remove the charm, interest and texture. All those cascading plants softened the stone wall line and make it more interesting. Maybe you can add some back.

I think your house looks very nice now.

I agree, you need additional/different plants in the bed. It needs more movement, less little pieces. Can you remove the grilles from the garage door windows? They don't seem in the style of the house. Add some greenery to the second story porch and grow a vine over your front porch.

Have you already had an electrician advise on moving the meter? I'd be interested to know what a pro and building code says about placement on the right side.

Your house is very nice, not boring at all.

To me, the biggest problems are wires to the middle of the house and the funky pergola with a length that doesn't. (Who thought putting a column in the middle of a window was a good idea?). Sure, your plantings need to grow in a bit. That will happen.

You don't need to fill every "empty" space. The blank wall isn't too big and visually separates the window and the balcony.

Tough to advise you on the door, since we can barely see it.

A few flowering plants trailing down from your balcony are all you need to add charm. Maybe a few more flowering plants in your beds.

Please add a couple photos: from the corner of the driveway diagonally to the front door area and a photo of just the front door / potential porch area.

Beautiful Japanese maples can be pruned carefully to channel their growth where you want it to go. A professional arborist who specializes in artistic pruning would be a good idea. Japanese maples can get huge in some climates, far bigger than the books say.

Overhang and posts look flimsy to me. I would make it more sturdy. Beef up or wrap posts at least.

Some option

Ohh great! If you go with new porch then go all the way to the left. Steps can be wide or not necessary wide with railing.

Here is enclosed porch

I like Celery’s rendering but here’s also a pic of a home that reminds me of the style of yours.

Couple more photos

Thanks for photos. Is the diagonal white thing a railing or a downspout?

I suggest adding a railing to the opposite side of the stairs, winding all the way up from street level. Style could be classic black iron like your balcony. A similar railing could be added to your existing or new porch to protect people from stepping off the porch retaining wall.

The Japanese maple should be pruned carefully so it doesn't stick out over the proposed railing and trip people. The leaves, form and color could be appreciated close up as you walk up the stairs next to the proposed railing.

I like your house much better the way it is now, rather than the porch as per Celery's rendition. Maybe just a small portico over the front door.

The "diagonal white thing" is a railing.

Yeah, Celerey's porches were maybe a bit too much. A smaller one just a couple ft wider than the door that fits right in-between the garage and 1st floor window, with a pitched shingled roof matching the outline of the main house rather than a metal shed roof?

The front door has to change right?

Anyone see splitting the 1st and 2nd levels with some kind of trim and painting one level different than the other?

What size porch are you hoping to have? It appears it will be difficult to create an enclosed porch with foyer/mudroom. What is the measurement from the edge of the garage door to the window? Also, what is the current depth of the step to the door. Will you need to excavate some of the area? In other words, you may end up with a short, skinny porch. Perhaps a mudroom can be built inside the home? For instance where does the front door lead to--a hallway or living room?