there is a lot you could do.

landscaping is something that will account for about 75% of the overall look. hire a landscape designer to come up w/some ideas for you.

That scallop panel in the gable. Needs to go. You can replace w/a board and batten type of siding, or a cedar shake, or even cedar planks or faux wood . (i'll show examples)

here's one example. see the gable over the garge and the window? see how the siding is placed? you could do it w/reg siding, wood siding, faux-wood siding, or a vertical board and batten.

or, see the gable on this one? it's a composite shake. this isn't mcm, but it is more modern. they did the brick in a soft white, charcoal accents (ignore the shutters), new walkway and steps, flowerbeds.

are you married to that brick and siding color? The pinkish brick is hard to match and really isn't going to look 'modern' if that's what you want.

I'd 'paint' it using Romabio masonry lime coating. look it up. very low maintenance and lets the brick breathe and patina naturally.

This brick was painted. I like the door too. and the cement pavers.

here's what I mean by board and batten in the gable. Painted the brick, gave you the door, and the other elements. horrible photo shop, but you get the idea. for siding in the back, I'd do that charcoal gray color you see above.

Is that the original front door? If you like it, refinish it, stain it, put a coat of varnish to protect it.

new lights,

new address,

redo the flower beds and the cement wlkway. Oh, and the front porch looks like it needs to be redone. it's coming apart. you may be able to pour a new one and continue it under the larger front window.

these steps are cool. this is something you could do but continue them over on the right side.

It’s so charming. I love the scallops.

I’d play up cottage charm* with landscaping … newly shaped beds, window boxes, a seating area near the sidewalk.

I like the trim color, it’s soft and pretty with the nice brick.

What are your thoughts? Are you wanting to drastically change the look? I know MCM and/or MCM with a Modern Farmhouse twist is the popular go-to, but I don’t think I’d go that direction with this house. It certainly won’t be cheap, but we don’t know your budget.

*Before anyone freaks out, I realize this is not a cottage, per se, but a mid-century ranch with embellishments of that era.

ETA: Ignore that these are not your exact house style … just showing front entrance seating areas:

i always love beths ideas but i agree with @Jilly on this one, to keep the charm. if the siding is in good condition, i would keep it as is and paint it a lovely sage, or cream (i think mine is bm hayseed and i have similar brick colors). and then for the door i cant tell the style but make sure it complements the house, and paint it a color that pops or pull a color from the brick (i went with bm coral reef for my door and shutters because it pulled a color from the bricks nicely). and then landscaping and i like the idea of a front sitting area and you can add potted plants there too.

I've done so much reading on painting brick vs not. It's a peachy brick and when I moved the back patio door, when we went to a brick store, that's when we realized not many people are using this color anymore. 

I do want to give the front dimension, a landscape designer is a great idea. 

Definitely the walkway is damaged and maybe a wider look would create a different look to the front with seating. 

Where I'm really stuck is the siding and brick combo. Paint or not to paint. Love the ideas

The farmhouse charm is alot of my neighborhood and there is a alot of change with midcentury modern and brick painting. I like it all. I will spend some time sitting in front and schooling through these suggestions and pictures!

There is one mistake I made. I replaced upstairs windows with a style that probably doesn't match the update I had in mind. Which makes me think the ideas of modern are out of the question??

What style is the inside?

The inside doesn't match the outside. It's updated, dark hardwood floors, open concept, white shaker kitchen cabinets, recessed ceilings, offwhite walls. White linen drapes. My staircase has black rails and all my art is black and white and photos are all black and white. My lighting has a more wood golds and blacks in it. A good example would be I like crate and barrel. It's a good go to browsing store for ideas for me!

sorry guys, but when OP types this,

Any ideas to give it a modern look?

I don't think leaving the 1950's scallop and scroll iron posts as modern.

If she wanted a traditional cottage look, fine. But she didn't ask for that.

I assumed she wanted more of a mid century/modern type of look, hence my examples.

But hey, if traditional cottage ranch is on the menu, fine. In that case I'd change out the scallops (they just look old and tired) to a type of cedar shake or shingle. Something like these in the gable of this home

that would look a lot more updated. for the rear portion I'd do the board and batten siding. (like shown here in the black next to this brick:

and if keeping the peachy brick, go w/these colors

changed out the door to a more cottage looking style in a soft blue/green, diff style light.

I wouldn't paint the brick but I would install matching lights. I actually didn't realize the two story was part of your house. I would definitely match the siding to the front of the house.

I see similar style here in the Chicago area. Is it a 1960s back-split? that is, at the back half of the house, it was originally half a flight up to bedrooms, and half a flight down to, bedrooms or family room and laundry?

@bpath I'm right outside of Chicago. You can't see the entire house clearly but there is a second floor. It's not a back split, it's just not a full second floor. The second floor is i guess a partial. It doesn't fill out to the front. I havent seen many houses built this way. 

 Maybe an addition many years ago? I'm not sure. But it's a full flight up, I think i was once told the stairs were moved so it may have been a back split at one time.

Without painting the brick how can the Sodom on the second floor and rhe gable all tie in with the brick. 

The green door with the windows really popped and actually in the picture looks good with the brick. Its just the gable and siding that look like a different house. Thanks all for the inspiration!

try these colors and door style, the cedar shake in the gable

like this

I believe you home is a Craftsman, front gable.

Paint any wood siding the gray of the roof.

Here is inspiration for color and front walkway.

A Chicago bungalow is different than this, something very specific, and this isn’t really craftsman, either. I’m sure it is a post-war 1950s-60s ranch with an addition. If it were ever a split-level, changing it to a two story would have been a major change. That split in the room bothers me.

And no, this brick color isn’t used so much anymore. Personally, I like it, but that’s probably from having grown up seeing it! I have seen it painted, usually a very soft green, greige, neutral, and it does look nice. OTOH, as yet another brick house in my neighborhood has been painted some shade of grey this month, I worry that they will all start looking the same. But, they probably all looked the same originally anyway, so I guess it doesn’t matter.

The scallops are charming but not modern. I guess you have to choose!

What have other similar houses in your neighborhood done?

Given you mentioned modern, described your interior and that many in your neighbourhood are heading modern, I think your house would benefit with a fresh, more modern identity.

Every decision should be based on the big picture; short and long term. It’s more than the stone decision, so first step is to consult an expert about improved paints for brick, care and lifespan. I’d also paint the siding, or paint brick the same as siding.

A new door and improve stoop.

I noticed the lawn chairs, so creating an area under large window for sitting could be cute and handy.

I think its important to have a overall plan (staggered if necessary) as the potential seating area, (definitely) front walk and landscaping should all work with each other.

I know you mentioned modern, but I would keep the cottage look and if not cottage, I still wouldn’t paint the brick. I keep seeing homes (I live in a historic neighborhood with everything from 1890 farmhouse to 50s mid century but probably about 1/3 are Tudoresque) in my neighborhood being painted white and then a black roof. I am definitely not a purist by any means but your house currently has SO much character. LOVE the pinkish brick — I think it’s pretty and unique. I am not anti-painting brick by any means — there is ugly brick for sure. We added an addition to our house recently and people come by almost daily and thank us for keeping to the historical roots of the house and complain about the white/black currently happening in the neighborhood. It is your house at the end of the day, but I think some of the suggestions here are great. But someday when the white/black fad is over, people will be seeking out your kind of house :)

I think you should do Hardie Staggered Shake shingles in the top part. See pic attached. Lots of color options and durable product for any climate.

We used hardie stucco looking panels for our home (I am not suggesting stucco panels but that everyone recommends hardie!) I’ve had cedar siding on 2 homes and it is just kind of a pain tbh.