We need to see your house as it is renderings are not how you get help.

Nice use of stone. Some people take it up too high. I wouldn't do something different on the garage than the rest of the house with the siding. The bump out for the front porch keeps the house from being one plane, so I don't think it's as bad as you're thinking. What color are the garage doors going to be? And the front door? Landscaping is always an important part of curb appeal. The one thing to look out for is that when you have two doors on the front you want to emphasize the one you want people to use and deemphasize the other.

@kandrewspa Thanks for your thoughts! The door and garage door colors are a great question. You nailed my next dilemma: getting people to use the side door instead of the front door. Would two different colored doors be weird? Maybe the front door is a darker blue to blend with the siding and the side door is a wood or colored door that pops more?

We’re currently digging up the garden beds and hope to start fresh with landscaping in the spring!

I guess I don't understand...both doors face "front." It sounds like you want people to use the door closest to the garage? Are you calling that door the "side" door? It seems much more likely that you would want people to use the door farthest from the garage, as that looks like the main door, but I, of course, don't know what you have on the interior. But, yes, you will want to have the door that you don't want people to use to blend more with the facade, and emphasize the door you want people to use...it just looks like the garage-close door is more of a utility door. The main door looks like the one with the covered porch.

Also, I think your ranch has a lot of character, with the front porch bump out and roof line change. Just new paint colors for body and trim, de-emphasizing the garage door, and landscaping should complete the look of a very handsome ranch.

I think do the bump out in stone instead of the band along the front also no white doors with dark siding, too cobtrasting for the eye.

I might modernize it a bit. Take down the shutters and maybe add some natural wood plank siding near the main entrance. If you have the $, maybe hire an architect to update the look. See examples, below:

The Refined Ranch · More Info

Mid-Century Modern · More Info

You could also put in some larger picture windows in the front for more light.

New landscape and color should do a lot for the look. I don't think you need shutters on the windows. I also don't like the stone bottom adds anything to the look.

I agree! I think my new home would look much better without the partial stone facade. Unfortunately, it's required by the HOA. Also, my gable has different siding, and I don't think it adds much.

I really like the brown beam you've added in the rendering, connecting it to the column and the roof. That alone really draws the eye to your entrance. This color combination is nice, too, imo.

Lucky you that you can remove the shutters and change the color!! Talented people here will be able to mockup some different colors, if you want, then add interesting landscape materials. I think you'll be amazed!

@decorpatti I should have clarified the doors! We would ideally like people to enter via the door by the garage. This home has been expanded over the years (before our ownership). The door by the garage enters a nice spacious mudroom that creates a better flow as you move through the home. The front door with the porch at the center of the home now enters into the dining room, which I feel is a bit of an odd entry point! I definitely understand why people are drawn to the original front door and will need to find a way to make the door closer to the garage more appealing/inviting.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and ideas!

The rendering shows a blue that goes with neither the trim nor the roof. I'd put in more foundation plants to cover the cement foundation, rather than do stone. I'd replace the light with a beautiful flowering tree. I'd keep the siding.

Add some color with the shutters and/or the door. If possible, paint the trim and garage doors a color that goes with the siding. If you want to paint the siding, I'd go with a sage green that would match your roof.

Craftsman Exterior · More Info

Every time you add a horizontal band of material, you visually make your home shorter.

Consider Board and Batten siding instead for at least part of the home.

Take the shutters off (and leave them off) , step back and imagine the house all white. (No applied stone).

lots of things you can do to update. landscaping will be huge improvement in overall curb appeal so don't overlook that.

Have you thought about doing a board and batten siding?

or adding some composite wood?

you mentioned stone, so I'll show you a few w/those.

You might also want to extend your porch over to the right a bit and add an overhang.

Here are quite a few ranch makeovers

this is the board and batten or vertical siding I mentioned. the sage green w/wood accents is pretty. landscaping really makes the whole thing

Ignore the brick. Look at how the porch was done

This one too.

these next three have the stone accents

If you like the navy colors, these 3 are nice

https://www.brickandbatten.com/need-help-updating-your-ranch/

https://www.brickandbatten.com/modern-ranch-style-homes/

The best way to steer people to the "side" door would be to remove the part of the sidewalk that leads them on over to the front door. Later on you can put in a walk from the main door to the street to improve curb appeal and real estate value. I would square up the corners of the garage door openings. Are you replacing the roof? It looks close to needing it. Instead of the poles in the yard, put in a couple of nice ornamental trees in those spots. Beef up the porch post, upgrade the style and size of the exterior lights (1/3 the front door's height is best) and remove the shutters unless the siding is discolored behind them.. Don't worry about anything else until next spring. If you can, pick pre-painted siding from James Hardie and use real stone, not some fake frock on the foundation.

https://www.jameshardie.com/color-and-design/explore-house-siding-colors?loc=refresh&loc=refresh#

suggested stone bottom is better than the existing.