I think they were going for something Tudor-esque and it's just not working because it's not a Tudor style house. The stone cladding is the biggest offender, IMO, and I might just go for all brick. Change out the front arched window for a rectangular one and paint all your trim either black or a dark sage green.

Sabrina, thank you. I have thought of painting the trim also. I have also thought of having the whole house limewashed or painted in a creamy off-white. Do you think removing the shutters would make a difference?

If you wanted a home that was more modern in appearance like the one below, I don't think there is anything that can be done to change the details of your home that push it a bit more traditional. Your choice of landscaping and outdoor accessories leans traditional also.

Consider embracing what you have and develop a wildflower garden to go along with the style of the home. It will enhance the appearance.

hello,

Remove or enlarge the shutter size, then go back with a blue, or pale sage green or modern shade of greige

. The brown is pretty traditional. Paint the front door. enlarge the wall light on the pillar. if you go no shutters, Id probably paint the trim to match the roof a dark bronze color.

I'd remove the shutters and paint the entryway a lighter color. It's so dark now that it feels almost cave like. The sage mentioned above would be pretty. Then paint the front door a contrasting color that coordinates with the newly painted entryway.

It looks like your entry is brick. If you are hesitant to paint the brick, start with the door. Once you see how that looks, you can decide if you want to leave it or paint the brick.

Best of luck to you! :)

I think there is too much contrast happening between the stone and brick. Do things in stages - the least expensive and most reversable first and live with each stage for a while. Removing shutters and limewashing the cave part of the brick would give you the most bang for your buck. Then see if you need to paint the brick trim. I'd also paint the brick edging on the garden or have plants that spill over it. All of the brown outlining is distracting.

Thanks, Kendrah. That whole entry is brick and it makes me nuts being too dark. The only option I would have would be to limewash it, but I'm scared and not sure what color...certainly not bright white. We are thinking the same on this. Everybody's comments have been so helpful.

IMO you bought the wrong house if modern was the aim. I have to say the arched window and the dark trim around the stone is not good I never like brick and stome mixed . Please take the pumpkin off the post it just adds to the eye clutter . No shutters, dark windows with no grids and I think I would choose to do some siding where the dark brick is at the entry Paint that dark trim around the windows in a color as close as possible to the stone then the new siding thta same color. A new front door steel with a large glass part .. No strom door needed and if you like a screen do a phantom one. It still will not be "modern" but for sure a lot less Tudor wannbe

I’m usually against painting most brick, but it could be an improvement in your case. Also, mixing brick and stone can look very busy. Maybe painting the brick (or lime washing) to blend with the cream color in the stone would help and also lighten up your entry. If you keep the shutters, each one should be half the window’s width.

Yes that is a solid thought. I actually like that. It seems like this is a real Texas thing to blend the two stones.

board and batten the porch area?

Following....

It's a lovely house, but it's a very traditional look. You're unlikely to get any modern flair. You might paint and change and get something that looks like a muddle, but it's unlikely to look modern. Paint the door a bright color (maybe pumpkin orange!) and learn to love it. Just think of the traditional-ness like a husband's snoring. Not what you'd prefer, but part of the package.

“Your pumpkins are fine, ignore that ridiculous comment.”

Yes, I meant to say I like your pumpkins!

That's just funny to comment on pumpkins of all things when talking about the home's style.

It's called Halloween or Autumn.

I want to thank you all so much for the help and suggestions. Jinx, I could not respond to your comment, but it made perfect sense to me. I had no idea that this style came from the German Settlers in Hill Country. When you said that it all made perfect sense to me. After ready through everything, I think I am going to make a few changes, like the shutter colors, and embrace the integrity of the home. Jinx, you asked how it is decorated, I would show pictures but I can't respond.

I love how the landscaping beds have been done to match the house. Little touches like that have a big impact.

I'd think about painting the shutters (and front door). A brighter shade will make a difference--especially on that middle window in the dark hole. :)

I can't actually suggest the right color though. Dark red or green would look nice but fail to brighten the porch much.

Such a lovely and welcoming house - the only thing I might try is removing the shutters and seeing what it looks like - I definitely don't think the shutters look bad, it just might be a nice change - I like the idea of a brighter door color for sure

(FWIW we removed the shutters from our brick colonial and I liked the simpler/fresher façade better)

I go on a rant about shutters. Shutters aren't decoration; shutters are architectural. Yours do not fit properly, nor do they enhance the look of your home.

Paint the brown siding under the eves a tone of the stone.

How would you feel about a brighter color for the front door?

Buying a home is a difficult, high-pressure process that involves a lot of decisions about what is available on MLS, your time frame, budget, location, the condition, the negotiations, etc. You chose the best of the bunch for yourself. Please don't knock yourself thinking you don't like the style. It is a lovely house.

Looks like a nice, welcoming home. If it were me personally, I would play around with removing the shutters (and/or painting them a lighter color). And I don’t really mind the brick around your porch— or under your roofline— but I’m not a fan of those dark brick ‘eyebrows’ directly above your windows. I would see if I could find a talented painter to match that brick with your stone color so it becomes a subtle architectural detail that just blends with the rest of the facade.

Everything Jinx said. I think an understanding of regional housing styles is really helpful. Embrace the nature of your home, it's truly beautiful.

Patricia Coldwell, how is "sorry honey you bought the wrong house", followed by "lose the pumpkin" any kind of answer to the OP's question? Inappropriate and abusive on your part.

Doreen, I sympathize ... I have a lovely house that is more traditional than I'd like. I've owned in for 22 years .... and in that time my tastes have changed (matured?!). In your case, I'd consider changing up the "eyebrows" over the windows. Lighter? That might open up the overall appearance, remarkably.

Thank you all so much again. I truly realize that I can't totally remake the style and integrity of the home, I was just trying to see what I might be able to change that might give it a bit of a slight contemporary feel. I have appreciated the time everyone took to help me. I especially appreciated the insight Jink shared in that the style originates from Hill Country and the German influence. It makes total sense to me. Just to be clear, I knew it was not totally my style, but it was a lovely home. It came with a 40 foot custom detached garage to match the home, which my retired husband could not resist and rightfully deserved. With that, I'm trying to make do. I think the Shutters, Door and Eyebrows are the best I can work with at this time. You are all so appreciated. Thank you again.

I love your house! A few tweaks and it will be there. Agree with removing or painting the shutters a lighter color. By painting the shutters on the porch windows, you'll brighten the entry. Add colorful cushions to the furniture. Landscaping and it will be pleasing to you, I'm sure.

Perhaps updating your landscape would help as well. The walkway is narrow and banded by the masonry edging, a bit of a trip hazard, and less welcoming than a wider walkway. Consider a wider, curving front walkway. The garden beds look under-filled, and well, a bit unloved. The shrubs are really too high, they are growing over the windows, and are likely too large a shrub for the location(requiring constant, aggressive clipping to keep them small, so high maintenance!). Current landscaping style has more plants, typically some grasses and a mixture of textures, which is a relaxed feel. However, not so many plants that they are jammed together, which is more country cottage. Your beds have loads of mulch between a few clipped ball-shaped shrubs marching in a line, which looks sparse, and clipped shrubs are also very traditional. Even though winter is mild in in Texas, some small shrubs for winter interest and structure are needed. A consult with a landscape designer, a full service garden center(please not the garden guy at Lowes or Home Depot), or a talented gardening friend might be helpful…consider contacting the County Extension Agency for their Master Gardener program contact person. I am sure they would have recommendations for a good landscape designer. I think a landscape architect is over kill unless you have some insider contacts. Good luck, you have a lovely classic home, and sometimes in life you don’t get absolutely EVERYTHING you want. I’m glad your hubs opinion counted too in your choice of home :)

Palo Alto Contemporary Retreat · More Info

this low, soft and relaxed, and also looks pretty low maintenance.

Modern Cottage Garden · More Info

this might work too, as the grasses are open and wispy, even though taller than the windows

2012 - ILCA Excellence in Landscape Silver Award - Winnetka · More Info

This is a very traditional country French garden, banded with clipped boxwood, but filled in the center with many many flowering plants, such as you would find in a cottage garden. I dont think this is the look you are going for.

Best wishes for a home you are totally in love with.

I would try black windows for a more modern vibe, and ger rid of shutters. More clean, crisp lines will look more urban.