I would get rid of the arches, and add interest to the very boring roof.

I dont mind the arches, they seem to belong with the house, however, the landscaping really needs improving. all those hedges removed. A few small trees in front yard, and some nice beds with shrubs and flowers in the front.

The arches are fine— I like them! You need landscaping. I’d look to add ornamental trees along the front to break up that long expanse of brick with no windows.

The arches are great. The landscaping is dull. I'd break up the long, bare wall on the right with a pretty tree. I'd plant it in the middle of the bare part about as far out as the tot is standing. I'd replace the foundation hedge with a mix of plants. The long straight line of the hedge emphasizes the long, straight line of the house.

I'd make a path out from the door.

Love the arches also. Focus on the landscaping first. Good luck!

Windows with no grids, no shutters. Arches are fine. Landscaping!!

Well, looks like most everyone has a different idea than I. My first thought was to continue the linear look by squaring off the arches and create one large glassed-in entrance there (I am not crazy about the arches). Sort of a mid-century/FLW prairie look. No shutters. Looks like a wonderful house and I also like the color of the brick. Prairie style houses

Hi Janee, oh this is going to be a great home, because now you can put your OWN touch on it! Listen to your OWN thoughts and instincts on this. If something doesn't seem right to you, or if it isn't appealing to you, then you change it. If you don't like the arches, there's a reason--it's because they don't belong on that style of house. If you try to "cover them up" you KNOW they are still there, and it's going to give you stress. If you try to bring attention to them, you'll REALLY be stressed by looking at them every day. DEFINITELY get rid of the arches.

The suggestion that Lucky998 posted above is the way to go, but not that exact style. You'll probably want dark wood rustic beams, and maybe keep it flush with the existing front wall, not protruding out like the photo shows. Cutting into the roof to put up a peaked roof like in the photo is going to be expensive---it will cost more than new windows, for sure. You would have a higher ceiling on the front porch/entry, but you'd lose any storage space you have if there is an attic above. You can "fake" the look of the peaked roof in the photo, the contractor will just build a dormer right on top of the roof, but not cut into the roof.

Do you have it in the budget to open up the wall and make the windows larger? Longer windows would improve the look of the front of the house. No mullions on the glass, don't do white vinyl on the windows--use black -- it goes better with the brick, and absolutely no shutters. If shutters aren't wide enough to completely cover the windows if you could close them over the windows, then they just look tacky.

I have a feeling that the window to the left of the front porch is a kitchen window over the sink--there are vent pipes on the roof above it. You won't be able to make that window longer, but you can "fake" the look of a longer window that matches the size of the window to the right of the front porch. Black metal window boxes--not solid, but rather the ones made of thin, flat pieces of metal on a basic frame... hang it lower on the wall, and find or make an "antiqued" mirror and glue it to the wall between the top of the flower box and bottom of the window.

The boxwoods aren't doing the beautiful brick any favors... the roots go deep on them, and they spread out...ugh. If you don't get every last bit of them, they'll grow back. There is an "extra" space on the right side of the house that has no window. Is that a side entry garage? For symmetry, you might consider putting in a window there. If you can't, then consider planting some tall, heavy plants like podocarpus. If you CAN put a window in that space, a tall planting that isn't so thick would really dress it up. Not sure what zone you are in, but lilac, dwarf bottlebrush, chasteberry, hibiscus, rose bushes, would look great.

Let us know how you are going to preserve this great home and make it your own. :-)

The arches actually do belong on that style house.

I don’t know where the OP is, but growing up in Texas in the ’70s, I saw plenty of houses this style — a kind of Spanish colonial meets ranch house hybrid.

I think they’re great and give the house character. But I’m not living there, so of course the OP should do what they want.

Getting rid of the mustache shrubs and doing a whole new landscaping scheme would transform this cute house. Lots of possibilities.

What is your location, OP? Budget?

I'm in NW Louisiana.

The window to the left is a bathroom. I am considering making it wider to match the others. Making them longer though will probably not happen. The one to the very left is a the master bedroom which I plan to put the bed underneath. The one to the right is the kitchen with the sink under it. To the very left is an extra room which we are converting to a mudroom/laundry. We are considering adding a widow there.

I also thought of making the 2 windows you can see behind the arches larger.

My budget is $150k. But all the floors need to be replaced, redoing the kitchen and 2 baths, adding more lights, and the plumbing needs to be modified for new layout. Also, changing a sliding glass door to French style.

We are trying to do as much as we can diy but obviously can't do it all.

I figured you were in the south.

Lots to do — since the summer is winding down (although our temps say otherwise!), you might want to wait on major landscaping updates. While you’re getting more important things done, you can start gathering ideas for outside.

Removing those shrubs (they look like ligustrums) will really open up the front of the house. You could have nicely shaped beds, welcoming bench(es), bird baths, paths, plants that will enhance the house, etc.

You have a lot you want to do- I would focus on the inside since that’s where you will spend the time. Use the budget to make it functional for your family.

I agree with most others - the arches aren’t bad. Would the cost to change them would really be worth it?

Removing the hedge (or removing some and shaping the remaining) and replacing with other plantings of various heights and textures would change the look a lot. Maybe a small tree to the right to break up the long expanse? Look into plants with colorful foliage. I have always liked this one- Purple Pixie Dwarf Weeping Loropetalum.

Here are some suggestions:

Hi Jaynee, you said you are considering making the two windows behind the front porch larger. Are you trying to get more light in through those windows? If you remove the brick under the arches all the way to the floor, you will get more light into the porch, and thus more light through the interior windows. You can easily do the demo yourself, just be careful cutting the brick to follow the sides of the arched opening. With the half-wall on each side gone, you'll get a better idea of what the front facade and porch will look like, when you do take out the arches. Once you open that up, the front entrance will look more inviting. You have a LOT of house across the front--the front porch should be open and scaled properly to the size of the house. The narrow arched opening is making the front entrance feel cramped and underwhelming. If you remove the brick all the way to the walls of the porch, and all the way to the roof, and replace with 4x6 or 6x6 timbers, with additional vertical structural timbers in between (not sure if your code is 8'?) then you'll have plenty of light on the front porch, and you'll get the modern rustic design that you want. Look at "lucky998877" again, and imagine those timbers in dark wood, but flush with the front of the house, not jutting out. If you do the brick demo yourself, I'm pretty sure the timbers and installation will cost about the same as replacing the windows with larger ones. Maybe you can get Shelby Stenga to pull up some really nice timbers ;-)

A nice landscape “redesign“ is what’s needed, not the elimination of the arches, nor messing with the roof lines.

Dig Doug’s Design, may I ask what the “boxwood” type shrub is? They look lighter than a regular boxwood and somewhat softer. I’m looking for maybe a 3’ X 3’ softer Boxwood type for along the front walk. Too many annuals this year. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Janee, I’m not in love with the arches but, I would do the less expensive additions by the front door that Dig Doug’s Design posted for now and concentrate on upgrades to the inside. Then, when you regroup (save more money), I’d change the roof as someone posted. By that time, you may not mind the arches. 😎 I’ve upgraded 4 homes in the past 10 years and can tell you that it drains the bank account quickly but, I love doing it! Some pointers, get a good garbage disposal for the kitchen sink, a good dehumidifier if you have a basement, a backup sump pump, again for the basement, landscape lights really finish the outdoor look and cove molding makes a room look finished. Well, have a blast with your new home. So many possibilities!! I am about to post my own design questions about landscaping as our perennials and annuals are just too much work as we’re getting old. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Wow! You have a front door! Knew it was hiding in there! ;-)

Wildflowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies and honeybees. Monarchs love Milkweed. Native grasses give nice movement in the breeze and provide birdseed for local and migrating species.

We planted like this and I was so pleased when they all showed up!

Everyone has their own taste but I like it better now. Because you have a low pitched roof, it would look better if your hedges were shorter. Thank you for coming back with an update.

I agree the hedges make the house look squat. Freeform planting beds with lower plants would look nice instead of the hedges.

Nice job on the entry!

Oh, I like it much better now. For landscaping, I would start with trees, trees, trees, preferably native. They will be your anchor and then add shrubs, perennials, whatever you like (again, preferabley native species. You will have a gem of a property and you have made a terrific start.