Congratulations on your new home!! Since your home is a neutral color, you could have any color for your front door. Add some shrubs, and some colorful pots of flowers, now that Spring is here. Maybe add a colorful pink dogwood tree.

It's a charming house. I think the door color is fine, though any blue or green would work well.

Shutters would be a problem as your windows are close to the corner of the house.

Do you have a budget? You may have a lot of other expenses associated with moving.

I think a porch rail would look nice, and would be safer for you and your guests. Also once you get some plants in place it will make a big difference. Just talk to your garden center about the growth habits of anything you plant, you want to keep it low so as not to hide your home.

If you add a photo from further away you may be able to get more ideas.

The front door requires some type of protection from the elements.

There are premade ornamental deck railing panels that can be used to create a unique railing design to enhance the design of the house.

A pergola would be the first thing I’d do.

Inspiration

The stone on your new house is very pretty!

I like Beverly's suggestions.

I’m not sure how you could fit exterior shutters since the windows are so near the edges of the home.
You’re not far from a really pretty home and entrance. Can you add a lovely front porch? Have you looked at a metal awning? It might add good dimension.

Agree with P Banos and MCM, no room for shutters. Cottage charm needs real shutters as wide as the window and also have shutter dogs - or they scream fake. Please don’t fake it.

Agreed that shutters won't work. For now paint the door a new color and plant shrubs around the wood porch and stain the porch. Then save up for having a real covered porch built. It will add a whole new cottage dimension that will distract from missing shutters.

I wonder why the center area has much lighter stone whereas the top part and far side is slightly browned. Perhaps there was at one time a covered porch here that protected from the elements?

Yes, clearly a covered porch was removed.

You bested me on the graphics for sure. Can we have a horse for the cottage too?

Shirley

^^ perfection!

Fantastic. Built-in hitching post.

Horses aside, the porch adds a lot to the house but I don’t quite dig the stained wood and stone combo. Wonder what kind of material would look more cohesive with stone - painted wood or something entirely different?

Such a cute house and there are so many options/ways to update, but it comes down to budget and the character you are looking for. I feel the most important thing is addressing the deck, so it feels integrated and that can easily be done with landscaping and even staining a soft grey so it blends in. The facade feels awkward and to help warm up/create interest, add a structure across the front (pillars would help as well) and accessorize to the right of door.

Your new place is very cute and desperately needs dimension. The least expensive way to achieve that is adding a cover to your existing porch, much like the samples above. If you don’t like the wood look (and it will definitely weather with age) then keep the floor natural and paint the surrounding cover. After adding some landscape and bright colourful flowers your place will have the curb appeal it’s calling out for.

Do whatever it takes to turn your front deck into a porch. There's a difference in aesthetic to the positive 1000% of the time.

Your house is cute! Congratulations.

I'm going to say what I say in every curb appeal thread. Hardscape, hardscape, hardscape. I'd ditch the wood deck for a proper entry porch with a roof, wide stone steps, a stone landing at the bottom and a curved stone path to the driveway. And trees! The yard needs a tree or two.

Here's a visual of my suggestions:

- A black metal awning (Home Depot)

- Dark brown stain for porch floor, flower boxes, handrail

- White wood railing

- Shutters (if you have the space to fit them)

- I suggest a more greyish tone for the blue door and shutters

- A larger sconce and large numbers

- Landscaping and path to front door

@kendrah The correct response was "Don't call me Shirley!"

Ditto. Extend the deck to be a proper covered entrance. Plant colorful flowers and bushes.

Agree that shutters won’t fit as well as they should, but the good news is your door can be any fun color you love because the beautiful stone is so neutral!

@Paul F. - Shirley you can't be serious!

I like Maureen's pic of wood posts painted to match the color of the stone. I don't think there is room for shutters, so the door is the chance to bring in color. Rockers are super charming. Another chance for color or wood accent.

There is still plenty of opportunity to landscape the grass area and add a small tree and other interest.

If any of those trees behind the house have fall colors, I might paint the front door to complement them. If not, I’d select a door color based on the landscape plantings.

I like to see a porch added over that or a little rough over the door area and flowers or low shrubs they can flower or not in front of the house and you could add a Blue Door but it doesn't have to be aqua it could be a different shade of blue or you could do that rustic red color that looked kind of nice I thought if the trees are falling in the background or you could do a green door if you want to but get like a spa type of green potassium or a lime green