Is there a walking path to the front door? It appears the steps dump into the garden. A softly curved walk straight out from the door to the driveway or the street would be welcoming. When you reside you might look at changing the windows. The bow is dated and the left side could use something larger.

The bow is getting changed out to 3 double hungs. Can't do anything on the other side because we have kitchen cabinets on the other side of that wall. The steps dump off onto a walkway behind the garden that leads to the driveway

Agree with above comments. What color will your roof be? hopefully not black a medium gray (all 1 color not shades of gray) would be best on a cape cod. I would remove the paver stones that outline a too small garden. Bring the garden out father and have walk ways to both doors. Change the front door the oval and leaded glass do not belong on a cape cod.

LOve this color on a cape

The front door hit me right away. Glad you’re changing it! Agree with jck regarding a medium gray roof that’s not variegated. Cute house! Also, paint the downspouts the same color as the siding.

Very cute house and good basic to do anything. Good choice to change the windows and adding stacked stone which will definitely add to the appeal. Consider stacking the stone face on the entire peaked entrance section and adding a substantial stacked stone column at the left of the front entrance, therefore framing the entrance.

For now, paint the window frames and trim and garage door black. Paint the front door a vibrant color--robin's egg blue or orange. From under the bay window, paint a horizontal block a medium grey, the entire front face from the right to to the end of the garage, mimicking the proposed stacked stone.

Concentrate on the landscaping, planning the hardscape.

Future:

Landscaping:

Cute house! I'm concerned that you are piecemealing changes without considering a whole plan - even if that whole plan is not one you can enact right away.

My order of operations would be new roof, new front door then wait until you can afford to redo the stairs and railing together. In the meantime, just paint the stairs and railing.

Stacked stone facing will not work at all with the style of your house and with the lines in your siding. I think it will appear to be a stuck on after thought. You can certainly choose elements to give your home a more contemporary feel, but a stacked stone look will not be a good one. With bluestone, consider your roof color. What color will your roof be?

When you do more landscaping work, be sure to consider a base of evergreens mixed with other seasonal shrubs, trees, and plantings. This way your home will look great even in the winter months.

I'd have the steps face forward, if I were you. Then, I'd put a walk way on the street side of your garden.

When you redo the steps, make the landing larger, and have the steps face front.

Make a larger (deeper) garden in front of the house that has room for more evergreens in the back. This will get rid of the 'empty wasteland' look, and is probably the biggest single improvement you can make.

I'm not sure there's really an "empty wasteland" look. In that picture, the garden is shadowed and a dark blob compared to the sun on the grass. Also, it's not quite spring, so nothing is in bloom. In a month, a better picture might show a really lovely garden.

I think the most impact will be a landscape change. Pulling a walkway further forward, with a more gracious, wider set of steps will leave room for bigger landscaping beds which will be attractive even in winter. The blank wall area on the left would benefit from some upright planting, whether it's an evergreen or deciduous tree with an interesting leafless structure.