I don't have any examples, but I would work on the porch/entry.

Large house numbers a wall mounted mail box, large pots with color

Rejuvination offers some great numbers and other hardware.

even a bench or chair for your pkg. delivery

I don't care for the orange mulch, but that can be covered easily.

Congratulations on your new home!!!

I see some options. You can delete the shutters on the window over the garage. I don't see them used anywhere else on your front facade. I'd stir things up by downplaying the garage door with a color that blends in with the house body more. Matching the roof color is a mid-point. Do that and your entrance will have a bit more prominence.

English cottage can be 2 ways - either finely manicured plants and carefully placed and sculpted shrubs ( a little more formal looking )

or they can be more rustic with lots of colorful flowers and more free flowing lanscaping.

This pic may be extreme for your home, but it may give you ideas as well.

Landscaping and potted plants are going to be your friend for this house.

I do wish you had big lanterns on the sides of the garage door or lights above it. A couple of large planters on each side maybe with a trellis and climbers. I don't care for the red mulch either. It looks like a great space to get some beautiful flower beds going.

It's a good looking house, just needs some personality.

Thanks Lyn!!! I covered up the red mulch with dark brown, I'd take a picture but it's storming out. I live in a giant subdivision that doesn't allow individual mailboxes:-/ I want house numbers but I don't know what style would be best. These were 2 that I really liked, but I don't know how they'd look. Plus my house needs 5 numbers which would end up being really big if I picked either of these. I think my main problem decorating is I don't really know how to put different items together for a cohesive look :-/

Sorry Dan & Ms Debbi! I didn't see your comments when I wrote my last response. There is another window past the porch that has the same shutters, what color would you paint the garage Dan? Ms Debbie I love the plant covered cottage! I don't think I have the time or energy to keep up with tons of landscaping. Where would you put more flower beds? I looked at solar wall lanterns for the garage & found these, nice solar wall lantern options are limited:-/

I see the 5 number, yes, your home is large/prominent, large numbers are good.

I would choose large, very simple single numbers

regardless of the individual mailbox restriction, you can still have a mailbox for someone just leaving a message/gift, or even a UPS envelope. I am thinking large, like a 12" size box. something decorative.

you've stirred my interest, I am going to search for a look to show...

Ms Lyn, you're so right about the mailbox I never thought about that!!! I would love a cute mailbox plus it would take up some of that blank real estate on the wall.

You could add shutters to the porch window especially because the other two front windows have them

I don't think you have to do the elaborate gardens. Speak with the local garden center and find plants that are beautiful but easy to maintain or manageable. Beautiful colors and planters can make a huge impact. You can also do things a little at a time so you don't overdo it.

Was going to suggest lighting.
Planters and some shutters.
Beautyykf home!

*Beautiful

Thanks everyone!!! I wanted to put shutters but my mom & the builder representative said to only put shutters on the bricked windows, not the stucco one. I asked why & the said the stucco window has a stucco frame but it's literally an inch or two plain square around the window lol

To me, an English cottage vibe is a lot of plants. Remove the mulch and plant flowers where the mulch was. In the first year, lots of annuals, while waiting for perennials to fill in. I hate window boxes. They are hard to keep looking nice. The area for soil is limited, so if your plants thrive, they run out of room and it's hard to keep them watered, so they start declining, forcing you to throw them out and start over. If they don't thrive, then the whole thing looks bad.

I'd plant a small tree/large shrub to the left of the garage. Keep it far enough away that the mature size won't be a problem. If you put a potted plant to the right of the garage door, it will be on the path to your front door.

The hanging light near the front door is oddly placed and pretty small, too. I’d see if I could get that light moved to centered over the front door. And a much larger fixture.

You’re right that your current house numbers are much too small. And oddly placed. Does your local 911 entity have a minimum size recommendation?

What exactly do you mean by cottage garden? To me, it means elaborate plantings spilling everywhere with riotous colors. Almost no grass in the yard at all. But you say you don’t have time or energy to keep up with that.

It’s a lovely home.

Thanks Ms Sigrid! I have the same little tree that's in the front on the left of the garage, it's the same distance away from the house as the one in the yard. I guess I just feel like the garage is plain looking since everyone else has lights on either side of the garage door :-/

Thanks Littlebug! The light is just for the porch I think because there is a light over the door, you can't see it though because of the stucco arch. I would love to get a bigger/different light but I don't know what style would look good, do you have any suggestions please? There is no rule about house number size in Louisiana, the numbers on the corner of the garage were hung by the builder & I'm ready for them to go lol! The builder said the design of this house is English Cottage, there are lots of arches inside. So I was thinking lots of flowers to match? Obviously I have no idea what I'm doing, decorating is definitely not my strong suit 😂

Your home might be considered cottage style. Typically a small, comfortable, uncomplicated home.

Here’s a cottage garden. Small homes in Great Britain sometimes have a cottage garden.

Thanks y'all! I really do like the shutters on the stucco, it makes that wall look less boring and empty. I would love to have flowers everywhere but I have a full time job & a handicapped kiddo. I wish I could afford to pay someone put in & maintain the flowers for me! I priced having someone remove the red mulch & replace with dark brown - all 3 quotes were north of $400 so I just covered up the red mulch with brown by myself lol

Really like the added shutters in lisedv’s example.👍🏻

Also agree with Lyn regarding large, simple house numbers.

Sorry, I couldn't find an image of my idea all pulled together. Here's a few components.

since your gardening time/attention is limited, I would create a cottage garden setting on your porch, a place to enjoy the outdoors and add the cottage feel to your exterior.

I do agree with adding shutters to the porch area window to add to the cottage garden feel.

potted plants in large containers can be moved around to suit.

the mailbox is available at potterybarn

the house number style adds a cute cottage feel

https://dropcapstudio.com/products/franson-house-numbers-and-letters?variant=45719257743580&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACRv1pAExBr29K62dYhT_cvf_GnaT&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyrvMy7ujjAMVhiNECB2-5Qx0EAQYAiABEgLLSfD_BwE

To change the garage door to blend in more, I'd take a shingle into Sherwin Williams and let their very capable sales techs come up with a color match. They have the best tools for colors.

Thanks everyone! All those pictures are beautiful Ms Lyn!!! That little mailbox is so cute 🥰 Dan, my shingles are mixed, some brown & some gray. I'll bring one of each I guess & see what Sherwin Williams says :-)

IMO that 1st floor window could benefit from shutters.

Since the home style leans French, I'd add some lanterns to the exterior over the garage and entrance.

Hi Ms Beverly & thanks!!! What a cute lantern 🥰

The first thing you need to do is pull the mulch around the young tree away from the trunk. Then make sure that it was planted properly and the root flare is showing. If it isn't and you want the tree to live, replant it properly. And never put mulch against the bark of a tree.

While you are at it--lipstick on pigs is what I see when I see colored mulch. Natural or the latest very dark helps it recede and not be the focal point.

Understood & thanks! The mulch is dark brown now thankfully, I didn't like the red at all. It's been moved away from the base of the trees too, I need to take a new picture:-)

Good morning everyone! My mom said to ask how to put shutters on since there's a stucco frame around the window: