How about starting with a pic of what you do have?,

thought I did- working on it- thank you!

I'd make the porch the same width as the dormer with 2 beefy posts on either end.

Thank you for your thoughts! Do you mean one big post on each end? What style might you imagine the posts to be?

Since you have the cantilever, the posts are decorative. Two should do.

I increased the width of all you shutters

What is your budget? I live in an area with a lot of split levels. They can be costly and complicated to renovate.

The least expensive way imo to add a front porch is to have it come off the 2nd floor as suggested by @Sigrid. It is worthwhile to pay to have design elevations done to be sure you like the way it will look and to help with selecting porch column style, porch roof pitch, etc.

The center third of your house with porch will be very prominent. But it will likely be costly to extend the covered porch to the 2/3s of your house that is one story to balance the center porch. You don’t have the existing roof height and adding gables on either side to get the height is costly. You could do uncovered patios/decking for the 2/3s.

Do you have a better space in the back to add a porch or patios or deck?

If you have any future plans to add on to your house or update windows/roof/roof line, consider waiting to do the porch as part of that project.

Thank you for your thoughts and for taking the time to post pics! I just haven't been able to visualize any great solutions and haven't found our falling over on top house anywhere!

@Design Fan (NE z7a) Thanks for those important thoughts. We don't have a large budget and we do have nice living area in the back. Just trying to improve the overall imbalance somehow. Maybe as @BeverlyFLADeziner and @Sigrid have suggested, just increasing the size of shutters and doing something big/right enough with the columns. Color adjustments might help too- but I just get lost.

These are two simple renditions for porch and posts - to give a visual if you were to go the way of adding a warm cedar or going a deeper shade stain to compliment with the siding and/or shutters.

Thank you! I like how the warm cedar pulls some of the shades in the brick together.

That should never have been done for an addition but now I think simplynatural has the best idea to make it look at least better planned Landscaping will be the next thing and get some pro help for thta .

Thank you for your thoughts and for posting a photo @simplynatural.

Thank you, as well, @Patricia Colwell Consulting. There was never an addition, this is a two story that was built this way. Just try to find some ways to make it look a little more attractive and welcoming.

I think it would help if your upper story were a more compatible color with the roof and the brick. This caught my eye because the upper story is close to the roof color, where yours looks like the roof works well with the brick but not with the gray.

@Olychick That is pretty- thank you for posting it! I agree with your thoughts re: the gray color. It would help if all the colors were well coordinated. Thanks again!

With a darker upper story and near-black shutters:

What olychick said about color. The contrast between the dark charcoal paint and red-orange brick sets my teeth on edge. Looks like someone was determined to follow the gray trend regardless of the existing brick color.

If gray must be used, find a much paler, warmer gray. (Maybe some color experts could chime in with an exact color name.) Personally, I’d go with a more traditional tan or beige.

Lots of good inspiration photos and ideas from the folks here at Houzz. Will add that if you do add a porch to the house that you include a beam running the length of the porch and that it rest atop the porch columns. In one of the photos above there are columns but no beam really visible. Have seen this done before and the end product never looks quite right.

Thank you for the additional photo/ideas @simplynatural!

We would love to add the porch, but can't prioritize that right now, @Lantern Visual.

But def looking at what to do with color and with style of columns, lights and other touches, as you have suggested. Thank you for taking the time to give your thoughts! @Norwood Architects- thank you for that excellent pointer about the beam as well. Very thankful for all the input.

“We need help knowing what to do with porch and pillars”

Haha! True- but imagine if you could do more! :-) I have learned through the comments that we might consider widening the shutters, addressing the colors (and ugh- help is invited). There are several helpful photos above. Not sure if the columns should be straight and simple or more "something" to pull a little attention downward. Really thankful for all the brainstorming.

I love the extended roof suggested by @simplynatural but since budget seems to be an issue for this kind of project, I'm suggesting something with a timeless look. Just add colums (I show 3 for more effect), paint, and work on the landscaping.

@lisedv Thank you for your suggestions and for the photo enhancement! That does look nice. It seems that if we can pull the shutter color together with pillars it will help bring some balance.

@lisedv That looks so wonderful with the white trim, columns and shutters, plus the white front door really brings it all together!

Gotta add my vote for the above option.

It really finishes off the facade into a solid design. I'd begin saving and planning for this. Do the project in stages. Paint and shutters first. Extended porch next. Portico extension and columns third. Luckily you have no immediate structure deficiency to correct.

@dan1888 Thank you for your thoughts!