Where are the steps to the front door?

Two gables like that near the center will look funny because the right side of the house is set back more than the left. Given the shallowness of your roof, they'd need to be relatively wide, which would probably be not well aligned with your windows. There's essentially no place you can put them that won't look odd, as if you put them over one of the sides, that would be odd, too.

Be especially wary of an AI generated image, because AI tends to "fix" that sort of thing.

I would put steps and a path to the front door and improve the landscaping. If you don't cover the cement foundation with landscaping, paint it a darker color.

Is that a raised walkway to the right? If so, it definitely needs railing. And I agree that adding steps to the door would add a lot.

Yes the steps are to the right where the driveway is

Lyn Nielson,

Thanks, the foundation window is for our recroom. I need something to give it character.

There's is now 2 shrubs under those windows and the grass is much greener. We are going to put on a medal roof.

Stairs are to the right.

Why are you not consulting with an architect about this? That would be the logical first step.

The roof is too shallow to add the two peaks. You're spending on a new metal roof. And the additional cost of a peak gabled design element. That's an investment that, imo, needs a further investment in your roof. Raise the pitch to 6/12 and do that in conjunction with the other two renovations. I'd also consider larger windows after seeing more pictures of your neighbors and the street.

Hire a garden designer to plan a deep curved garden bed, away from the basement window, but tall enough to camouflage it.

Instead of costly gables, metal roof, consider front patio bordered in front by a mix of shrubs and tall grasses. These would extend the footprint of your ranch and give you a great entryway while masking the basement window.

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Landscaping, railings, landscaping.

That's all the house really needs.

You could add one long dormer in the center to draw the eye up and add some apperance of height to a low slung rancher.

Add a long porch rail to accentuate the asymmetry of the porch.

Extend the planter to the same length add shrubbery to cover the foundation but don't cover any brick or the house will begin to look squat.

Rough sketch of my concepts:

Dormer similar to this:

Did my sketch upload?

Without dormer plus pillars:

I would not put railings in. The house looks better without them. I certainly wouldn't put a railing blocking the front door.

So you would have your guests fall off and hurt themselves?

Darwinian friend selection. Interesting.

I can’t unsee Mr. Bill! Agree with deep planting bed on left side so as to camouflage the foundation window without losing light to basement, with balance of landscaping to right, as well and clear path to front door up the middle of lawn.

We just recently did the exterior of our split style house similar to yours. we went with a decorative gabel over the front door with two posts. the Cost to redo the entire roof pitch was not worth it as there would have been no return on it if we were to sell

Someone willing to pay for a full metal roof and the added structure of the gabled decorative facade isn't pinching pennies for resale return. They can be committed to this location for long-term ownership and enjoyment. Personal experience is the priority.

Easy to raise the pitch because the house doesn't use gables on the ends.

Coming back to further comment: The add-ons, gables, metal roof, pillars etc. are pricey cosmetics that don't address the stuctural change that's needed: a sloped entryway with proper steps. This will require regrading your yard and installing steps. The entrance shown in photo below is steeper than you would need.

If you require an entry ramp, not steps, this still can be done attractively by creating a gradual slope to the front door. This idea:

but done this way to echo red brick:

Landscaping with shrubs and grasses in a deep garden bed on the left will camouflage the basement window and still let in light. Get a normal, shingled roof--way more affordable than metal. Forget the gables, pillars, and other useless doodads and build a proper, safe entry to your house.

Third and last comment: Please provide a photo taken from the right side of the house so we can see the walkway. The whole setup is hard to understand from your single photo. Plus I'm not sure why you're not addressing the entryway but willing to spend money on cosmetics.

@mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY) I would put steps straight out from the front door. The porch appears to be about one large step above the raised bed, which is about on large step above the ground. For adults, this is quite acceptable, IMO.

Thanks everyone for the helpful hints.

The steps are to the right where our driveway is. I wish they were in the front too. We use the back door 95% of the time as there is a large foyer. We plan to be here another 40 years.

I was just wanting some ideas from others to see your thoughts before moving forward with the next steps. So thank you so much to all that had fantastic ideas.