Contact an architect.

AI can be fun for exploration. However, when you go to build in many areas of the US you will need architect-stamped plans. First, write down your budget, second, write down the scope of work, and then call some local architects to see if they work in your price range. You can look at their websites to get an idea of the kind of work they do before making your calls.

You could also look into converting the porch to an enclosed room without changing the entire roof. That would be much cheaper than adding a room with rebuilding the entire roof, even if you have to bring things like electrical wiring in the porch up to current code.

This is just to show you that if you're willing to replace the roof structure you can also completely redo the front facade. You don't have to retain the gable on the left side.

Look to something you'll really like and that looks current. Good luck.

I've adapted a renovation done by Brick and Batten to your house. You mentioned you were willing to change the roof line so I did by eliminating the gable on the left.

You will have to put in new footings etc. A front porch footing will not work for a room addition. Make sure, the budget you have is large enough, and also, that the small area you are going to gain, is worth the money it will cost to build it, and that you dont over price the house for your neighborhood.

Keep in mind when a house plan ends up with a layout where the rooms are more than 2 rooms deep gets to be too dark in the interior.

Some inspro with bump out additions

I don’t see how there can be any input about what to “design “ there—notwithstanding than the good general points above re: architect, attention to neighborhood comps —without a current floorplan and what specifically you hope to make better about the existing space(s).

You’d still need an architect! And architect-purists would still likely think it’s a waste of time to crowd-source a discussion. But at least you might get some ideas about refining your wish list or different ways other people approached it.

How many square feet do you want to add to the front porch area of your home? That question seems like an important one to be answered in order to determine possible new roof lines + possible exterior views.

Reminiscent of a cabin I use to rent.

Any addition is a useful and beautiful marriage of interior and exterior. We don't even know what the interior looks like We have not one dimension.

You would need drawings, permits and what you need most? An architect at your site, a wish list for the interior space, it's function and your wishes. The exterior and interior? A marriage.

You can't get married, here: )

Two projecting gable ends dump water in between them. Solving that problem just creates more problems. Creating a deeper single main gable to cover the all, requires completely rebuilding the entire roof, with a higher pitch and trusses, in order to achieve the width needed to do that. Very expensive.

Your addition is misplaced for both ease and budget. The only thing that makes any sense for those two factors is to just extend the main gable in one direction, or to do a cross gable out the back. Even that will be very expensive. You may need to just spruce up the house, sell, and move to the bigger house that you want. While additions that add square footage give the best payback for a remodel, they still lose you a minimum of 20% of the expense, and up to 100% of the expense, if it's done badly enough that it detracts significantly from the home.

There is no way to answer this . ERight now closing in th porch for an addition would totally affect everything in th interior of the existing home . So you need an architect and IMO right now.AI is along way off from an architect BTW

The consensus is that you need an architect not just for design but for all the zoning requirements @Pegasus Support Service points out. I agree. So what next?

#1 know your budget. Don't fall in love with something you can't afford. Set your budget. Not knowing how much things will cost will not impact your budget. What can you comfortably afford to do now without putting a pinch on the other things in your life? Hang tight on that budget.

#2 define what the space will be used for and if the new space will impact how existing spaces are used.

#3 once you've finished #2, get more specific with must haves and nice to haves.

These are livability questions you can ask without any inspiration pics. How are you going to live in the space and how will this financial outlay affect your lifestyle in other areas. If you've done all that and you're comfortable with the answers...

#4 look at pictures of houses, capture the ones you like, regardless of how you might modify your existing house to look like the pics. You are going for style and feeling. A good architect will be able to look at your collection of pics and translate the look and feel you love to what can be done to your house within your budget. For example, when I renovated my kitchen, after looking at my inspiration pics, the architect said, "I see you like a kitchen that doesn't look like a kitchen." Absolutely correct but if you had asked me to articulate that, I couldn't have.

#5 Take all this to an architect. There are lots of articles online about how to find an architect.

We pay pros to do what pros are experts in doing. Your job is to understand yourself and your family needs and wants and then present that wish list to the pro to do their thing in interpreting that into finished ideas.

Anything you pay an architect will be paid back ten fold in how much you love your addition.

All the best to you on this adventure.

There is no good or cheap way to do what you are asking about. Pivot.

I ditto - contact an architect - you will need one anyway to draw for the permit. It is the inside that will dictate a lot more about what you do like what room will be the addition, what use, etc. Just looking at it, I would close in the front porch and use it as a sun-room and stop there, but I do not know the inside of the house or what you need additional space for.

To add on/bump-out and avoid a flat roof, the current roof would need to be torn off and blended with the addition. The front wall would be load-bearing and cause issues. This could be a $70-100k or more, expense - is that in the budget? I am running into similar issues in my house and may need to wait and sell/move, etc. And some additions/changes like you want to do, if not done with a good architect can make the house look hokey. . . .

And get rid of the fake shutters - they ALWAYS look tacky. And planting shrubs in front is not in vogue like in previous decades, perennials and flowers would be better. Change up the landscaping to a cottage garden look.

Budget friendly means different things to sifferent wallets. Tell us your budget, what part of the country you live in and we will tell you if you can get anything close to what you want.

Post a pic of the inside layout of your house and how you will use this new space.

Just read an article that said shutters are back baby! Fake or otherwise.

Shrubs in the front are good anytime. I love perennials and flowers but unless you're in a very temperate climate, that's a 6 month thing at best. There is a lot of variety in shrubbery texture, leaf color, size to create interest. Most shrubs are not deciduous so you'll have something to look at all year round. If you learn how to prune them properly, shrubs are great.

First know what your budget is and what you are hoping to use the new space for. Look online and gt some ideas from this site and other architect websites. When you find some inspiration, contact that architect and talk through your ideas and budget then refine your ideas along with other residents of the space.

"Just read an article that said shutters are back baby! Fake or otherwise."

Fake shutters there never there to be back from.

Hi @Mark Bischak, Architect. By "fake" I assumed it meant shutters that were decorative, not functional to be closed over the window or in which the slats move. I once owned an early 1800's house in an historic district. Replacing those were $$$$$ and hard to find a craftsman to do it. Anything else is "fake" IMO. .

Yah! to @Mark Bischak for his right-on comment about fake shutters!

Tozmo1 - great reply with the 5 steps; clear and very helpful.

I guess I should've clarified a few things, first our budget is about 50k (if we need to go that high) This is going to add about 200 sqft to the front of our house, we are adding windows to the side to solve the issue of being too dark. I live in Pennsylvania and we have Amish that are doing the work for us, they are very resonably priced & do wonderful work!

I guess I just needed some ideas on what would be the easiest, but visually appealing way to blend the new addition with the house!

Thank you all for your inputs!

Perfect! Congrats on a very doable addition they’ll build to last, giving you more room & years of enjoyment. Since you’re in Amish country let them help dictate your exterior style. Just don’t lose the pitched roof or double pitched roof line. Sooo much better than flat.

Shutters can never be mis-sized or mis-placed.

Shudders!!

The problem is that an addition out the front only creates problems. It doesn't solve anything. It just makes the roof and drainage worse. You will end up with some type of water damage in the end. Also, when the uninsured Amish guy falls off the ladder, your homeowners insurance isn't going to be very happy about that. 50K is far too low for someone reputable to take on what you want done. https://www.jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2025/

Thankyou for your concerns, @Minardi but the Amish man is actually insured. He owns a business and does things by the book. I would never have someone uninsured work on my home.

Also, I've had a couple other quotes from "reputable" contractors and they've also come in at around 50k, we live in a very affordable area.

If your ”Amish guy” is insured, he is not Amish. They do not believe in insurance. That is one of the ways that they undercut legitimate contractors.

PPF. Great, applicable ideas. I like the 3rd best.

And if you are going to tear off the entire existing roof to redo it, then those might be possible. Otherwise, the pitch won't allow it.

How can you have a "quote" without a formal idea of exactly what you are going to add, how and what it will look like? Without drawings and specs they are just guesses and my guess would be way too inexpensive. They are telling you what you want to hear. What is the foundation like, can it support the addition in front? Can the extsitiong structure handle a different more expansive roof?