as far as the door, I would replace with a new door. either a solid door with some detail or a full glass door, in a stained wood tone.

depending on the privacy factor, you already get some nice light from the side windows. Do you need a kick plate for the bottom of the door? I would leave it off.

The house color, I'd paint it all one color, trims and all in a soft white. Bonding Primer to paint over the aqua tiles.

To make the porch area into an outdoor space, I would find an outdoor rug to fill the floor space. Change out all the light fixtures and hardware to larger more grand statement pieces.

Do you have more outdoor space beyond the front entrance to include in outdoor living?

How about a full photo of the front of the home and how it sits on the lot. Faces what direction? South?

Hi Lyn, Here’s the house. It faces south.

you have a garden bench, so you have more seating, that''s great.

Looks like you have two recessed lights in the ceiling of the porch area, can you change them to shine on the walls? you could add outdoor wall art to create an outdoor living mood.

I'd paint the ceiling a soft blue to mimic the sky, like BM Lily White (it's a white with a blue undertone).

I am guessing the columns are there to support the overhang, you could ask a builder how much support you really need and minimize them. remove that large tree and extend the landing out as far as you can/want. Do you have a backyard? the south exposure is great, but it may get hot there too...

How much do you want to spend?

We have some similar looking houses in my neighborhood and the new owners the last couple of years are doing major updates, with many of them taking out the faux-Tuscan embellishments and simplifying the house styles. Some of the ones putting in new impact windows have also removed the arches and installed taller squared off windows. Many of the houses are in the 25 - 30 year range, so the cosmetic updates are done at the same time as major stucco/roof/window/plumbing/electrical deferred repairs or maintenance. It has been great for the value and the overall look of the neighborhood. We have even had a couple of tear downs, which had been very rare in the area.

Extending the front porch seems so $$$, could you get two nice chairs and have them face each other? do you think you will really sit out there?

I need to see the whole house from the street Waht I see are what my mother would have called delusions of grandeur just too much for the house IMO

And some people seem to operate under the delusion of being 'truthful' when it is really mean spiritedness.

I think just removing the two large cornices to simplify and smooth out where the columns meet the arch would make a big difference. Paint out the blue fascias and probably the blue tile everywhere.

Rough sketch:

I would paint the door the same turquoise as your trim. Replace the door hardware, lights and house numbers to black. If it is possible then I would replace the glass in the door with something less ornate. I would get a new door mat.

Do you need sitting in the front? It looks like it would be hard to extent the front porch. Have you considered a stand-alone deck with a cover. You could extend your walkway to the bench area and add the chairs over there. Maybe add some of the turquoise in that area.

I like the look of your house. Since the columns match the ones around the garage doors and windows I would leave them alone. I think arches are trending at the moment. At least they seem to be in the new homes in California. They are similar in style to your house. They are using arch front doors. I attached a link to some of the new houses. If you scroll all the way down, then you will see more exterior home samples.

739 Guy Turner Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010 | Zillow

Please clarify: Are you considering rebuilding the porch's tile roof to make the porch larger?

I think it would be too expensive to rebuild the porch roof. Top priorities would be to get rid of the green tiles and somehow minimize the huge columns (and also great idea tracefloyd about the cornices). More patio space ( and making the entry concrete more level) would be great, but I think that’s where the cost may be prohibitive. Thanks everyone for their thoughts.

I don't think the new color scheme was an improvement for your home. The white makes the columns too prominent on the face of the house. I would eliminate all the blue trim. The house needs simplification.

I'd select a raised panel replacement door for the house.

Looks like the roof and all the concrete surfaces are overdue for a cleaning.

Maybe a simple 2 tone color scheme should have been better.

Hi Everyone, FYI we didn’t choose any of the existing paint colors or tiles. House came this way. We have been hesitant to paint because we wanted to figure out the column problem first. Beverly, I like your door idea.

I like the jewel-blue tile bands. The blue paint along the fascia could be replaced by a color that matches the walls or the roof. The columns are the primary fashion statement for the house: I would keep them. There is nothing wrong with a house that shows it is of its time. Making the house into something it isn't would cost a pretty penny.

For easily getting more room on the front porch without reworking anything structural: I suggest moving the plants off the front porch to give you room for a second pair of chairs. Replacing the round black table with a skinny narrow table in between the chairs would feel less crowded.

As part of the prep for new paint, the concrete walkways and porch could be pressure washed for a fresh look.

Maybe box in the columns and wire them for light fixtures.

I like the blue tiles and the blue paint. It's a nice touch that adds interest. Ignore people who advise you to remove interesting details, because, if you do, your house will become generic.

You can't minimize the columns without making the pediment look top-heavy. I would not box them in, but keep them, as they match the columns on the side. Southwest is not my favorite style (and I live in the Northeast) but I like yours. The proportions, the details. I wouldn't change any thing.

You appear to have plenty of shade close to the house. Can you find room for a bench or sitting area? Or even a swing? You certainly could put up hammocks. If you get a swing, make sure it can't hit the house on a windy day. Our 100 year old house has all the original windows, except for one, the window behind the hooks for a porch swing. I can guess why they replaced that one window and why there was no porch swing in evidence when we bought the house.