Oh my gosh, an ideal blank canvas to work with. Absolute dream project.

Roof color is most important question.

Also, what geographical region and also what colors are the neighboring homes.

Pick a paint brand and use that palette. I strongly advise against color matching/crossing brands with exterior paint colors.

Thanks Lori. The roof is black. We are in Los Angeles and the front is south facing. The homes in the neighborhood are a mixed bag ranging from very light or white to pure black so no real theme. Also they range from traditional to modern boxes. Would like to stick with Dunn Edward’s, sherwin Williams or BM.

The arch top window appears to be lacking trim. Adding trim would help there. Would make sure the window and door trim are the same. Also, the column for your porch is undersized. Will suggest replacing it with a larger and more appropriately sized column.

Budget friendliest: Match the house color to your warmer colored pavers. No need to change the door.

These houses have same warm hue as their driveways.

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Add copper mailbox and large copper numerals. Your landscaping is well done and already trends in a warm direction--mulch, tree, plant pots.

What a charming well-kept home. I like the color suggested by Beverly as it seems to go well with a black roof and the stone porch steps.

I don’t mind the arched window as it echos the porch roof arch. Trim on both arches might be a good idea.

Two other improvements you might consider are larger black house numbers (mounted to the left side of the porch) and judicious pruning of the flowering shrub on the left. Looks like it has been allowed to grow right up against the house.

I like the idea of going with an off white for the body of the house and changing the front door to a mid century modern style. It'll helps the window just blend right in. Add a new cedar post and some black details like a new light fixture and colorful plants to make the house stand out.

I changed the steps back to the gray as you might not want to change those.

If too many of your neighbors have done white, I'd go with a blue. The house is fine, the gray is really dreary and the steps look like crumbling concrete in this picture (which could be the fault of the picture, not the steps) . I would not add trim over the window. Your house has mostly clear, modern-ish lines. The arch on the window mirrors the arch over the door.

Love the soft gray/green from Beverly.

I love what Emily did here, but no way I'd leave it white w/white door!

Unless, you pick out a bold door color and bring in more color w/plantings in the flower beds

(I was also going to suggest the cedar posts) so many possiblities!

white/black and wood look great together

I'd do the dark stucco w/wood accents, a diff door, new address placque, black mailbox, paint the garage door, and of course some color w/potted flowers.

I have a mediterranean style w/a charcoal tile roof. I did Behr swiss coffee on the stucco w/BM Wrought Iron on all of the trim

I think on your cottage type home I'd go for the modern/MCM type of vibe.

See how cool this looks?

lighter neutrals

if you like more of the cottage loo:

If you do paint it white a new bright color door would be really cute! If you keep the door paint it same as house color.

White with a black front door. Black adds a crisp contemporary contrast and recedes visually giving more depth. The arches in the door echo the other arches- it seems fine.

The tall bush seems to cut the house in half so I removed it and added Mexican Feather Grass...we use it and it adds softness, and movement in the breeze.

Beef up the post by cladding it. (It may not need the top and bottom trim shown.)

I like a brighter front door with a recessed entry and I agree that you need a brighter, clearer color for the house. The current gray color is too dreary for such a cute house.

When you have lemons, make lemonade. You have to perfect climate to hide the window with bougainvilleas. Build an arbor/trellis and train it to climb. Maybe no so big as this one, but you get the idea.

Thank you all for the effort that went into these responses. You’ve exceeded my expectations. We are seriously considering the white color with the cedar post and a fun colored door. Question: is there a world in which a dark color like a navy would be a feasible option for the house? Like I said, I’m liking the white but wanted to know everyone’s thoughts.

Here’s a navy for you to consider. I personally like the white because the flowers pop out and the window recedes. It’s the opposite with the dark color but it’s a nice option if you want to go dark.

That looks like a crepe Myrtle tree so I’m guessing you might live in a southern state with warmer temperatures. I don’t know if the stucco is affected by dark colors or not like siding can be but just check into that if you decide to go that route.

I lived in Los Angeles, for several years. I enjoyed it.

If your neighborhood primarily has black and white houses, a navy house could really be a breath of fresh air.

If you go Navy, consider a slate blue with gray in it like Ben Moore Racoon Fur.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_bDFa1xJbv/

Whatever color you choose I think lighter is the way to go, considering your climate., unless you’re coastal. Something to consider,if you choose a cedar post it will not stay that color, especially with UV rays from sunny weather.

I think navy could be really pretty with a bright door and cedar post. It's certainly something you don't see everywhere. If you go darker, be sure to use a paint like BM Aura Exterior paint that has UV protection to prevent fading.

Lots of options for this one! I think lighter would work better since its a hot climate. https://www.buildersservicecompany.com/how-to-choose-a-siding-color 

BM Santorini Blue

I like the white. Colors make the white vinyl window "pop", and I like it better when the the window and garage door blend in, with focus on a substantial wood post and colorful front door.

Your roof shape is a modern MCM style. I'd stick with that for landscaping style. I was surprised to see how much more balanced the house looks without the small tree. @tracefloyd had a good idea there with the grasses. Spikey "architectural" plants are also more modern. Yucca?

I would get a modern mail box too, and add large MCM style house numbers where @tracefloyd shows them to the right of the arched window.

Cute house.

https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-gentle10feb10-story.html

^agree - I would want that front window to blend rather than stand out, so would go lighter with paint color

Here is a Periwinkle blue for your front door. I added the cedar post for you.

Or a modern wood door? Despite being stucco, the house does not read Southwest or Spanish Colonial to me. And the arches are Carriage arches, not Spanish.

Personally, I would rather bring out the minimalist MCM feeling especially with the current modern front walk. I would avoid bright colors and primary colors and Spanish or SW motifs, cacti etc.

Here is simply one Catmint plant for color and yet it's enough.

the current door you have does not match the style. that door w/white stucco is 'Yawn".

I love the navy w/the cedar AND a more modern style door (you can find these online lik FB or salvage places)

(This deep green would be another option w/the cedar)

I'd even go a step further and do mexican talavera tiles for the porch for either the blue, black or the dark green. they come in beautiful colors.

to compliment the blue:

you could do the risers

bring in the colorful pottery too

diff style door. more mcm

sorry, but the all white stucco w/nothing more than a colored door, just doesn't do much. it's very very safe. and blah.

you could go for a wider door w/one side lite, OR, double door. or the one door w/two side lites

My favorite from the above ideas and a person’s color recommendation.

The entrance plays a big role, so color and accessorizing are important. Ignore door’s style, but hope the blue against the white concept helps.

Those “modern” door styles, although fairly popular and very typical, do not really work with the house window style. Which is probably why the latest ”this is what I personally like” contribution/announcement, posted directly above, happens to feature a pic that does not even show the window- i.e. this picture:

Also, imo all these mockups with the one solitary ”cedar post” as the only piece of wood on the house, sort of hanging on for dear life - imo, just look odd.

However, all of that aside... I think the main issue is: I do not believe that the OP has ever returned... at least, not to my knowledge. I posted a comment here, while OP was still on board; I do not remember exactly when I posted it, but i know it’s been been at least several days. So- why people are continuing to return here, to voice their opinions about what they like and or don’t like, etc., - is a mystery. Or- at least it would be a mystery... if not for the fact that this seems to fall into the category of the typical type of harassment that goes on here.

Have you compared the cost of replacing the arched window with the cost of a new front door with side lites?

Are the window grids removable?

Really want a cottage treatment, especially for a midcentury beauty like this -- a light blue with a bright yellow door would be awesome!

The window grids are unfortunately not removable. They are between the panes of glass. I think we dislike the door more than we do the window. I’m sure the door and window replacements would be comparable in price. Btw, I really love the light blue. Reminds me of Palm Springs. I agree that the house has mid century vibes which I love but the traditional elements (like the window and the arches) kills the look. The house is very builder and I’ve been doing my best to try to fix things along the way.

It might be fairly easy to cover the 2 arches before repainting.