Heres a different view - great modern lines. Just change the front doors out to a mid century profile like crestview.com option carlyle and change light fixtures -

I would paint the area under the first floor window and the garage door in the color that is under the second story windows. That would help to "ground" the home.

Also plant a nice specimen tree on the left side of the home (looking from the street). That should help to balance out the garage and driveway. Landscaping is powerful!

A cover over the front door and garage would look good and be wonderful for getting guests out of the rain.

HI -- Would you be allowed to add a new garage further forward on the property ,and then utilize the old garage into the houses square footage and then make a new entrance, also further forward and more to the left . If the garage was allowed , then if you could have the garage turned sideways so you drive in from the left . I could have a shed slanted roof that is higher on the right and normal height at the garage door side. You might be able to have a double car garage !The new entrance door would then be a nice solid wood stained with side glass .

Not the best example, but it does show a dark garage door and a cover over the front door:

Right now yard is flat. You could have good soil brought in and create a mounded area in the front. Fill with interesting plants. I also like the way the house numbers are displayed here. You could have large metal numbers added to the brick area above the garage for some interest.

Garage doors, entry doors, and lanterns should be replaced with modern. Paint all trim except entry doors a mid-grey. Paint the entry doors a contasting color.

Here you go - for now, paint the front doors a bright mid century color - with the tile roof and brick, I say chartreuse - or you could go teal - better yet http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/azurewater

it will signal your modern intentions - the doors you have would be better in a single next to a tall frosted window - but they are austin powers mod so work them!

On a budget, paint will be your best friend. Then, if you can, all the white trim / eaves / fascia in a cool neutral - that matches the depth / shade tone of the every so often dark brick. Here's the best I found to test http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/mohegansage - don`t go carcoal since the gray will make the brick pop orane but green based flat bronze will have just enough yellow that it works with the terracotta brick.

If you can paint the window sashes (white will be okay if not) but if you can, go to a pale gray in this family like horizon gray. Don't do this around the entry doors - stay dark there adjacent to the bright door. Paint the garage door dark - it will de-emphasize the traditional stamping. When you have to change it, get straight panels.

Modern light fixtures across the front - the tall bronze cylinders are probably best http://www.lightingdirect.com/progress-lighting-p5642-aluminum-cylinder-series-6-x-18-outdoor-wall-sconce-with-heavy-aluminum-construction-and-powdercoat-finish/p357975

Finally - if you can bear it - take the entry door hardware and mail slot and use orb spray paint on them - follow the younghouselove.com spray paint tutorial and they will last / tie together better than the 60's brass.

Example of bright front door:

What direction are you leaning towards? The present architecture lends itself to a contemporary aesthetic-but its not edgy enough to make a statement.

Are you leaning towards traditional or modern? My recommendations would obviously be different for either-

Modified Modern-

!st recommendation -change the front doors and the garage door. They dominate the front of the house but do not make a statement.
Modern design is all about color, composition. and contrast. Be tasteful but fearless. Balance is the key. The clapboard can be a camel color which would speak to the pavers on the driveway and bring it into the overall composition. The garage door can be natural wood-walnut perhaps or a very skilled artisan can paint it to mimic wood. The rectangular area that is white to the left of the door can be faced in a stone- this would be a modified modern look. The door color can be a lighter value of the charcoal that I would use to paint the brick.

I would select a different approach for an edgier aesthetic.- and yet another for a traditional direction...what is your preference?

Depends on your objective- What material is your roof? it looks rather like rows of Spanish terra-cotta tile -but in a pale neutral color?

Are the garage and entry new additions? I think they need to be more in tune with the rest of the house. I love the three large windows in the main house, but the ornate front door throws off the pattern.

PS I really like your car. :)

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions, they are really appreciated!

Just curious if anyone would recommend doing anything different if there were unlimited budget?

No budget? ...meaning moneys no object or, there's no money for a budget? 1. Moneys no object: I'd say, move. Don't over capitalize in the street. 2. Theres no money: plant a deciduous tree out front. 3. Swap the Bemmer for a Humber and build the portico / porch. Lol.

Lol! Excellent suggestions @rosecafe

You have traditional doors in a modern house. You also have three colors which don't go well together. I'd recommend toning down the glaring white with a warm neutral. Don't paint the brick. It doesn't need it.

You also have no landscaping. Put in a specimen tree and a few shrubs. I am fond of fruit as it gives you free fruit.

If money were no object, change the double door to single door and sidelight w modern door style, run a modern trellis across the front elevation in the darker trim color / be back to post an example / stain the brick taupe, do a modern landscape treatment / use ipe or cedar across the siding areas / use a mod ipe wood garage door.

Just wondering: Are you allowed to add a fence to the front? If so, some more privacy would be nice and allow you to utilize your front yard more for your own enjoyment.

Here's a couple of mod trellis details that could even turn the rest of the front yard into an awsome courtyard - change the door in the lower left to french doors out / with a low modern screen wall [houzz=]houzz=]
last two photos same place - [houzz=] [houzz=]

Just change out the front doors to a modern design of your choice. Use the same wood on the garage doors that is under the upper windows and repeat it under the lower windows. Use the rest of your money on the interior.

Modern front door:

Paint the eve boards on the house and garage dark to match the roof and install modern lights of the same color--cylinders or whatever you like. Yes,
you can put a single door in and fill with more horizontal boards and a mail slot and a light and some modern numbers. Hardware can all be dark or aluminum.

We are just about to do the same and have gone for a Modernist front extension speak to Phil at http://architecturaldesignandplan.co.uk he has come up with an amazing design. Good luck Keri

Replace lights on front of house with:

Do you use the large front lawn? You could replace with a more modern landscape.:

Could add a fence with an automatic garage door close to the street and have yourself a great hidden garden!

Love some of the ideas here... yes, you need some enhancement... what is a Humber?

A "Humber" is the same as a "Hummer", just misspelled :-)

Oh dear... You've forced me to answer the question. A Humber is NOT a Hummer, no, no, it's an adorable olde English car, from the fifties / sixties era. Like the green monster pictured above. Built by the Rootes Group car manufacturer along with other popular models including the Hillman and their sports models Sunbeam Alpine and Sunbeam Rapier. Prone to rust and under powered, but they were affordable and available. A Hummer ? Lol !

My first boyfriend had a Humber. I loved it. Lots of style.

This is becoming another Top Gear ! For more information, go to www.car brochures.eu/humber P.S. Humber may well have produced an early version of the Hummer. See promo poster from Rootes Group, below. Lol ! Now back to the reno. No, not the Renault !

A great option is Pebble Stone Coatings! With their all natural stone concrete overlay, any concrete surface can be brought to life. With a variety of colors and designs, they tailor a design that works best for you. At only $6.99 per sq/ft it is completely worth it. You most definitely get what you pay for! Visit the website at www.pebblestonecoatings.cm for more information!!

I calculate theres about 150 m2 of brick work on this house frontage. @$7.00 p.s.f thats about $10,500 to Pebble Coat it. What? ! And you'd still have the same house, no added value, no added anything. Just the odd looking house in the street. The brickwork is just fine. Spend the ten grand on a grand portico and really see, and get, value added.

No budget? Really? I'd thank everyone, say ciao and HIRE A PROFESSIONAL!

simple start is replace the front doors and the garage door with more clean line details. the front facade has many possibilities, and it would be ideal, to hire an architect, to sketch up some ideas for you.

Wow! my house is very similar to yours! Have you done anything yet? Please post some pics if you have as it would help me a lot. :)

Hello everyone, I'm back! We've done a lot to the interior of our house but mostly minor things to the exterior, new lights, some plants in pots and replacing the old front door with a new oak one and putting in some new shrubs around the property border. We're ready to conquer the exterior now.

I'm here to ask your opinion again as you were so helpful last time. Can I get your feedback on the below amateur drawing we've done? We hope to raise the porch roof a few feet and allow for a roof overhang which is difficult to show in this mock up. Considering a couple of vertical posts to support the overhang and emphasise the front door.

Your advice (again) would be greatly appreciated.

(PS unfortunately we're not permitted to add a fence to the front of the property.)