Ill suggest updating it by: Replacing the front ( and garage if you can afford) door to a craftsman style, white door. Build out your pillars to be a tapered craftsman style and lay a manufactured stone over your brick! This would create a great updated look and create a more custom home feel. You have a great start on your white trim, and a nice neutral color for your siding. Id recommend a Boral Cultured Stone veneer and there are some really fun craftsman style doors depending on if you want more elegant or ranch styles. This should be a fun project for ya !!

Maybe add some black or olive color shutters. Maybe paint the brick, thinking olive or gray.

Hi....I agree with bluenan and would take it a bit further, the color of you house needs to be
more current, the white trim is ok, but the house color should be BM Rockport Gray to make
the house stand out, and that includes the brick. I wouldn't add shake on the gable. The pergola and the beefed up porch posts will be wonderful with blooming vines, just add
pots on each end of the porch and let the vines trail up. I would add shutters to the top floor
only. A French door will be perfect, and I would suggest larger house numbers in a different
location.

In order to make it feel more "California" I would change the planting style. A lot of Californians are going with colorful succulents, grasses and more organic shaped shrubs. I would take out the hedge and the old school bird of paradise. If you need help with planting let me know I'm in southern ca.

Landscaping definitely will make a huge difference! Palms, banana tree...etc. I'd get a new front door and new garage door and beef up the porch columns. Then, hire professional landscapers and it will transform the look! If the windows are not efficient, I'd consider new windows without grids for a cleaner, less "cottage" look.

how about this for inspiration

front yard landscaping flowers and lots of them

landscaping

Search the box above for SOCAL under Photos - lots of directions. I think stucco might work for you.

Should you decide to replace your front door or any other doors in your home, we have an office in Southern, CA. Thanks to new measuring technology, we create each door to the existing doorjamb so installation is fast, easy and affordable. We have a wide range of door styles available and do offer the Craftsman style door. We do interior and exterior doors. Here is a link to our website if we can be of service www.myhomestory.com

You need to open up that front! get some pergolas over the upstairs windows.... landscape.

Great suggestions, thank you!