How about staining the concrete or having stone laid over the porch, something with dark shades to go with your brick. You do have a pretty home.

I hadn't considered either of those options, so that gives me something to research. That still doesn't solve the problem of the empty space, but I'm intrigued with the idea of changing the appearance of the concrete slab. Thanks for the idea, grobby!

That's cool! I could always add a few hanging plants, and there would be some added privacy. That's been an issue. I never sit out there because I feel that without some sort of wall or columns that it's a big stage and I'm the star of the show! The pergola would also probably be much cheaper than adding onto the roof of the house.

Sstarr, do you have ideas about the color of the wooden components of the pergola? I have extra brick that matches my house that could be used for the base of the columns. The trim around my house is a khaki color, much like what you used in the picture. Could the lattice part be black?

Generally, the wooden portion would be either white, or painted to match your house's trim. The top lattice could be black, but more often would be the same color as the rest of the wood. Here's the look with brick bases for the columns:

Thank you so much for your help and for the great visual aid. I appreciate it, Sstarr!

If DMH is around, perhaps he could also have a look at this one?

The tapered columns would be more appropriate for an older house. Houses of your period tended to use plain metal, wood posts or slender Tuscan columns. Cottagey styles were popular and would go sort-of minimal Cape Cod/Tudoresque styling of your house. The span is pretty long and you don't want a pier right in front of the door, so I would use three columns and perhaps a bit of openwork lattice for a bit of privacy. I would make it myself rather than use the commercial stuff, which is flat and too dense.

I would also remove the single shutter on the corner windows. Your chimney seems very low--is that to code? I also think your landscaping could use some shrubbery and variation in height, and an ornamental tree in the front yard could be nice.

One difficulty with the pergola is that you have nothing to anchor it to and not a whole lot of headroom. Unfortunately, the only option for a porch is something like the metal canopy that was taken down, so a pergola is your best option. Or maybe just a nice heavy railing around the slab would be enough and avoid some of the construction challenges, especially if you can work in the matching brick.

Brick edging to the front walkway and the driveway could help unify things a bit.

I'm attaching a few pictures of the sort of posts that are appropriate for a 1948 house, and a similar house with another gable over the doorway.

Wow! How thorough! I appreciate the attention to keeping with the time period, victorianbungalowranch. Yes, the chimney is too low, but the fireplace inside is not functional, so no problems there. I've considered a gable over the doorway, which I think would be a practical change -- I've had many friends come over, only to stand in the rain while waiting on me to answer the door. The tan-colored house is charming. I have also hated that single-shuttered window. It's coming down, regardless of what I decide to do.

I also really like the idea about a heavy iron railing, maybe with brick worked in, as you suggested. My father recommended that the very first time he saw the house. If I had brick posts connected with iron railings, is that what you had in mind? I could maybe even get lights at the top of the posts and some antique metal chairs. Imagine the attached image, but about waist-height.

Victorianbungalowranch, I agree, and the columns I put on are clearly Craftsman. I have designed numerous pergolas, and many (actually most) have round columns. Some have latticework on at least one side for privacy. This was the first one in my files that I could easily grab and fit to the photo.
Given the amount of payment happening on any of these posts, I thought it was an adequate effort. My goal is to be helpful. Thanks, S*

Sure, I understand. That is one reason I don't do many renderings anymore. :)

Brian, I think a flat top on the railing would be better than fence pickets--if you go with pickets, keep as simple as possible. The brick posts would add solidity, and would look nice (and hold up longer) with beveled concrete caps--as long as they are constructed with adequate footings (on top of slab probably not enough). A wood or composite railing could be used as well and would be visually more substantial. If desired, you could make the posts chunky enough to support a pergola if you would want to add one later.

I agree with an earlier post that covering or dying the raw concrete slab would be a big improvement too. Nearly every exposed slab I have ever seen covered with tile or flagstone ended up cracking, so I would stick with the dye, which eliminates any difficulty with door clearance as well.

A new awning similar to the ones on the side would be a possibility for the front entrance and would be the most economical solution. The spacing and angles are tight to build a canopy over the entrance. It will cover up the adjoining window a bit, but would be period. http://www.generalawnings.com/door-awnings-c-80 A canvas awning with spear supports might be nice, especially if you also change the ones on the sides.

It will be ornamental, but adding chimney pots or caps would add needed height to the chimney. And it was quite common to have a decorative "S" metal tie (as you can see on the photo of the grey house) or the family initial in script on the chimney. House numbers set on a diagonal can look nice as well.

I suppose it is something you wouldn't want to touch, but the fascia isn't quite right. Period would be white, the tan is OK, but the exaggerated "eave return" on the gable is way too clunky, and would have been terminated flush with the wall or just slightly over, or just allowed to extend parallel to the roofline, rather than projecting over and being so dominant. Note examples above.

If you really wanted to go to town, I would raise the gable and create a false vertical timbering effect with stucco and trim and swoop it down to create a canopy over the door, possibly extending it over the slab with a pergola, or finishing the slab with a decorative stone or brick wall. Then I add the decorative chimney pots. Of course landscaping, potted plants, and furniture would finish it off. Some period type examples are attached.

Moving the bench over now would be a help.

This is a good way to display hanging plants

Have you considered a timber frame front porch? please take a look at our work! www.homesteadtimberframes.com

There seem to be some blue tones in the roof color, so I would suggest you paint the shutters a bright navy and add bluestone tiles to the porch floor. You might find a shade of light blue or even aqua that would harmonize with the navy shutters and bluestone and give an unexpected "punch" of color. Along with this, you might want to change the trim color from taupe to white. If possible, would you consider moving the farthest right window to the left so that there would be room for a shutter on the right side of the window? This added bit of symmetry will make the house look better. I do like the photo someone posted of the porch with a table and two chairs to give the area a welcoming atmosphere.