I would go for a cottage look - you could paint the railings white and add some gingerbread brackets. Put flower boxes on the railings with colorful plants, or edge the walkway with them.

I would put up columns and wrap the base in the same stone on the front facade, change the front door to something with more oomph maybe with a wrought iron front or a solid door in a different color or a black gloss. Think about adding 2 more substantial light fixtures on either side of the door and maybe get two tall urns to flank the entry steps (maybe in blue or terra cotta and the yard is begging for annual color, impatiens, etc. You could cut out about 2 feet along the walkway path and make those annual beds and I am not sure what type of tree you have in your yards but if Nebraska can tolerate it a lovely pink blooming dogwood would be nice in the spring. You could also freshen up the color of the windo shutters to match the front door.

Your dormers are a little small for the size of the roof, I would recommend widening them to the same width as the front door with the sidelights. Then put a beam under the porch roof with arches between the columns. Get rid of the shutters - at least the ones on the porch, since they don't reach all the way up to the transoms. You're right in wanted to change the stained wood look, I would go with a light neutral color, but not a white, just something to give it a little pop. Your stone is very nice, so I would pick a color from there. With a few changes and new landscaping your house will be beautiful!

Thanks all for the great suggestions. To Airoom.com...the ceiling on our porch is all metal, would the arches work there? As for the shutters...I had planned on putting up more substantial ones that would go to the top of the transoms.
Thanks Airoom!