These have been great suggestions, we are trying to work out what we will do with the house. I will be sure to post pictures of any improvements we do to it!

Put a porch roof.

-- So much potential in your home's exterior - a blank canvas with lots of good ideas here.

The front of your home is flat and could use some dimension. The awning is a great idea with no major building involved. They come in tons of styles and colors and would add depth to the front of your home.
Window boxes would add a lot of color and texture.
Or: In the large space between the eave and door, install a large artsy medallion, sun-shape, metal wall sculpture, etc.
And/or colorful baskets of plants hung on oversized brackets would add color. One basket on each side of the door and the brackets a little bit higher than the window trim.

Add oversized house numbers over the door, in a fun font.

The windows should be treated the same as each other. Both having blinds, shutters, café curtains, etc. This alone would help the curb appeal.

Just my opinion...your cottage could be on the coastal waterwayes in northwest florida..i would keep the house colour, paint all trim white including theporch railing plus stairs. Paint the front door a great in your face colour like yellow or a great dark blue..not navy..hang a container of lavander flowers..hang beautiful white curtains in all street facing windows..light and airy fabric something that would give a seabreeze blowing thru those windows appearance...lovely..your home has the bones and is all set for the finish touch...keep it simple and she will be everything she is suppose to be..almost forgot...our neighboring town is called Seaside with lots of cottages like your they have a starting price tag of 1000000 million dollars..yep thats a lot of 0s! Also give your cottage a wonderful name, paint that name on a sign and hang it on your porch railing, just like seaside...have fun

If that is a planter in front of your house and city codes allow plant lots of lovely causal type flowers..add some vines to hide ugly brick

I would love to see a veranda with centre stairs and a roof (portico) to frame it. It is crying out saying dress me. Much the same as what most posters are saying. It is a long time worthy investment. It does need the dimension for personality.

Looks like there may not be room to change steps so I would put different shape shurbs and plants in front , Paint the door and add some shutters in same color but different shade, lighter/darker ,also bigger light, street number

Definitely needs some greenery.

Paint your door, white is boring. Also stain the rail so it looks fresh and clean. Flowers and nice green grass always help curb appeal

Shutter look nice too

If you don't want the expense of these changes why not a couple of beautiful deciduous leafy trees. A garden in front of your home will certainly make it more attractive and welcoming. As time goes by maybe adding a facade will make a big difference too. I would start with the garden first thou.

There are lots of great ideas for how to change this house. For sure painting the porch railing and adding some greenery would make a big change for the better. But to me, the large, blank space of the gable end facing the street could really use something - maybe a hip roof that extends over the door and both windows. It would be useful too - a sheltered place to stand while visitors wait for their knock to be answered.

I think it's a really nice period cottage, Having a background in antique restoration & restoring similar old buildings here in Australia, I would remove that porch & landscaping in order to see the building in it's original form. The modern door has to be replaced by a salvaged one & yes I agree a strong color for the door would be good. Perhaps simple steps coming down & flanked by two shrubs?, getting rid of that porch & bed would make it start to look great!

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it does not look like there is enough space in front to relocate your stairs to align with the door. If there is, a second set of steps there would make the porch feel more welcoming.
Some sort of cover for the porch would be my first suggestion. Several of the photos submitted by others would work well. If you decide on a solid cover but light into the house is a problem, consider small skylights in the porch cover over either window.
The porch railing is crying out for color. My preference is white (solid stain, NOT paint). Foundation plants are necessary to ground the house. Consider some "spiller" plants in the front of the beds - rosemary or something similar.

Lots of plants and hanging pots and pot of flowers and maybe a small tree or 2 on the porch. Perhaps vines on the railings. Don't forget some foundation plantings to go in the box. Long-term, a porch roof would give you a space outdoors to sit and watch the world go by. You might consider an interesting light fixture or wall sculpture. If you added lattice at the end of the porch, it would give it borders and with vines or roses a bit of contained space. You might paint your door a bright color to cheer up you quiet entry. Good luck!

Add one of those (what I call them) "spider-web wood trim things" to the peak… Like a flat board going over and three boards going up at angles. Bad description, but I hope you understand… Just a few feet of extra boards would add some style in the house lines…

Happy Decorating! Here is what I mean…. One photo worth a thousand words : )

I love the shape and style of your little house! I would remove the porch and flower boxes altogether and build a staircase straight to the door (slightly to the one side so it is directly below the peak), to accentuate the symmetry. Then I would simply put window boxes full of beautiful flowers and flower beds up to the new stairs with any plants you love. Paint would make a big difference as well...White trim would look great with the existing colour. I don't think you have too much to do to make it really cute; with these kinds of homes, sometimes simpler is best.. When I look at this one, I think "Schoolhouse Cottage". :)

Have fun with your project...

Add a big covered front porch using 6 x 6 columns and make it look timber framed. Add a small window just below the peak and enlarge the windows flanking the front door . Add a new front door with half windows to being in more light and paint it a contrasting color to the house. Center the stairs in front of the door with a stone walkway to the street if street parking is allowed. DO NOT plant tall plants near the utility pole. Plant taller shrubs or a tree with some stature but one that will not grow into your power lines on the opposite side of the yard. Many people try to disguise the utility pole by planting growing vines and large shrubs next to the pole which draws your eye to the pole. Planting taller plants or a tree on the opposite side draws the eye away from the pole. Remove all of the lawn and plant shrubs against the foundation and perennials and annuals in front of the shrubs. Holly against the house with hydrangeas work great but make sure you irrigate well and choose plants according to their light sensitivity. If the front is south or west facing you will need plants that are more heat tolerant like lime light or Anabella Hydrangeas. Also, I would consider painting the house a better color. I like darker greens with white trim www.nelsonbuild.com will show you a small house painted dark green with white trim.i would also add shutters. It would be wise to consult a local landscape designer in your area. It will cost you a little money up front but the payoff will be astounding and it will save you money because you won't go nuts buying plants that don't go well together for that don't tolerate the light exposure you have. Finally, keep some beds to plant your fsvorite annuals for pops of color and flowers that bloom all season long.

If there's the budget for it...
First I'd replace the front door, something with windows, architectural interest, a centerpiece type of door. Try Habitat ReStore or salvage yards or antique stores. I'm not a shutters fan, so instead, I'd beef up the trim above and around the windows and door following the Craftsman aesthetic. This project would lend itself to building in some planter boxes at the same time, adding major punch in one blow.



Double entry lights instead of just one, again using statement pieces. A pretty mailbox. Foundation plantings and potted plants, if you have a green thumb.

And for biggest impact and satisfaction, I would add a ceiling to that porch. It wouldn't even have to be a full-coverage eave, just something to protect the front door.

Bring the roofline out to form porch, open rail at front for entrance to door. Block side stairs to form deck area. Paint all in crisp clean bright colours except for front door, do this bright and bold to make statement. Add plants, to match chosen door colour, in front of rail to hide underworks. Invest in good wooden seating, throw party invite new neighbours. Voila!

Oh My! What fun you can have with virtually a clean palette and a desire to be creative. Have fun...can't wait to see some photos.

The front facade is very simple, so I think that the details will matter more. The window on the right of door (facing the house) is a different size than the left. If that one matched the size and location of the one on the left, it would put the focal point back on the door. The door could be upgraded to a solid wood, perhaps with a window. The trim on the corner boards and around the door could be beefier and maybe add a window at the top or a cupola. If you can't put the entrance of the stairs in the center because it is too close to the sidewalk, you could have two entrances on either side. You see this a lot on Nantucket where the historic homes are close to the sidewalk.

How ambitious are you thinking? Something that involves actual construction such as a porch roof or just adding some curb appeal? A modest approach would be paint the deck white like the rest of the trim, add shutters, paint the door, plantings in front of and on the deck. How about a fake window or other draw-the-eye embellishment for the front in that big empty space above the door? Something like a large lightweight ceiling medallion (use another piece of something to cover the center hole). These are all things you could do if you need to put off major remodeling to the front for a while.

Oh, and maybe some finials on top of the deck posts.

I agree with Lisa Hassler about the windows not being the same size, which throws things off. Also, from the picture, it appears the door is not centered under the roof peak. Those two items throw the eye off, you don't know why it does look right, but some thing is off. If anything change the window on the left(facing) to the same size as the one on the right. Make sure windows are the same distance from the door and the corners of the house. Don't know what you could do about the door, where it opens in the house. Putting a window above the door would draw attention to the door not being center. Maybe naming the cottage and putting a plaque above the door may help.

I think putting a cupola will make it look even more like a church.

-- By the time you gussie up the front, you will not notice the difference in the window size. Your home is what it is and part of that is the quirkiness. Do not spend the money on changing a window. Be creative and enjoy the fact that this home is yours and will be as adorable as adorable can get, once you have worked your magic!

Since your house sits so close to the street I would take a different path.
I would remove the front deck.
Put a picket fence right at the sidewalk. Add soundproofing/privacy shrubs or evergreens just inside the picket fence. Use the rest of the space to add a sitting area and wide steps.
Add a more substantial and colorful door.
Replace the two front windows with matching windows, maybe a bit bigger if you can, and more DRAMATIC trim around the windows and door. Maybe even add shutters.
Finally Consider adding some simple trim under the eaves to tie it all together (see pic)

I actually like the stairs on the side. You can fill the front with plants and flowers. Add color on the trim and door and you're set. I do think something is missing above the front door.

While a lot of these suggestions would be perfect if you had the space between the porch and the inner edge of the sidewalk most of them will not work unless you remove the entire porch in favor of the small landing with two or three stairs leading up to it directly in front of the door.

If the house can be painted (wood siding) I would equalize the windows, paint the house a color you love and accent with shutters and a gingerbread piece at the tip of the roof as shown in a couple of shots above.

I totally love Sharon Barrett's pergola and shutters above. Especially if there is not enough budget to remove the concrete porch in favor of an entrance-enhancing entryway or even for Lisa Hassler's double entryway (which is stunning and convenient for entry from either vantage point).

Ditch the black mailbox for a hip new style, and the pressure treated lumber railings in favor of a softer, curvier, swag style railing to soften the harshness and make it more inviting.

Plant an assortment of small scale evergreen plants and bushes in front and incorporate color with flowers in porch pots or in the leftover areas in the front raised bed area to soften all those hard edges. Put a small tree in a large colorful pot on the porch, perhaps.
Paint the house one color, say an earthen green, the trim a creamy white and the front door yet another contrast color.

The front door would be more inviting if it had glass in it somewhere. Top it off with stunning lanterns and you're good to go!

"Making America More Beautiful One House at a Time."

Look how simply painting the door red and adding black shutters improves the appearance

Hang a large tin star above the door. A low Boxwood hedge in existing planters and flower boxes hanging from railing.

Any chance the original siding is under the vinyl? That might be beautiful. Depending on the budget, paint the railings white. The front door could be stained or painted an accent color. Period shutters could help the cause. As would plants below the deck and a potted plant or topiary on either side of the door. If you're going for a beachy look-window boxes. New house numbers that could be on a more decorative mailbox as well as a more substantial lamp by he front door. And don't forget with any outdoor lighting-if the glass is clear or you can see the bulb from any angle be sure it is a clear glass bulb, no cfl or white bulbs:)

While I like the idea of a bright front door (probably hydrangea blue), I think the shutters only accentuate the windows' asymmetric layout.

maybe you could move the mailbox &/or mount some house numbers vertically in the "extra space" between the left window & the door

I looked too quickly. Nix the shutter idea and move the mailbox/numbers to the opposite side, also, is the house a subtle sage green? I think a ridge vent could break up the monotony of the peak, or a nice square attic window...

-- Another idea for the area above your front door would be to install a stained glass window up there. The pieces of glass should be small because, you will not be able to see fine details from so far away, at the street.

Clear glass would allow you to paint the house / trim any colors you wish. Colored stained glass windows would give you a palette to work from.

An "up" light on the second story floor, would illuminate the window at night.

Two reasons the front of your house is bland: (1) it's not headed in any direction architecturally and (2) there is no color. Since the facade is not symmetrical -- I noticed the door isn't quite centered, any elements that play off the structure's peak will emphasize the imbalances.

Go for simplicity and PUNCH the color. Play up the entire geometry of the house, it will detract from the placement of the door and uneven widths of the windows.

Remove the railings or paint them the same color as the white trim. Right now they don't help the face of the house at all. The faux stone planter is not a visual asset. Clad it with cedar fencing raised up to the level of the front walk, or higher. Use it to screen the stone/concrete/decking and clean up those meaningless elements. Fill it with bright flowering plants to amp up the adorable factor.

The remaining elements on the face of the house should count heavily: pick a mailbox and lamp that are clean, modern and whimsical. Make sure they're centered in the space between the door and the window.

House numbers: put them on the door, echoing an urban townhouse or European row home.

It's a cute little house, let it sparkle on the block. Give it your personality.

I would paint railing white, floor white and add flower boxes on outer edge if railing with red flowers and lots of various greens. Anchor floor with a LITTLE but of furniture or 3 potted plants. Definitely a red door.

P.S. An awesome outside light with black metal!

Looks like you have limited front setback. Whits is your property line so I think you cannot move stairs to the front as this would block town side walk. You could stain your deck, and add some shutters and remove the siding just above your windows and install some vinyl traditional scallop siding. This should cost you around 2500. Good luck. I will show you photo of house front we just completed to give you idea.

I think you should paint it in eggshell blue and cream. Keep the fencing and paint it in the same colour but in a distressed look. Hang fence planters along with vibrant coloured plants.

I'd either add a smaller window upstairs in the attic or hang something decorative like a large metal star. It'll help balance the space visually.

Wow I really like the rendering done by Flair Lighting.. Creating a Portico will surely create a welcome front..

Glass lean too canopy covering deck?

I"m a painter, i think It may help you a little bit. Cheer

Metal welded art screen above door and Windows can accommodate a glass panel to serve as a weather hood....see the modern NW designs.

I agree that a Portico would do well to punch up the look of the front of your house.

Please! Did you do your project? I would love to see it!

not yet, we still have a tenant in it and I am struggling with moving from my McMansion....