Another pic of the length of the house before the front door was painted black...

I love the black door. It looks elegant/sophisticated. Are the shutters new too? You have an overhead light; maybe you could find an exterior hanging light? The metal columns look like they could be updated (or even removed?) I don't know; just throwing some thoughts out there. Where is all the snow?

Thanks, Maymo. I'm conflicted with the ironwork. It certainly is original to the house - 1963 - and I struggle with whether to keep some character from the house or to take it down and add a column. I took down a bunch of it that was drapped along the top, and kept the "columns" for now.

No snow in Texas! :)

Would you like the rails better if they were white? They'd work with the lines of the window nicely.

I'd get a new mailbox for the left side as well. Something larger and attractive.

What color were you thinking for the bench?

I like the door painted black - looks classic. Are the potted trees real? My feeling is they 'clutter' the space and could be moved somewhere else. Have you thought about planting a growing 'something' to creep up the "columns" first, before you permanently remove them? And one more question: you have house numbers at the curb, and again on the second step.....why would you further 'clutter' your space with more house numbers? ~ ~ As to the light fixture, maybe all you really need might be a larger flush fixture (keeping the area clean and clutter free) and just a simple black straight lined bench to the left of the door. And, yes, a hanging plant during 'floral' season would look colorful.

Gahhh!!! Don't you dare get rid of those wrought iron columns!

Fake panic attack aside, 1.) the wrought iron is period appropriate and, yes, does add original character, and 2.) the white (usually Tuscan) columns are so overdone. When we remodeled 2 years ago, I had planned to put in chunky white Tuscan columns, ended up with plain porch posts because of measurement issues, and now I'm glad I didn't go with the columns because everybody in my development who has remodeled their home is using the darn columns. Our neighborhood has gone from '70s cookie cutter to Early 21st Century cookie cutter.

Back to your porch, I think a big iron coach lamp to the left would look terrific. It would be partially hidden by the wrought iron when looking straight on, but from other views would be an elegant touch. Would wiring through the brick be a problem?

For numbers, what do you think of getting chic number tiles and tiling over the numbers on the step? A little landscape lighting to illuminate them at night would be lovely.
Some examples

Love the black door! I have one too :)

I would LOVE to see a classic, square white column on your porch. The clean-lined simple column would echo the strong vertical lines of the bay window.

BUT I would keep the wonderful ironwork and use it as trellis supports for clmbing roses on the far right-hand side of your house where the plants would get the sunlight.

Yes -- a black coachlight-style lamp would look great on the left-hand side of the door!

And perhaps add a larger black half-moon doormat?

As for the planters -- consider spray painting them black -- and then sit them on two square concrete paver stones on each side of the front step. Stack a couple of the pavers if you have to -- and hide them with creeping thyme. This change will visually expand the width of that step to the viewers eye. And the planters would be sitting "in front" of the two wrought iron columns. I do like the classic tall-and-tapered bush in the planters now -- but if you can find larger black plant pots -- then you could have the tall trees AND some bright seasonal items (like bright green potato vine)

If you add the column -- then switch to two square planters on each side of the bay window. Maybe large gray metal (looks like weathered gray metal) ones with tall trees (real or faux).

If there is lots of sunlight around the lower step(s) (in front of the sidewalk) -- consider adding a couple of herb gardens on each side -- perhaps add rosemary on each side?

Beautiful home and what a wonderful lot too with those trees!

I love the classic, black door also and think a coachlight would be perfect.Either mount the light on the left or hanging-provided you have enough clearance for the tall people:)

For the mailbox, what about something in nickel-similiar finish to your door hardware?

While I could certainly see solid posts on your porch, the iron work adds character. Unless they could be re-used, I wouldn't be getting rid of them.

As tracats mentioned, I would also suggest spraying your urns/pots in classic black...just some greenery and pops of color in the flowers.

The wrought iron is nice but not very visable, try spray painting them white, they will show up then, and your windows are white, so np...you have house numbers galore the mailman will not pass your house by...

HA HA about the house numbers. The funny thing is that the city has mandated us all to put house numbers on the actual house because emergency vehicles have trouble viewing them when cars are packed out front. I'm thinking I can get rid of oone of them somehow - sandblast it or something!

I like the idea of spraypainting the pots black and raising them or finding bigger, black pots. I was trying to add a pop of color, but it seems noone likes it - which is completely fine since that is why I seek feedback!

Rosemary's a good suggestion. The trailing stuff would look great on either side of the walk. It's evergreen and a perfect companion to annual flowers.

I like the red pots. I think black would be too much black up there. I do like the idea of them down on bricks like Teacats suggested.

I also like the curly metal supports. Those aren't boring to me. I think they add character.

I'd like to see a white wicker chair on the porch. Add a colorful cushion for a little oomph. To me, the bay window is the only thing white on your house. To me, something needs to balance or echo that...just a thought. Maybe you could do the bench in white or gray...

I don't mind the ironwork, but I don't love it. Is is structural, or just there for decoration? It doesn't appear to be structural, and it bothers me because it is not centered on the entry area or the stairs.

I think teacat's suggestion of taking them down and using them on the left between the two windows as a trellis is a great idea, tho I would paint them white.

If you decide to keep them where they are, I would paint them white. I wouldn't add columns - wrong for the house, imo.

I would prefer to see the porch open, if possible. A bench to the left of the door, house numbers in a decorative plaque above it. No coach light - wrong for the style and period of the house. I think the overhead light at the door is more effective, anyway.

I would also consider painting the sills on the windows in white to match the windows and other trim. I think it would give them more weight.

Once you get rid of the ironwork, I think the pots will work well. But they need some greenery hanging over the edges, to connect the vertical lines of the evergreens to the pot, and not have the gap. Perhaps the bench could have a cushion with some red in it as well.

Sometime I hope you might consider painting the front door a pretty eggplant or teal, or even a deep golden yellow color. It would be stunning. Then you could bring in the bench in white, with a colorful cushion in a sixties print with the door color, black from the shutters, and some white in it. At that point you might have to change the color of the pots to black.

Really great ideas. Thanks, everyone. Les917 - I never would have thought to paint the window sills, but I think you are right and that would be great.

I'll have to find out if the iron is weight-bearing - it might be. But I like the idea of using it as a trellis.

Regarding a bench, it seems everyone is voting for white over black. Do you think wood or iron?

I'll definitely add some trailing greenery in the pots and see about raising them.

I do love these house numbers from Restoration Hardware - perhaps you all would prefer something else.

Here is a link that might be useful: Restoration Hardware