Thank you for the feedback! We definitely have plans to make the trim around the windows thicker and painted white. We know shutters aren't technically correct because they would be too small and obviously not functional, but there is just so much beige vinyl we wanted find a way to cover up as much as possible!

the problem with eliminating the decking the connects the porches with the front of the house is that we use the front porch a lot and enter the house there frequently.. so it would be strange not to have decking connecting the front porch and front door. i like the idea of eliminating the railing at the front of the house where its not needes though, and landscaping is happening we were just waiting to start that until the porch is redone so we arent tearing landscape out!

Nice house. You might consider adding an actual porch 6' deep (viewed from the driveway side) that is not in a dark hole crowding the front door. either by adding a flat or nearly flat roof porch alongside the right wing of the house (just beneath the gutter) all the way to the front exterior wall of the house -- and have the overhang end/corner "meet" (-- end at the level with ) the overhang end/corner on the left now over the front stoop. or by extending the roof on the left side of the right wing of the house but at an angle that will have the outer/overhang corner of it meet the outer overhang corner of the current stoop roof in order to create that porch. That way you can clear space at the front door and still use the sidewalk you have to reach the driveway but add your seating (a bench and table and plant(s)) on the porch. Then add a shrub at the front end of the porch that keeps its leaves and looks good year round for privacy. In lieu of multiple chairs crowding the front door, one bench for removing storing yard work dirty shoes might be practical if you don't have a porch or mud room in the back for that. https://www.amazon.com/Homemaid-Living-Organizer-Entryway-Bathroom/dp/B0857HJV7X/ref=asc_df_B0857HJV7X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=416693554689&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16497175119373741035&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011062&hvtargid=pla-910418360585&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=97671764327&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=416693554689&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16497175119373741035&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011062&hvtargid=pla-910418360585

Find a window that is near the size of those in the dormers. It also needs to match the number of panes (6) in the dormer windows. You don't need to mirror the dormers only the windows in them. You need a carpenter to cut a hole in the garage gable for the window, then place framing for the window on the interior of the cutout. The window is put in place, secured and trim to match the rest of the house is cut and fitted to the outside. Adding a vent uses the same cut and frame, but doesn't require matching other features unless you have other gable vents that you wish to match. Vents are made in square, rectangular, triangular, round, half round, arched and octagonal shapes. They should have metal screen or hardware cloth on the inside to keep small birds and such from getting into attic space. This can be added if not part of the vent as sold.