More and more people here in Austin are building with brick and leaving it natural, and I love the look. I agree with removing the shutters. What about black trim and then landscaping. That should be a big update with not a ton of $$$. These pictures are pretty grand homes but the idea is the same. (This architect if you want to see more: https://cuppettarchitects.com/portfolio)

I’d definitely let the stone go. I’d start with adding a huge wrap around porch. Front and side. This will help mask the jut out in the front I hope. I’d probably white wash the brick. I think I see some more brick on the floor lol. I’d use that for a walkway from the porch. New front door. And I’d add French doors along the porch wherever the interior allowed. I agree with the above to add more brick wherever you can Lots of potential here!!!

Thanks for all the great advice. Here's what we are thinking: -Go with the blue tones/cedar look with white trim -Replace the single front door/small window with a larger cedar door unit that has windows on either side. -Remove the brick/stucco and do hardie plank for the whole front of the house with stone around the garage -Trim the big front windows as one with trim between and one trim piece running all the way along the top and bottom. -build out the pillar and change that to the natural cedar look on top with stone on the bottom -Definitely get rid of the shutters! We would love to enlarge those windows as well but I'm not sure that we are going to tackle that job with this project. I'm hoping to do a major overhaul of the landscaping as well.

First, pop those arch details out of the garage windows if they're removable. Then remove the shutters and the arched vent in the gable. If it is functional change to a rectangular one so you're repeating more of the modern elements on your home. Whatever you decide on the porch, the steps need to come out toward the street, and all your lanterns should be 1/3 of the front door's height. Upgrade the door from a builder's special to something with more glass and more of a modern vibe. Since the present gable on the left has such a low pitch and is so close to the front door, you may be better off to install a pergola rather than a gable over the new porch. It can extend all the way over the bay window and can be as deep as you want. Steps at the end of it by the garage will allow entry/exit from the drive when needed. The fence is a bit too colonial in style to me. Can you remove it? The landscaping seems a bit sparse; beef that up for a big impact on curb appeal. What color are you thinking for the siding? If replacing it, look into James Hardie pre-painted siding.