Sorry, millworkman. live_wire_oak- It seems we have no code enforcement here. Inspectors cleared this house before we bought it. We found extension cords plugged in together that were wrapped with duct tape BEHIND sheetrock walls. We found we had to put most of our money on fixing the issues the inspector didn't catch. How can they catch them when the issues are inside the wall and ceilings? Yes, we have 4 picture windows in a bedroom and no operable windows, but we do have one door for egress to the patio. So we have put in 3 beams, rewired the house, 2 new heat & air units, rewired electrical in the pool, gutted the kitchen, sheetrocked walls and ceilings, 18 pine trees cut down before they fell on the house, new dock floats, rewired dock, new walkway to dock. So there is no money left for siding. I agree with you that it should be replaced, but the corp of engineers thought the dock was more important.... $12,000 for that. I just don't understand why no one follows codes around here. (220 on the dock???? Seriously?) Weedyacres, I agree with the wall of windows! We love the views, but we need to be able to open windows. I don't want to lose the view which is why I don't know what to do. Shorter windows with clear view, french doors, or tilt and turn doors. I think keeping the view with large doors would be best. I am trying to find Tilt and Turn doors locally so I don't spend $1000.00 on shipping from Canada. They would open for a breeze and still show the view, don't you think? Annz, I am still learning how to put pics on and all that other stuff. I tried the help section but couldn't figure out how to link. I have only lived with sliding windows once...in the 1970s...hated them. I always had to lift them up to slide them open or closed. I assume they are much better now though. Do yours slide really easily? Do they have better ways to keep people from just popping the door out? Do you remember what brand you bought? Do French doors only open so far, then stop? I just assumed they would open all the way to the wall. SouthernCanuck, There are no structural engineers here. We tried to get architects and structural engineers to come out a year ago, but no one would. We are in the middle of nowhere! Our contractor who put in the beams and tore the stairs out and replaced them (to code) said there was a beam going across the outside wall and there are 6" square posts in 3 places under the beams. (It was an outside porch.) That is where the picture windows are. So we have to keep the windows separate. All of you have given me a lot to think about...and sliders were not even on my radar. We just do not have good quality products here where I live. I will drive a couple of hours next weekend to look at sliders and see how they perform. Thank you to everyone! Peke

My main thought is to paint the garage door a dark, complementary color. Right now it sticks out like a sore thumb and dominates the facade.

Agree, there is no need for construction. Paint the gable, columns and garage doors the same gray as the roof. Don't add decoration to the gable. You want to de-emphasize it. Remove the green shutters. Paint the front door and the wood around it black. Remove the overgrown tree and unattractively shaped shrubs between the garage and the front porch. Use landscaping to direct the eye to the front area by adding more attractive evergreen shrubbery in front of the porch and along the front walkway. Add some brighter decor items on your porch to further focus the attention lower down and at the door e.g. bench cushions and a large planter pot in a color that complements the brick e.g. blue. The white paint on your garage doors and gable draws the eye, and you end up looking back and forth between the garage and the gable - it's almost unsettling. It makes your house look ill-proportioned, and it really isn't. For an attractive look you really want people's gaze to be drawn to the front door and keep the focus there.

I like your new door. You have a range of colors you could paint it. Is your house all siding or brick? Are the window frames wood that could be painted? I would take down the shutters. Some of the windows are just wrong plus the shutters are so pale you can hardly see them.