Here's the front porch with the new porch light:My brother Kevin bought the red mailbox in Palm Springs the last time we were there - it is difficult to find interesting mailboxes, but I think this one is okay. The porch light is new, and I bought it and installed it temporarily before the painters started because I wanted to get it fitted in first. It is from Kuna, but I bought it at Lowe's, and it was the first one (and only one) I found that has LED lamping and motion detection with a modern design that I found acceptable. It's not the greatest or most interesting design, but I am okay with it, and it is infinitely better than what we had before (see photo way above). This sconce does much more, however, and I have decided that I like the added features. First, it has an additional security camera that only starts recording when someone approaches the door, and it makes a doorbell sound outside as well as on my phone to let me know that someone is at the door. I also see the photo/video of the person on my phone. The other two security camera that we have are hardwired to a screen just inside the door, and these cameras start recording when a moth flies by or when a cat walks on our driveway, and so they are a bit too sensitive, but I think I might be able to adjust that. The old security cameras are not equipped with WiFi (I didn't have a Smartphone when we got them), but the video screen does have a memory stick that saves the videos, although we have to take it out and download whatever we want to keep. The video screen also has an intercom so that I can talk to someone at the door if I want to, whereas the light does not. We used to have a clear window in our old door, but when we got the new door, we had to get the security cameras so that we could see who was on the front porch without opening the door. We've not had any Jehova's Witnesses visit us since we put up the security cameras. I don't like the look of the security cameras, but I am pretty much stuck with them.

One other thought about window treatments -- if the idea is to introduce lots of light colored material onto the surfaces of the space to brighten it, then one strategy could be to use curtains that extend way past the window trim, covering more of the wall than usual. Typically the recommendation seems to be for drapes to extend 6-12 inches on either side of a window, but if you bent that "rule" and went a bit past the 12 inch mark, maybe the Houzz police would give you a pass! For the big three window bank, for example, I'd probably extend the curtain to the halfway point between the window edge and the wall and start the rod well above the window towards the ceiling. From the photo, it appears that there are sconces with the wiremold metal covering at the window edge, so you'd need to take that into account somehow. I might use shades at the windows for any times when you want to cover the windows and fabric sidepanel drapes from the sconce towards the corner, which would simply be decorative and never actually close over the windowglass. Curtain rods are made specifically for that kind of window treatment (see first photo).

"Value" is often in the eye of the beholder as is art. Especially when the beholder is the homeowner or potential buyer. There are things that an appraiser will deem to be of value based upon square footage that a homeowner or potential buyer may consider less or even more valuable, depending upon how it will be used and/or the immediate need. A size appropriate front porch -- such as would likely be on a site built home of the same size and style (rather than the bare minimum required by code to exit from a trailer park trailer) -- could add more value than an appraiser might assign to it. A well built garage could well add value, especially if appropriately placed and its appearance melds well with the home and landscaping. You wouldn't want to block a great view or desirable sunlight but having it close enough to be useful for the intended purposes -- and not just parking cars -- can matter. A sheltered breezeway between house and garage can double as a porch or patio, whether that breezeway links to the garage attic or the garage itself if the structure were built on a nearby slope and the homeowner had no difficulty climbing the stairs. Even the shape of the driveway and how it links home and garage and road and provide parking space can affect curb appeal -- important to attracting potential buyers. Outlining a gravel driveway with landscaping posts and/or pavers ( placed with their tops at ground level) and/or low growing plants can make the yard and driveway much easier to maintain as well as make it visually more appealing -- yet an appraiser may not even decide the considerable investment in gravel is noteworthy. Unless a homeowner is intending to sell in the foreseeable future, it would be better to have any project contemplated be done to suit the likes and wants and needs of the home owner.

Your house will never look elaborate. But that's ok. Simple is good. Yes, embrace your house for what it is -- a small, simple, neat home. As others have said, trying to make it something it isn't will only backfire on you. Bigger and fancier isn't better; often I see a bloated, overly complex house on this site and think, "Someone actually built that -- and thinks it looks good." You're starting with something solid and basic ... and you can make it a standout house. If this house were painted a nice color and surrounded by lovely trees and plantings, it would look entirely different. What I'd do to your house: - The simple shape is good, but the color is dull. Paint it blue, yellow or sage green ... do not go white or gray; you need a color that'll bring in personality. Your roof color is simple and can support any of these colors. - Avoid shakes, as they are high maintenance and their color will fade over time. - Paint the porch white. - The white front door is kinda invisible ... so choose a color to accent the new house color. - I see two sad brown chairs hiding on your brown porch ... paint them a colorful shade to match the house color (not white, make them stand out from the porch). They look kinda large for the small porch ... consider smaller chairs and a tiny table to hold a cold drink and a pretty plant. But, at every turn, color. - Once the painting is done, reevaluate the shutters ... I'm not sure what to say about them at the moment. One school of thought is to keep them black to match the roof, but (once the color is done), you might opt to remove them or paint them white? Unsure. - Do you have a light on your porch? I can't see it. Add a lantern-style lamp ... most people make their porch lights too small. On a porch this size, you'll probably only have one light, so make it 1/4-1/3 the height of your door. - Finally add your house number above the porch. - Have a landscaper come out and develop a plan with you ... accept that this will take years to "grow into". Treat yourself to some bright, colorful annuals that'll give you an instant pop of color and a hanging basket of colorful flowers on the porch ... but put most of your effort into things that'll last /take little effort over the years: a couple trees, foundation bushes, a row of hostas around your walkway. Include a birdbath. - Add a solar-powered light on a post near the driveway end of the pathway ... this plus the porch light will look welcoming at night. - When Christmas is over and the wreaths come down, keep a seasonal wreath on your door ... but make it a little larger than the one on your door now. The wreaths on your windows are great.