The big bushes on either side of the entry need to go, the shutters also. A front door that suits the house and thena walkway from the street to the front door and some nice landscaping.

Keep the shutters. They add interest and charm.

Agree -- emphasize the front entrance with color, landscaping, etc. I wouldn't mess with the brick, though, as most tweaks will only make it higher-maintenance. Brick looks nice; too bad the new roof is as brown as the last...

You might consider replacing the subdivided front window with a single large pane, which would look cleaner and more modern too.

Nice house and setting! Agree with Patricia on the shutters and landscaping. If you keep the shutters, at least remove the ones on the large window. Paint the remaining shutters black, and keep your white trim and door. Your brick is classic with white and black. The attached pic is a good example, even though a different style house. However, this one has a gray roof which is easy to work with.

I would get a professional landscaping/hardscaping plan and implement it as the budget allows. I would paint the shutters a dark red and get some pretty window treatments for the large window.

What great suggestions!!!! I like the idea of getting rid of the shutters, didn’t even think of that. And yes, a walkway to the front door would make a huge difference. I love it!

With your new brown roof, I would add some wood elements (front door, bench). Large porch lights. Widen the path to the front door and add landscape.

Ok, I LOVE the wood front door look and the added front patio space! We spent all weekend working to clear the stuff along the front. It’s coming along....but whew, a lot of work!

Fantastic job. If your window frames can be painted, you could go for dark brown or black.

This house won't take much to look great. I'd spend most of the budget on a dynamite front door. Remove the shutters, work on a patio for the front. You can get away with a couple of knockout specimen plants here.

I agree about emphasizing the entryway. Possibly add a pergola (classic) plus landscaping to compliment. A porch if you prefer traditional styling. To change the super straight lines of the front elevation would be great. Segue into a bench or porch swing with potted plants, a softening effect . ‘ Welcoming ‘is the key ingredient/word we are looking for! Not that difficult or costly. May end up as a hangout spot!

You guys have been enormously helpful! The front entry is our priority; I’m really loving the look with the upgraded, emphasized front door. The ideas are awesome!

I widened the two lower steps, gave you a new concrete pad with wide concrete steps to the driveway, two red yuccas on the left and a mass planting of ophiopogon japonicus between the pad and the house.

With bronze windows:

all of these suggestions have given me tons of ideas. I'm on the hunt for the right foundation plants to start; and then as our budget allows, we will work on the walkway and door upgrades.

Aren't you going to create a plan first?

Yes. I've saved all the suggestion pictures. My husband and I are going to sit down and try to draw out what we are thinking for the landscaping (location, colors, etc). I'd like to lay it out so that it's ready for the addition of the walkway. We aren't going to be able to replace the front door at the moment. Is paint a terrible idea for a short-term upgrade? If paint is an option, what are your thoughts on paint color for the door? And the shutters....I'm not 100% sold on removing them (we are in south Ga so the shutters keep the southern feel). If we keep shutters, do you have a suggestion on color? I want the front of the house to really pop.

Holy cow, Doug -- I LOVE THAT. Like, love everything about it.

If you are just going to paint the front door for now, and you like the wooden door samples above, paint it a wood color.

I would paint the window trim a bright white and go with a brighter teal/green for the shutters. The forest green among all the trees and shrubs gets lost. And I agree that some landscaping to break up the lawn a bit would be more visually interesting and provide some color. Get some low maintenance flowering perennial shrubs, like azalea, hydrangea, or rhododendron to give you some pretty hot pinks and blues.