Taking Erinsean's idea about adding drywall to the front of the hearth, here are a couple more ideas. I have kept your existing wall decor, but there are certainly other options there as the wall becomes more of a normal backdrop. Here's how it might look if you drywall over the stones and the face of the hearth and then grey was the hearth and put some slate around the opening with a white mantel surround and our Carolina Window Pane Fireplace Door. To achieve this look you would need to float the fireplace opening out with bricks before installing the slate. Here's the same concept without the slate and mantel just using our Legend Fireplace Door with Custom Tuscan Leaf Surround. You cannot use drywall right up to the fireplace opening because it is combustible, so you would need to float the fireplace opening out with bricks and then plaster over the bricks to finish flush with the drywall. Bit of a challenge, but doable. Hansen Wholesale specializes in Custom Fireplace Doors.

In lieu of a totally black roof, you might consider shades of dark gray and black mix of shingles -- it would show stains less and some trees do drop sap and there are black streaks on the red roof already. As you consider the landscaping, know what the bushes in the yard are and the appropriate way and time of year to trim or move any you intend to keep -- it may be the at some could be moved during the right time of year. To me, having bushes that bloom is far better than the back breaking work of tending a flower bed. I also tend to plant them in rows to make it easier to mow around them. (That grass could use a feed and seed). If you are going to be doing any electrical updating, see if the wires providing power, etc., to the house can be put underground -- and do make a point of knowing where any/all underground utility wires and pipes are located before digging. Before deciding on all horizontal siding, you might consider variations: a combination of vertical downstairs and horizontal upstairs -- or vise versa; alternately, horizontal on the two story and vertical on the single story -- or vise versa. Before you buy this house, pay attention to what side is north, south, east and west and what side has and doesn't have windows. It seems unusual that there are no windows on the two story part of the house overlooking the entry sidewalk, not even upstairs where privacy would not be an issue.

I think your idea about dark grey is a good one. Something to pick up the tones in the stone. The house is great. It sits beautifully on the lot. I'd keep the door in the same color range. It seems to pick some of the warm tones in the stone.

@kjr0625 - before you change things, have an architect design the changes and create some renderings. I fear that removing the vertical lines will make that front look really boring and sparse, and it's worth the extra money to be able to really see how it's going to look before you actually do it. Personally, I think those lines are the best feature of that house and I would love to see it preserved. An architect could help you come up with other ideas that might make you happy. Of course it's your home so you should feel free to do what you want! @Patricia Colwell It also in not MCM but a great example of a 80's contemporary house stay true to that era for sure. It definitely captures the MCM spirit for sure though. I happen to love these, even when they do lean more 70s/80s!