IMHO, the way to cure a houses identity crisis is not fight it, but let it be what it is! Which in your case is a handsome solid-looking midcentury modern... or lets say within the genre anyway, if not a prime circa 1959 specimen. Definitely has that cool ranchy kind of look and a lot of current fabrics, doors, furnishings, color palettes etc are straight out of MCM which means they would fit right in with your house. Not that you want to go over the top with making it into a time capsule or shrine to MCM style, but just let it influence/inspire your choices. This door fer instance : http://www.homedepot.com/p/Builder-s-Choice-36-in-x-80-in-Atlantis-3-Lite-Clear-Glass-Painted-Fiberglass-Prehung-Front-Door-with-Brickmould-HDX162460/204843729?&cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|B|0|B-BASE-D30+Doors|&mid=ex1mxG05|dc_mtid_8903vry57826_pcrid_73667292101367_pkw__pmt__ Sorry, but adding early 1900s craftsman brackets and other elements would add to an identity crisis, not cure it .... As for color, people were not afraid of color then! OK, so you might not want to go vibrant brick red, or avocado green, or chocolate brown but even if you prefer something more contemporary, ie really grayed out or neutral, at least go darker and richer to give it a more solid look as well as fit in better with your beautiful woodsy natural setting. Re symmetry, agree its not necessary..... but it should and I think does have a well balanced look. as I recall from (long ago) design courses there is formal balance and informal balance - both are good, and again I would just go with the original design intention.... if it works, why mess with success? The garage on left nicely balances window arrangement on the right, IMHO.

Here are a few options. I would remove the shrubs in front of the bottom windows and add something taller in the center. I would also limb up the tree on the right to reveal move of your house. Eliminate the storm door and modernize the front door. I really like the darker taupe and the cedar color at the top. With a dark roof (charcoal, not black) and the wood piece over the garage door stained to match and the modern front door, I think it would completely change the look of the house. Don't do contrasting corner blocks, make everything the same color to keep from chopping up the house. Does your siding need to be replaced or will a good paint job do the trick? If you're going to replace it, use the same wide size in a Hardi plank. You won't be doing the house any favors if you replace nice, wide siding with chintzy 5" vinyl. Power wash the concrete step, add a tall black planter and modern coach lights. Hope this helps!

Looking at the picture of your parent's house again, I'd embrace the design and the contrast between the logs and other elements. A good power washing and restaining of the beams and deck, perhaps a newer deck railing design with tensioned cable railing, a more modern door style ("crossbuck does not relate IMO to the house) and some exterior light fixtures that continue the modern look as opposed to the too small colonial-esque ones there now. I'd also address that HUGE roof load on the skinny little posts. They look oddly and maybe dangerously undersized even with the cantilevered beam at the peak.

decoenthusiaste The door is steel by I want to replace it completely because it is very drafty and load of cold come in the house in the winter so we could go anything here. Do your top panels snap out for windows? You mean the garage? It will be nice, they dont right now but it is an idea I could keep for the future and replace the door. The fence is already there I'll add some pictures. It frames the back yard and its been weathered wood since 2005 :/ The tree is a crab apple, you are right that I need to change the landscaping, it is something I haven't thought about yet (so many things!) I loved those pictures with the day lilies the do very well in our climate, diverse the bed a little with different types of flowers. I will trim the tree and take it off the ground for sure. Thank you so much for all the ideas!! And these are the color I was considering to stain the fence: Which one do you like?