Are the changes for selling or are you going to live there? I would change the posts to white square columns and add a railing all around. OR can the porch roof be removed and the porch constructed to go across the entire front of the house? Powerwash the siding, paint the 2 doors a fun color

We're keeping it. I know white would look great but it gets so dirty. The front door is already yellow. I'm considering wood stained posts/railings and shutters. Here's an example:

Sorry for your lost. The shutters are all wrong size in your inspiration pic. They should be wider.

You can paint vinyl - it takes paint well. What colors do you like? Look around Houzz for some house color combos you like. Agree with a wood railing, and beefy box the metal supports.

Your inspiration

I'd want to get some trees planted asap between me and that road.

@Celery. Visualization, Rendering images how can I do that?

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK if you're referring to the right side of the house that's not a road. The house is next to a highway/bridge. I attached the pic for reference.

It was the elevated highway I was referring to. That's a road in my book. I'd be very concerned about noise and pollution.

I doubt the OP can do any about the road. She inherited the house fro her dad, who recently passed, and is doing the best she can with what she has available. Yardvark and celerygirl have posted some wonderful ideas.

If there is any land belonging to the OP on the right side of the house, something can certainly be planted to screen off the elevated highway!! That to me is far more of a distraction to the appearance of the property than any outdated porch or need for shutters!!

And as Yard has noted, those walkways need attention. They need to be wider and what is the point of one ending in the middle of nowhere? Walkways need to have destination, not just end in the middle of a lawn :-)

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK house was built in 1948 and my parents bought it in 1971. Yes, there is lots of noise from the highway at the back of the house but after all these years we have definitely grown used to it. I barely notice it. Lol

I've read the whole thread and do understand the back story. But I honestly would think long and hard about hanging on to a house in that position. However many plants you put around it it's still practically underneath a highway. From a health and well being point of view I would really not want to live there. It's not just noise. Have you ever had the air monitored? There's nothing to be done about the road, other than tree planting. But something can be done about the house. I wouldn't spend any more money on it. I'd try and sell it.

So what is the rationale for spending money on and keeping a house which nobody lives in and is a distance from your home? I'm not understanding this at all.

Yardvaark and Celery Girl have offered some excellent ideas. I agree that planting a few larger trees would help visually eliminate the large highway overhead, and would add some character to your home. I'm so sorry for your loss. It is a wonderful idea to update your childhood home.

This is a design forum. It is not necessary or, perhaps, even appropriate, to be privy to the motivation of those posting here.

Good luck with your project.

You guys suggestions are bringing back memories I had forgotten about. We actually had quite a few trees around the house growing up. Between hurricanes and powerlines they had to be cut down. We had at least 3 or 4 fruit trees on the bridge side, a fig tree in the back yard and 2 big trees in the front yard. I'm definitely going to plant some trees!

As for the sidewalk, every yard on the street is that way. Most people have gates that start at the sidewalk. It was that way before I was born so I don't know the rational.

ETA: apparently there are gas lines (I assume what the yellow flags mean) under the area near the street hence the sidewalks starting so far back.