You may want to try Scott's Wood Wash, I've cleaned the wooden hand rail and my kitchen cabinets and it seems to work well. I sprayed it on a microfiber cloth and then dried with another microfiber. It seems to clean well with no residue. I had to go to Lowe's to get it. It doesn't seem as readily available as the Scott's Protector.

I can visually see your concern, but honestly, I think the high number of them, make up for the individual size. Because you have more than just 2 ...aka one on each outer corner, I think they are structurally fine. If you want to 'beef' them up at the base, you might do so with some landscaping tricks? Such as a nice shrub on each corner or some iron planters? or cement pots with attractive flowing green ferns spilling out from them? Certainly you could also do some faux stone or brick bases on the lower 3 feet of each of them, boxing them in? I say 3 feet, there is likely a rule on what the standard should be. I would look for some gray tone bricks or stone. ? If that is just not your look, than perhaps you would enjoy a porch railing either just on the opposite side, that is, the outer 'wall' of the new porch, or perhaps on both sides and just leaving an opening between the 3 center posts in front? A railing from the wood matching your posts would be gorgeous. Or you could do it with black painted vertical wrought iron, or a rail style with 3 horizontal lines from post to post, except for the gap at the front to the left and right of center..., or white painted to mimic a picket fence since you have white windows & entry door..... Than find you something pretty to place in front of each of the 3 center posts, that are missing the porch railing, such as that trimmed bush, miniature evergreen? or even a lantern/downlight mounted on each of the 3 porch posts to welcome guests in the twilight/evening.. And like Sophie, I hope your home roof does not have any problems with the addition of the structure. Keep us posted!

Cutest house!! Love it!! I agree with the Above to have the columns painted all white. Do a more decorative door mat. Maybe put all four chairs on one side of the porch. And on the other side maybe do a swing. ..... You can add outdoor rugs. Maybe paint the porch ceiling. Cushions. Pillows on the swing. Maybe planters on the sides of the porch. (With some more color...) I think I’d look to add blues and whites. Think stripes. Light calm pretty colors. Gorgeous space!!

The first idea is a new door. sorry, but that arched builder basic door has no business on this style home. you need more of a mcm type of door. Look on craigslist or something similar, people are often trying to unload original doors. Then paint it that same blue tone, but w/a bit more gray Like this one. (and if you gave me a bigger picture to work with, I could photoshop it w/other things) you can barely see, but I gave you modern numbers, a chair, potted plant, some turquoise color pots in the flower bed, and you need to plant something in the bed under the big window, even if it;s just like this here's one w/a walnut color wood door If you planted something tall in the flower bed to the left of the window (towards the left side) it would eat up some of that vertical space. here's the items I photoshopped onto your picture Paint your porch black or a dark charcoal color. I'd even do the trim of you home in that color Kendall Charcoal. looks great w/your brick color