I have a pretty good idea of the price of windows. 8k cheap - 20k mid/expensive. And the roof would be about 7k shingles and (not entirely sure yet) but I think around 10-11k metal. Gutters will be what we put into them. But we need and will use windows and a new roof and a painted house. I mean, it will take a while to pay back in heating costs, but in the winter sitting by the front window, there is a gusty cold zone. And I'm in a mid-atlantic area, I'm not going to start covering my windows in plastic like my VT relatives! But the porch would just be cosmetic unless we actually put enough into it that we would actually use it. Heating, cooling, more windows, bug protection, lighting, finishes. And I'd rather have that someday in the far future if we ever choose to invest in it in the back of the house which is very private. Believe me, I know, before we even closed I had mocked up this but we tabled the idea after much discussion: And the typical simple extended porch you'd see with with a colonial doesn't excite me either. Sure it might not be that expensive, but why should I invest in turning 'bleh' (to me) into 'that's ok.' I'd rather invest in something I really like. I'm not investing in curb appeal for future buyers, but in my own home satisfaction.

Very pretty houses, Daina. Good luck with your move : ) . I think your new house is new enough (1980) and fairly general enough on the inside that I would at least try your old furniture and see how it works. Your beautiful rugs would certainly work well in the new house. The previous occupants' furnishings aren't particularly traditional and yet their things aren't a terrible mismatch for the house. I would just paint out the chair rail rather than remove it. And I would not use similar window treatments from your old house in the new house. I'd go with simple curtains, two panels at each window. If you look at this Martha Stewart feature of an 1852 South Carolina Colonial with more original, traditional features than your house, you'll see that pretty much anything can go : ) , https://www.marthastewart.com/275306/home-tour-bold-southern-colonial

Hi. I've reproduced your room in a 3D build to help you visualize in a better way. To maintain a foot flow I have centered the sofa facing each other. You can add one or more swivel chairs which you can tuck away or corner them when not in use. Mounted tv on a wooden panel opposite the fireplace. This way it serves as a family room as well as an entertainment room. Perfect for a winter evening when it's too chilly to leave the fireplace but also wouldn't miss your favorite show. If you can get rid of the piano, you can place two chairs and a bookshelf and create a little reading space. Let me know if you would want me to work on more layouts. Always happy to help!

If you don't keep the windows true to the style of the house, it will always jar the sensibilities. It will look like a four year old who dressed herself in a baseball shirt and party sparkle ballerina skirt with fireman's boots.