Perhaps replacement of those high little windows would help. Something more like those that already exist in the house? At a much more reasonable height, of course.

I would replace the windows on the porch with a set of three large double hung ones that would give a more open feeling.

I would be up on the porch roof looking at what is under the corner pieces. I wonder if the house had gingerbread.

I agree with enlarging enclosed porch windows. Did the town historian have pictures of the house as it looked in the past?

Yep I vote for the 3 double hung centered on the outside

I love Hallett's suggestion. If you keep the front porch enclosed then adding a bank of windows like is shown in the photo should open the room up and provide a lot of visual relief to the front facade. The house might also benefit from some articulation including cornerboards. They may not have been original to the house but there's something about laced corner shingles that looks less than finished. Good luck!

Thank you! Great suggestions. I agree on everything especially the cornerboards. I see alot of older homes with wide cornerboards and it really elevates the look. What do you think about bringing the front door forward and having the entire porch enclosed but then adding windows all around?

I’m not sure about bringing the door forward unless you plan to add a covering/roof of some sort over it.

The porchlet is very small and unimpressive, though, now that you mention it. Those steps seem old and infirm and the green shrub on the left has got to go. Is the driveway on the left? If so, would it be valuable to add steps on that side too?

Don't bring the front door forward, you wouldn't gain any meaningful area in the house and you would lose the benefit of a covered entry (packages, guests on rainy days...) Maybe a new front door (I can't really see it) and better, wider steps (granite, brick...)

Besides the three windows, which should be the same dimensions as the second-story windows, add some interesting landscaping to that side of the house.

1215 NE THOMPSON ST, PORTLAND OR · More Info

Instead of enclosing what is left of the porch, (building codes permitting) consider creating a corner entry with steps on both front and side rather than just steps aimed toward the front of the house. But then, you do already have a side entry.

Do alter the roof over your porch / entry to make it higher than the enclosed part of the porch roof and make your portico a focal point of the front of your home

I agree don't enclose more of the porch. It is nice for visitors to come up to a landing rather than stand on steps.

But I would look into what is going on with the corners of the upper roof. Was it always shingles?

Couple more landscaped older homes:

@houssaon I am not sure if it was always shingles. We certainly want to reside and fix the trims/fascia etc. Also to see what is under those blocks on the corners. Hopefully some nice woodwork. We want to do cement board siding but not sure if we will do the cottage style shingles or clapboard. Thoughts? Would you change the window style? Maybe like a craftsman style with vertical upper grilles?

Thanks @housegal200 those houses look great.

@Elaine Doremus Resumes Written Thanks for your comment. Unfortunately we were not able to find any images of the home from the past. I was hoping some folks on Houzz might be able to tell what style it originally was or at least give some good direction on how to we can restore it. For example I think the roof line may have originally gone straight back, instead of the second pitched section of the roof you can see on the left side. I apologize - I know I am not using the correct terminology! The home also has cheap vinyl replacement windows, so I would like to one day replace them. Maybe the anderson craftsman or farmhouse line? I wonder if we would change the scale of the windows at all...

P.S.: Depending on the use of the space indoors, I do like the glass all the way across the front wall. That could be a lovely room depending on your need for privacy on that side.

@housegal200 Would you do windows on the sides as well?

That's a better question for Hallett. Personally, a glassed-in room with windows on two sides, would extend your living or dining room and made a great place to entertain, have parties, or a play/party space for children, solarium, etc. Many people actually add on rooms like that, and you're practically there already. Why don't you create an Ideabook for "sunrooms?" BTW, you probably need a permit for any exterior alterations like adding on windows.

Hard to say without seeing the spaces. It would look nicer from the outside to have glass on all three sides especially since the front door wouldn’t seem so cramped.

I agree it would look nicer from the outside with more glass. We do already have a sunroom on the other side of the home which overlooks a pond. This front room is super close to the street so the view from inside wouldn't be nice. We actually wanted to make this room a full bath as currently the home has 1.5 baths but the half bath is off the kitchen and we want to turn that one into a pantry/mudroom since its awkward being off the kitchen and we wouldn't have enough space to add a shower anyhow - not that we would want to. This front room sits off a living room area. So adding all the windows might be unusual but nothing some window treatments couldn't cure!