I’m buying this house eventhough I’m not thrilled with the exterior and because of that I was on the fence for a long time. The floor plan is perfect and overall quality is quite superior. It seats on a 25 acre wooded lot yet close to everything in the middle of the town. I also have to update kitchen and bathrooms. I sure have my work cutout. But it’s a unique property. I can’t/ shouldn’t change the “cottage” style but perhaps a flair of “modern English cottage”?

Start with a glass shop. New hardware might require filling in old screw holes. The door can be painted but preparation for repainting is paramount. i suggest you trace the outline, make several photocopies, and add different hardware shapes and color to help visualize.

Congratulations on your new home! Much will depend on your budget. Focusing on your front door area... If a new front door isn’t yet possible, your best bet is paint. In a happy, vibrant color. Blue, Green, Orange, etc. Something that is happy! If a new door is a possibility, I would lean towards something that is either a natural wood or has a mid century modern look. I would choose a larger light for your entrance, too. Your home reads “modern” to me...so I would look at those with a contemporary look. A fun mat for your entrance would be nice. A brightly colored ceramic pot that you can plant with seasonal flowers would be nice, and if there is room, a cute bench, too. All of these cosmetic things can be inexpensive. A bigger budget would include a new garage door with windows. Again, look at those with a mid century appearance. In the years ahead....you will probably need to paint your home. But...that is for the future! Good luck in your new home. And...enjoy the journey!

If you scrape off a bit of the window trim, what are the paint colors underneath? As for the wood siding that has darkened with time, consult a local paint company to see what they recommend for renewing the stain or painting over it. There are areas you can brighten up without painting the siding. For example, you can paint the windows and their trim and the underside of the soffit in light beige, sage green, red brick colors. Put some masking tape up around the windows to see if you like beige.