IMO bay windows do not belong in MCM . BTW either do shutters If you have a good budget you could use this as inspiration but it really requires a lot of redo especially the gables . Please let us know what the bidget is then I for one can be more realistic. I have a 1950s MCM ranch and I just love the whole idea of this style of house so I get excired when people want to honor that style.

The previous owners "improved" all the character out of the house. Very little of the good mid century stuff is left, and most of what they did has to be removed because it's awful and/or nicotine-saturated. I have hardwood floors, and that's about it. I don't mind replacing the bay window, but with what? Keep the glassed-in porch or not? I agree that the shutters should go. There aren't too many terrible ideas they didn't impose there.

If the enclosed porch gives you needed living space I would keep it. If you do keep it eliminating the bay and replacing with new double doors makes sense. However, if you are currently satisfied with the entrance into the enclosure I would suggest removing the bay and replacing it with wall to match. That will give you more wall space and perhaps a larger area for furniture and artwork. Good luck!

Realistically, we can probably only spend $5,000-$8,000 on this. The enclosed porch is an absolute hack job--those are a series of sliding glass doors around the porch, and they removed the proper front door, leaving a glass storm door as the only door into the living room from this space. It faces south, but the porch roof blocks light coming through the big window. We will have the roof done in a couple of years, and plan to add a skylight at that time, though, so light isn't the first priority with this project (there are also two huge north-facing windows on the other side of the living room). The steps are a safety hazard, and this isn't really a usable entrance at all. We just use the back door right now. One project at a time! We don't really need this street-facing room for living space, although it would be pleasant to have it usable.

Do you need the interior square footage? If not I mighty say to just scrap it and make this a non closed in porch. Can you show us the bay window from inside? I just think this may turn into a bigger project that you want if you start adding French doors and what not. I LOVE French doors. Don’t get me wrong. I just think you’d need to insulate and make this glass room a real functional room and part of the house to add French doors. And then you’d need to add a porch for the doors to lead to...

Thanks for all the helpful comments so far. Here's a picture of the (truly awful) "bay" window.

You don’t say what your location is so don’t know if south facing front is a heat problem in summer. But, if the porch is a hack job as you said, is tear down & redo for an open front porch & entry that better matches house an option? This would mean removal of bay window that you’re not crazy about & which doesn’t match house & replacing with original picture type window, new front door, new cement steps. You might then be able to remove the exterior wiring for porch light if the one at original door exists. Either way, something needs to be done about the exterior wiring going up side of brick.

Really more of a bow window... yes not very interesting. I find glassed in porches rarely make nice spaces, they are usually an awkward space, too cold in winter, stuffy in summer. I would budget for a new front door (the best you can afford with the best hardware you can afford) two double hung windows to replace the bay, and demo the porch.

Sorry, demo the glass panels leaving the roof etc!

Agreed. I’d pull it down. Replace the windows and then update the rest of the exterior. Slowly obvious and what you are able to do at a time.
I’m envisioning a really cute space. I think this house is sooo cute and cozy and has so much potential!! Can’t wait to follow along

That's a horrible looking front entry to your home. Agree with all Hallett & Co's suggestions

Absolutely take down that porch. It's an eyesore. Instead, create a flagstone and brick front entryway, get a new door, get a landscaping design, replace the light fixture, add some great house numerals, remove the shutters, and paint all trim and siding in a gray that echoes the roof.

The middle and right side of this house might give you an idea of an upgraded front entryway.

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Stone and brick entryway

Traditional Landscape Renovation - Whitefish Bay, WI · More Info

Slate with brick; dark trim coordinated with roof

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Brick entryway with blue door (just for color not style)

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To re-do that area now and re-do the steps and make-shift front door may cost you more than you have budgeted.

And your roof which absolutely can not be avoided may cost you more than you anticipate.

I would do your roof before tackling this aesthetic project.

Also, have your home re-inspected (by a different inspector than the one who inspected before you purchased it) and have the electrical, and HVAC evaluated, as well as the insulation, and drainage systems and the foundation.

All of that is where your money should be going now.

It's been two years (although this is an old picture) and we've addressed some major things, including rewiring the house and having completely new drainage dug for the basement. It's not time to *do* all the aesthetic things, but it is time to think and plan for them. We anticipate folding the porch solution (whatever we do) into the roof work, because the porch is attached.

If the install of the greenhouse room is a hack job it needs to all come down. No sense sending good money after bad. It will cost you just as much if not more the rebuild as opposed to replacing. And whatever you do 8K will not cut it.

Here's a "simple" MCM porch on RetroRenovation which might give you ideas for your entrance.

I agree with removing the glassed-in porch. It doesn't seem to offer any positive function for you. Replace the bay window with a regular one and remove the shutters. Echo the advice above about looking into the exposed electrical, etc. Double your budget for everything though.

Just because it was built in 1958 doesn't make it mid century modern in style. It's just a ranch that was built in 1958. Tear down the enclosure and replace with a cute regular old style porch, and replace the bow window with a regular window that coordinates with the rest of the windows.

I agree with Tara, in that this house is not mid-century modern, and the OP never even mentioned MCM, unless I missed something. Obviously, not all homes built in the middle of the century were MCM in style, so any improvements to make it look MCM would not be appropriate. It is a (potentially) cute traditional style ranch house; I think the enclosed porch should be taken down, and a deep, outdoor porch or courtyard installed, with comfortable seating. Landscaping to diminish the visible foundation under the right-side windows would help with curb appeal. The bow window could wait. Good luck with your project!

It's a mid-century home, more in keeping with "mid century modest" than "mid century modern." I'm not looking to make it something that it isn't. However, houses like this are getting older, and I want the things we do to be "period sympathetic"--not authentic, and not high end. This house is on a quiet street in a small mid-western town. It makes no sense to improve it out of proportion to the neighborhood. So, when I ask, "what can be done for $5,000 to $8,000?" that's really what I mean. What is possible with a smaller budget? My husband wants to tear down the porch. I want to replace the bay window with a picture window. We've been looking, and we think a modest entrance like this could be created within our budget., maybe just retaining the existing porch overhang of the original roof, which is still there. Of course, we would choose stone or brick to coordinate with our red brick. Hopefully, when it's time to do the roof, we'll be able to do this, and maybe we'll just skip the skylight. I appreciate all the input!