Please post a picture of the house as it is now.

The house is too busy with stone. brick, squares on the garage door.

Thanks for post. I uploaded the previous pictures.

We did remove all the tree from front and got rid of bricks. The remodel is still going on, so this is the time, I can make any updates

Wow I like it as it is now.

:), neighborhood houses are all big and tall and this is old kid on block needing some esthetic updates

Your house isn't going to be, or even look, big and tall without a lot of money and permits that you can't get. It sounds like you have 2-story house envy.

What you have is a perfectly lovely little ranch. It looks like it is supposed to look. Try to learn to love it.

I would go "industrial" or sleek, like these:

Walk Around the Hood · More Info

7th ave · More Info

Butterfly Beach Villa · More Info

Also, check this out for a not-too-expensive new look:

Houzz article

I also like the current, simple, MCM lines of the home. I don't think the new entryway or bumped out window work with the home. Since you've removed the brick, perhaps just stucco the whole thing, and get a garage door that matches the style.

Really nice home as is. If you've already added the front stoop cover, just pause and see how you like that after a time. Not sure you could do much, even add a dormer or skylight, without a permit.

One thing you might be able to do, especially if the windows are single pane glass, is upgrade your windows to be more energy efficient and, where practical, install larger windows, perhaps even bay windows.

Would not try to change the basic design of the house. Definitely would not paint brick and white trim in a sunny climate is a good idea to avoid fading issues.

To "upscale" your home, consider practical landscaping. You could outline your driveway and sidewalk with bricks that match the house bricks or use pavers and then move the plants away from the front of the house and create a small private front yard patio on the left side of the house with a green fence between patio and the road -- something simple: a place for two chairs and a small table between them, perhaps adding a plain concrete bird bath in the middle of the front yard (with a solar water fountain in it) that is visible from the patio.

Perhaps a smaller version of this:

https://www.houzz.com/photos/less-lawn-more-garden-traditional-entry-new-york-phvw-vp~131984

Thanks all for the feedback. We already have the front porch columns installed and roof cut, so no going back here.

However pop up window framing is still not done. Going by the suggestions I am thinking I should keep in plain window ( no pop up).

Existing bricks are gone and we had plans for veneer stones.( as highlighted in 1st image). I now have 2nd thoughts on it. Keep it just stucco or go with stones 🤔

I think it will look more classic and updated in all stucco, without the stone veneer. Do keep the window flat.

I would not pop out the window. I think it takes away from the house and looks like an obvious add-on that doesn't actually add to the architecture of the house. I think your house looks very nice right now. The porch change could look nice and give your front door a little more presence and prominence.

I agree not to pop out the window, I like the flat syle. I'd concentrate on landscaping instead of changes to the house exterior.

I'd go all out on a nice door and garage door. Where are you located?

Post photos of what the front looks like now since apparently the before pictures don’t apply, and let us know what advice you are looking for. I agree that the before looked charming, the proposed window pop out is fine. I don’t understand the hip roof on the porch thing nor why it’s eaves don’t align with the house- an open gable would match the house better? Why is the proposed porch so small and soulless?

Hi, thanks again for all the response and feedback.

It looks like my contractor already did the pop up window:(. I did ask him to take it back but apparently that needs to go back to city planning and permit process again.

Landscaping would be my best bet now to get the curb appeal.

I will take more pictures tomorrow and share on this forum. If it matter the house is located in SF Bay Area. Yeah silicon valley. :$

You can do a lot with the landscaping. Start by removing all the overgrown shrubs and then post a new photo.