My recommendation is to replace the tudor siding in the gables with vinyl or Hardy shakes painted in a tan that matches the tan brickwork while,also complimenting the brown brickwork. Painting the garage door to match the gables. You can replace the porch post and railing with something more contemporary painted in the same matching tan or eliminate the railing altogether.

It appears to me to be a hybrid of sorts as well. It's definitely not a four square. They look like this and are very distinctive in their style. This is a colonial revival. If anything, I would call it a raised ranch hybrid, even though you're not climbing outside entrance stairs to get to the main floor. What is it you're wanting to do to the outside? I think the house would be pretty with a pergola all the way across and wider steps at the doorway with posts spread out a bit further to make the entrance feel more welcoming.

David- it isn’t just the improved efficiency that makes geothermal more attractive to me. I understand that in that respect the “green” level of it is probably only negligibly better than other green options like solar, high efficiency boilers, etc. What I’m more worried about is the waste. Solar panels only have a lifespan of about 25 years, they cannot be recycled in the vast majority of cases, and they can leach out lead and cadmium when decommissioned. While they are green in the short term, I don’t think they are in the long term. Is this a guess? Likely, but it is an educated one. They cannot last forever, most experts believe they will only last 30 years on the high end, and will certainly not be “green” in their disposal. While solar is not a bad option compared to conventional energy, I think as a whole we are seeing that short term efficiency as an ultimate plus while not considering the problems it will create in the future. Geothermal ground components last 50 years or longer, and the waste they produce can’t destroy ground water or increase soil toxicity. I understand that it is not the budget option, or even the middle of the road option that is still energy efficient comparatively, but this is one area where price is not my main concern. A desire to get geothermal is the reason I want to be cautious on other expenses, since I know that this will be a major expense. I don’t expect to make up for the cost of it in other areas, I just want to be mindful of other things that could contribute to a higher overall price tag. I know that no new build can be perfect, and building itself is not inherently green, but I am trying to make the best choices for environmental impact first, and be Prepared for the fact that they will be the largest impact on our overall cost.

Contact your local historical society and ask them for the names of preservationist specialists in your area. I think that you should have paint samples taken from your home—-on your exterior and your interior, including your trim. Have them analyzed for color. I, for one, would at least like to know what the original paint colors on your home were when it was built. It is an architectural gem. Is it a listed property? There might be restrictions in place on what you can do to the outside of your home, if it is a “designated” or “listed” property. Check first! Historical preservationists can be helpful in finding answers to your questions AND the crafts people who can do the work in a sensitive manner. (Note: most “restrictions” are for exterior renovations, etc. not the interior.). STUNNING home! And, yes, it has Moorish Revival characteristics, popular in the 1920s and 30s. Even in NE Ohio!