It would be nice if you could update the three windows to a more modern look. I would replace the front door with one with side lights.

The house needs an identity. I picked a Spanish style.

New front iron decorative doors, Italian evergreen cypress trees, a decorative espalier on big blank area. And a stone bench.

I would go with some hanging or portico over recessed entry and some windows trim.

Some inspro

^^^ The house now looks finished.

Love this look Celery created for you. I know you don’t want to paint again but it is a master plan to work toward. Nice job Celery.

Thank you for your comments, I had been thinking a door with sidelights might be better, Housaon. Flo...you said it well. The house needs an identity. I didn't think of it that way. Although growing up in So. Calif, I tend to think of cypress is sort of "ordinary"... it does look good. Celery: Changing the house to white, with the dark trim really looks more modern. I like it, but not sure if we'll change it. I like the dark around the windows, but can I see how it would look with the white vinyl trim of the windows (and no panes)? Those windows stay. They were just installed. And what material would we use for that? I like the idea of a portico, but don't know how that will work, since there is window on the corner that the awning would cut across. I will post a better picture. And speaking of identity...could this house support a modern craftsman-style, at all?

Why not try a slim decorative pergola that mounts under the overhanging 2nd floor and wraps to cover the entry on the right. Can that plant on the left be trained to go over the pergola? I've marked the mounting locations in yellow.

youre asking for advice and what has been given you say, "we can't do that".

You say you don't "care for the front door", but not sure if you want to change it.

the yellowish color 'must stay'.

Changing the house to white, with the dark trim really looks more modern. I like it, but not sure if we'll change it.

We aren't magicians! You have to be willing to change things if you want an updated look.

what about the landscaping?

the garage door?

Spanish? absolutely. Celerygirl gave you some nice examples. But you're going to have to paint. sorry, but that stucco color is blah.

I love this one

I put a few elements onto your home. It would look 100X better w/white stucco and charcoal gray trim. copper accents, some landscaping. Paint the brick planters. new or painted garage door.

And I love this one too.

If you copied either one of these, you'd not only increase your home value, you would be the envy of everyone on the block!

Spanish or modern, pick one of these. and please, do the landscaping like either one too. they're stunning.

your faded red brick and sad plants are not conducive to an updated style.

You don't have to spend a huge amount on the yard if you're willing to put in the work yourselves. go for a xeriscape yard if you're in So.Cal.

Can you do a window on the upper left? that plain spot is really distracting. on this photoshop I gave you siding (and this is where you can bring in your composite wood slats) and an extra window. painted the door, and you seriously need some landscaping. that alone is over 50% of the look.

so imagine this wood siding on your upper left portion. dark trim, and I'm sorry, but the yellow/beige stucco needs to go.

another shot of the wood on the upper left

I love this remodel they did.

reverse of yours, but you could do a regular siding w/dark window trim, wood accents

Modern Farmhouse look? do a board and batten siding on the upper left half. dark trim, wood accents. you could paint your door black, garage too, and get some glass in the garage.

you mentioned craftsman. you'd have to change a lot to get a craftsman look like this one

or this one

Modern upgrades:

I'd want to address the left side at the minimum. maybe put an arbor over the middle portion, or make a sitting area w/a pergola attached to the house. you can image search 'front house pergolas' to get ideas.

or wood arbors on front of home.

Thank you for the ideas. Decoenthusiaste, I think the pergola wrapping to the front door is genius, and seems to be confirmed by Beth H's last comment. Beth, thanks for the examples of wood on the house. I can show those to my other half. Of course I plan to landscape. The bareness makes me sick. But if I'm going to do any construction (pergolas, siding) I have to wait. I hadn't checked here for a month, but I have been doing what I can myself. Planting where I can. Here is the pic I meant to post of the entry and window. Also, the planting .

Here's another question. As dated as the red brick is, it's staying for now. As you can see, it's ribboned throughout the hardscaping and repeated on the whole property. Oh, well...so if I added stained wood siding to the front, should I repeat the reddish color, or use a dark brown to go with the new fence/gate just installed and the roof/eves?